Avalon Riverview

These 1-​star reviews are harsh. Yes, there is the possibility that your neighbor doesn’t adhere to the No Smoking policy. Yes, the gym is closed until the end of the year. I can’t speak for rent hikes in LIC specifically, but we’ve budgeted that in for a couple of years, and I think that’s pretty standard protocol.
Since this is my home, I’d like to give it a little love.
My boyfriend and I love the space in our new one-​bedroom apartment. It’s clean, bright, airy, quiet, and spacious. Like, as in you could NOT have this kind of space in Manhattan unless you nearly doubled your budget. We have four (FOUR!) closets, one of which is a walk-​in. Our kitchen gives us plenty of space, and we have room for two bar stools, a four-​person dining room table and sectional couch. Our bedroom fits a queen-​sized bed with ease.
Overall, the location is a great respite from the grind of Manhattan where we both work. The water is our front yard. Families play in the green spaces. We come in the evenings and grab a beer by the water. It feels like home. The staff have been pretty generous in adding to that vibe. It’s not incredible service, but I have enough of my own friends and am content with a nod hello. And I can’t get over the convenience of having your packages held for you, instead of worrying that they’ll get stolen off your doorstep.
As for the renovations: we weren’t «duped.» Along with receiving a partial reimbursement for our amenities fee, we also get full access to Riverview North’s gym in the interim. Obviously less ideal than a gym in your own building, but it’s temporary, and temporary because they’re making improvements.
It’s always easier to hate (and I certainly have my negative reviews), but I feel like coming from studio walk-​ups to a one-​bedroom with riverfront views and walk-​in closets deserves a few stars.

I was happy at first but as some time went by & then we heard the shady «enhancement» project plans that are more like a dis-​enhancement I say don’t bother with this place…
Rent prices for now vacant apts are absurd (guess someone has to pay for the renovations) & the building essentially offers very little amenities compared to the TFC buildings.
They are removing what was once our ²⁴⁄₇ full gym, the elevators are a joke & always breaking down forcing long waits during key times, the access to the shared pool in Riverview North is poorly designed with no sun until 2pm and 12 chairs or so. Kitchen appliances are older & yellowed.
Great views & friendly concierge staff — but we will be looking elsewhere come renewal time given the rent to amenity ratio.

Fraud at the Avalon Riverview.
Renters here were duped into signing new leases with amenities fees under false pretenses. Management is closing the gym in this building and it will not be re-​opened. They have known this for months but renegotiated lease renewals and collected amenities fees without disclosing this. It is no longer a luxury building.

I can write this, now that I have my deposit back.
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Consider NOT moving to LIC.
LIC can’t handle any more people.
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Don’t believe what any of the real estate people will tell you.
It was affordable. It’s not affordable anymore.
There was street parking. It’ll take you 40mins to find a spot (for 2 hours).
Some 50,000 new people are already expected to move here (with the 5 new towers planned in hunter’s point south) and it’s already well over capacity for it’s city services.
7 Train (your life-​line to the city) is a nightmare (out all the time).
It’s NOT cheaper than Manhattan.
There used to be artists. They’ve been all but driven out.
There is little to no rent control.
You will be driven out of your apt by huge rent hikes (I’ve moved 6 times in 10 years).
Rent-​hikes land at 25% or more.
Avalon is no exception.
These big corporations are not COMMUNITIES.
YOU ARE A NUMBER to them.
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LIC has been my home for 10 years and I’m astonished at little planning was done before the city green light all these towers without any regulation.

Let me start by saying that the Staff has been great! they talk to you and actually treat you like they really care about you as a person. The tenants are another story. Most of the people that live in the building are not real New Yorkers. On my floor there are mostly folks from other countries and a few country people from the mid west or somewhere like that. It is a rarity if people say hello. I have been spoken to in more friendly words by Avalon staffers. Most tenants are in and out, they live here 1 year or 2 tops due to the Corp. Ethos that they must increase rents to what they call Market value and that creates more of a Hotel feel where its impossible to plant roots and create friendships. As far a the Luxury feel, my Apt had the Best view of Midtown East. The Apt was a bit weathered when I moved in and lacked updated appliances. The elevators, well lets just say they are very shady and be careful because they don’t function properly and one must be mindful that anything can happen when dealing with them. It was fun for the two years here due to the proximity to the City and I guess that’s what’s its about really, but as far as the value, I think not!
Its a shame that the neighborhood has become a haven for Overpricing in every manner. If it was not for the vast amount of small children, with their families, this neighborhood would be as empty as the blank stares and far away eyes in most of the worker bees headed to the trains in the AM! So in review, Staff is real nice, Rent pricing increase is absurd and Corporate attitude down right Blows but welcome to The New America where profits come before kindness and service and the attitude that one leaves and stuff another one in without care, compassion and loyalty… So my rating is strictly reflective on The Avalon Bay corporate and its policies and its lack of Soul and real concern for its tenants and putting profits over real living issues… BTW the community office personnel Run by Amber W has been awesome to me and friendly and their door is always Open just to shoot the Breeze and they personally helped me during a difficult time I experienced while Living here. So if you just want a crash pad close to The City that is extremely Overpriced and you really do not care if you make friends in your building Then properties under Avalon Bay MGT is where a person like that deserves to live…

The building management is the worst ever since I moved to New York. I smelled a gas leak for almost half a year and they didn’t find the problem until there’s an obvious hole on the pipe. After I moved out, they charged me unreasonable fees and extra rent. I called and explained that I moved out before the lease ending date but they still didn’t return the extra rent. They also raise the rent like crazy. I wouldn’t recommend anyone moving there.

Update: sigh. Whoever person (s) at ‘corporate’ thought removing the buildings Gym was a great idea is a moron. I am very unhappy here after now 6 years of living here. Beyond closing the Gym one of the larger elevators has been down for almost 2 months, they closed the gym and community room (gym forever… Community room temp). Charge $ 500 for amenities that do not exist.
I do appreciate the building’s staff but would not have renewed my pricey lease had I known their inept plans for the amenities (that no longer exist).
Original review: I have lived here for the past 4+ years (across 3 units — 2 sublets before signing my own lease) and have had a very positive experience. For the price and in comparison to Manhattan you have great apartment lay out options and amenities. Great Gym (s), terrace (s), and views. If you do look to lease here I would stick to the North facing side (better views and quieter). It is a dog friendly and smoking friendly bldg. The smoke can be horrific if a smoker moves in an apt near you but that’s a crap shoot and not Avalon’s control. Love living in LIC… Even with all the growth/​more people

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!!! DO NOT MOVE INTO THIS PROPERTY!!! Terrible management. The place appears to be a luxury building, but they really have no clue how to run the property. The concierge and maintenance staffs are great, but the management and leasing office employees have absolutely NO CLUE! Given the rent rates in the building you definitely do not get what you pay for at this property.

I don’t understand, this community has been EXCELLENT!
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF MOVING HERE– PLEASE READ
I have lived in the Upper East Side for several years and decided to move into a larger (two bedroom) apartment to make room for my first child due in February 2014. After viewing apartments all over Manhattan and LIC, AVALON remained lowest on my list, solely based on negative reviews, which is why I decided to write this.
To begin with, I liked the AVALON community appearance and layouts of the apartments, but kept the choice as a last resort due to the online reviews. I decided to apply as a contingency in the event I had any issues with other communities. the application process took about ten minutes online, and then I received a call from Danielle, a leasing associate about 15 minutes later, to let me know I was fully approved– literally that easy. Simultaneously, I was also approved at Trump Place– which took three weeks and I lost the apartment I wanted during the process, and approved at several other communities, none of which which were as easy as AVALON.
Secondly, Danielle showed me every available apartment and I was left with only two floor plans that met my needs. I then used those plans to compared to the over 30 communities, 50+ apartments, I toured in Manhattan. To sum it up– NO APARTMENT IN MANHATTAN had the amenities of the AVALON apartments for less than $ 6700 – 8000 a month– or about $ 2700 – 4000 per month above Avalon, and for that price, each Manhattan apartment was missing something– so I choose AVALON– a 2 BR, 2 BA, 1260 sqft, Washer/​dryer in unit, Full building amenities, panoramic views of Manhattan, floor to ceiling windows, and the list goes on– chosen for Price, amenities, location, and ease of approval.
I choose AVALON, signed the lease & gave my deposit– online. I also moved into the apartment site unseen, only knowing the floor plan and having seen a different apartment with the same floor plan. The apartment was immaculate and exceeded my expectations– and the move was very easy. The entire staff has been very accommodating, helpful, and pleasant– much better even than the staff at my former EQUITY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY billed as a «white glove» property.
Finally, I will admit that I have yet to deal with a lease renewal, but if it is anything like my experience so far, it shouldn’t be an issue. the last comments I will itemize.
1. I’ve had two minor maintenance requests. I made them online and they were both done within hours.
2. My wife was running late to work one morning, so at 5:45am, I asked our doorman if he knew or could call a taxi– he had a town car at the door waiting for my wife within 5 minutes– literally.
3. You can’t blame a community for issues with your neighbors– it’s always a crap shoot &bad neighbors can happen anywhere. If you don’t like barking dogs, don’t move into a pet friendly building.
4. Staff may have been terrible a few years ago– but that has not been my experience. Maybe AVALON read the negative reviews and are working to change their image.
5. I am very, very, very happy with my decision, and so is my wife.
I hope this helps in your future decision, and if anything changes, I will update my review.

Four years in and I am still ln love with the Avalon Community. I have owned homes and apartments but renting here is wonderful. The apartments are lovely, the rents where they need to be. But what makes the Avalon my «my private Idaho» are the incredible responsible management and staff. I have not in four years been disappointed or upset by the quality of life here. People it’s NY and you can’t find nicer, more efficient loving people than right here. This comes from my heart.

Abysmal company Avalon. I lived in the East Coast II for two years in LIC prior to living in the Avalon. Let me just say that it was a major major disappointment. The building is not nearly as nice, and when I moved out, Avalon charged me nearly 800 dollars in fees. They are liars and scumbags.
I cleaned out my apartment, even returning to clean some more, and then they charge me 500 dollars for cleaning. They also added insult to injury by charging me 8 dollars per lightbulb in the bathroom, like that is my problem? These guys try to position themselves as «luxury» but there is nothing luxury about them. They lounge areas are messy and dirty, the gym is second class, there are stinky smells in the hallways.
I’d never do business with this company ever again. Do yourself a favor and stick with Rockrose or TD Cornerstone, Manhattan Skyline, etc. if you’re looking for a decent luxury building. Avalon is for suckers.

Please note that there are filtered reviews (my review might be filtered too) and I don’t know why b/​c those reviews are pretty accurate.
Let me start with the «good» before going to the «bad». As a building, we love it here. It is close to the city, our views are amazing and the apartment space works well for us. The appliances are dated and the washer/​dryer are not the energy efficient kind. We love all the door men/​woman. However, there is so much turnover and visitors to the building that they don’t know who needs to be announced. I couldn’t help but put some «bad» into the «good», which is why I’m only giving this place 2 stars.
Now for the bad… other reviewers talk about poor management and I agree. I tried to organize game night for the building so we can get to know our neighbors and management (I will withhold the person’s name), who said he would put up flyers for the event did not even after I confirmed with him multiple times that he will.
The main reason we are docking stars and are quite disgruntled about this place is Avalon’s unwillingness to negotiate their rent increase. After living here only a year, they raised our rent $ 600/​month, wanted us to pay the $ 525 re-​signing lease fee, and are charging us $ 50/​month for our cat. We asked management to re-​consider their ridiculous increase because based on what they call «fair market value», we found many other 2 bedroom apartments charging much less than what Avalon wants to charge us. We also plead with them and explained that we have not once had to call maintenance into our apartments and we have maintained the apartment in very good condition. No dice.
So, fed up with high rents and annual rent hikes, we’re moving and buying our own unit in LIC.

I think we as residents of Avalon Riverview need to know where we stand w/​rent reductions and construction updates on the mail, gym, conference rooms. I need to know who I can email and call to voice our situation too. This excuse as of evacuation zone A is a joke considering there was a Halloween parade Oct 31^st down center blvd yesterday over 500 ppl w/​LIC cop escorts. There were over a dozen ppl working on your greet in area to new and existing residents at application office in the Riverview North I see where your priorities are? But yet we still have no employees working downstairs, no mail, shaky elevators, no gym for who knows how long. The staff at Riverview North should be at the Riverview where all the damage is. Are you waiting for insurance claims? We got our first update yesterday. Mayor Bloomberg is doing a better job w/​updating the whole NYC area then you guys are on a few buildings that were affected. I am also calling our local congressman and going to issue a city complaint about how you all have handle this building situation. I have friends at in local apt builiding in LIC that got way more damage then us and they have ppl working round the clock and management in the front answering all the questions they have. The lack of management from Avalon onsite shows how you guys don’t care about your residents and the fact I have no one to call or speak too is even worse.
If you are looking to move to LIC i recommend any building other than Avalon they have a terrible management team. Over priced apt and staff is disgruntle. Check out the many buildings on the block plenty of better options imho.

There are some things I really love about this building from the doormen, who make a point to learn people’s names, the neighborhood that is constantly adding new businesses, the short commute to work in the city, the rooftop with grills, the gym in the building, the washer/​dryer and dishwasher in the apartment and the walk in closets.
The only drawback to Avalon is that they will not negotiate. I’m going on my third year in the building and they never really decreased rents when the economy was hurting and they won’t negotiate with you — it’s take it or leave it, which is really frustrating, so it’s a matter of how much you really like the apartment.
They maintenance is always quick and polite. They’re responsive and aside from feeling like maybe I pay too much, I have no real complaints.

Okay here’s a REAL review not a copy & paste from their stupid site.
This place appears to be luxury and nice but it’s like paying Gucci bag prices for a Gucci bootleg from Chinatown. While I’m pleased that they have a built in a/​c (not those horrible in-​window pieces of garbage) and laundry machine in the unit, the bad things at this point outweigh the good ones.
When we first moved in we thought it was amazing but that was only because our previous apartment was a tenement with a hole in the ceiling and mice running wild. In this place we have dogs pooping everywhere and smoke stank seeping through our floors & walls.
Our first month here the guy next door had 2 pittbulls despite pitbulls NOT being allowed according to the lease. He was never home at night so all night long they’d be barking depriving us of sleep. Every morning idiots walk their dogs on an abandoned golf driving range in front of the building which is has been converted into an unofficial dog run. Finally a month later the guy moved out and another month went buy and the guy next door began smoking the nastiest smelling cigarettes I’ve ever smelled.
Every night we had to freeze our asses off to let the cool air in to de-​stank our apartment because the smoke would seep out of his place, into the hall and then right into our place. I finally saw him one day and asked him to open the window when he reeks because it was very unpleasant. Thankfully a few months later he moved out and then guess what? Construction.
The stupid Power House they’ve been building accross the street decided it’s no big deal to drill concrete and run a huge steam pipe thing at 5 in the morning on the weekdays. After multiple complaints they stopped… and started doing it at 7 in the morning on the dot.
In addition the dog owners and the staff have become as ignorant as anything. I’ve seen dog piss in the elevator multiple times, and the sidewalks which were once dog poop free have piles of s**t everywhere that aren’t cleaned for days (and sometimes not cleaned until it rains and is washed away~)
And the final verdict? They raised our rent 10% and asked if we wanted to renew our lease. LOOL oh HELLL no. We are outta here in 3 weeks, and I feel sorry for the poor sap who rents this place. Oh wait, no I don’t because the only people left here are Europeans who can afford the ripoff pricing because the dollar value has fallen into a craphole.