Crowne has a great reputation, and now I see why. When I moved into the complex, I was greeted with complimentary goodies to make the move-in process more bearable. The staff has been very attentive to requests that are made. Here are some pros and cons about the place:
Pros:
-The grounds are very well kept. All of our guests comment about how lovely the place is.
-It is a gated community and is nestled enough away from the busy-ness of the highway. The fact that it's gated makes me feel
...safe.
-These are newer apartments. If you know anything about Birmingham, you know that many of the apartments are very old. This takes a toll on your utility bill, especially when winter comes around. I can say this apartment is well insulated and energy efficient. There are fans installed, which keeps us from having to use the AC; there is a dishwasher, which is actually more cost-effective than hand-washing constantly; the electric stove heats up really quickly and is very efficient. This helps keep the bills down in the long run.
Cons:
The apartment was smaller than what I had expected. When my husband and I viewed the apartment before moving in, it was, ofcourse, the model. But we asked tons of questions about the size and everything, and were under the impression that everything was the same size, except that there was not a second bedroom. We were a bit disappointed when we came to see it the week of moving in because it was not as big as we thought. With that being said, however, this is not really a con because the apartment is still very lovely and is still spacious. The appliances are new, and the apartment is well insulated, which is great for energy savings.
-The apartment is located on 280, which can get quite crowded. This is not really a problem for us because we usually leave around 6:40 in the morning to get to work by 7, but it's something you may want to consider.
-Paying for valet trash is NOT optional. It is still a nice service; just wish it didn't cost so much per month. I could honestly put my own trash in the bin.
-There is a bark park, but no human park. This may be a pro for you. For me, I find it kinda ridiculous that dogs get something that the residents don't have. It would have been nice to have a park or tennis court or something of the sort outdoors for humans.
Available.