The Preserve at Alafia

My Review is based on my initial experience with The Preserve as I have only been here for one week now. The staff were so incredibly friendly and helpful. Communication to and from the leasing office was always timely and professional. There are quite a few kids here however they seem to be respectful and polite. All of my neighbors are very friendly. One down side; the walls are very thin, thinner than normal in an apt complex. But everyone seems to be conscience of their tv’s, music, noise levels, etc. The grounds are kept up pretty nicely from what I’ve seen. I moved to The Preserve from Channelside and I am already enjoying it so much more than I ever did in Chanelside!

Nice place, looks great, cheap cabinetry. Said it was «real» hardwood floors but it’s linoleum!
I don’t think they have ever vacuumed the gym on account I go a lot and there is a buildup of hair/​dust/​lint directly under each machine that is visible. The gym smells and I’m not sure as I said if it is even cleaned regularly.
Staff are friendly and kind!

i would not recommend. i was visiting a friend and they towed my car under an hour. front office was rude and very unprofessional.

We applied for an apartment and paid all application fees which were over 100.00, and never heard anything back. I had to call them SEVERAL times and kept getting the run around. I understand that application fees are non-​refundable but to not even get back to an applicant is unprofessional and rude. I took this as a sign that I wouldnt want to live there anyway, and am happy in my new place. The apartments are beautiful but management is HORRIBLE!!!

I have lived at the preserves for about a year and the best part of my experience is the river, the marine life, the gym, and the many renovations/​improvements they have made over the year.
And even though the Alafia does give me the tropical feel that I love there are some great downsides:
1. Thin walled construction. You can hear everything your neighbors do and there are a lot of issues with noise complaints.
2. Disgusting neighbors: I love dogs, but the people here don’t clean up after them. So please take caution and watch your step. Also everyday one if my neighbors makes an attempt to walk a dog and fails miserably. The little guy urinates in the hallway and die the stair well. It’s gross.
3. People do t properly throw away their trash. In fact the trash receptacles are foul and the hallways littered with garbage… especially on weekends.
4. There are a lot of high school students trying to figure out their hormones in the hallways… get a room… or some parents.
5. The mail is located in a unnecessarily centralized area.
6. The occasional stench of sewer.
7. The unfriendly staff.
Overall I do enjoy the amenities and the semi-​tropical feel but this place needs some work.

The management is absolutely terrible. I cannot wait to move out! They lack enough parking spots for all the residents so if you come home after 10 pm you are out of luck finding parking. As a solution they offer to charge you $ 25 a month for a designated parking spot! What a rip off. They will illegally tow your car as they did mine although there was no «tow-​away zone» sign. The towing company said the management simply does not want to have signs everywhere!!!

The breezes off the Alafia River are wonderful, sitting on the pool deck, enjoying the amenities. New pool table, hot hot tub, new grills! Can’t wait to launch my canoe and try for some snook on the river one evening after work.
The diversity, family atmosphere, and resort feel of this lovely complex make it an ideal spot to live.

We are finally finishing up our lease and are moving out of state. I don’t use the amenities all too often but people are right about the noise level from other apartments. Also, my bedroom window condensates so much that water drips down on the windowsill and forms large spots of black mold. I’m sure it’s toxic but I’ve had maintenance come out and all they say ‘that’s normal’. I’m pretty sure it’s harmful but it’s not worth fighting with them when they don’t give a crap. I know where my neighbor above me is at all times. I like when he slams his recliner shut and walks to the kitchen… makes me wanna eat. The new management are — — - that don’t do anything but throw attitude around and never return voicemails when you have something to ask or complain about, they just don’t care. They love doing ‘walk throughs’ of your apartment when you aren’t home. That makes me nervous, who is it exactly that enters my living quarters? The new management, I lose track of who owns it since this is the third time in one calendar year, asked us to fill out a ‘Residential Information Form’ that requires me to write down my SS#, DL #, date if birth and other personal information that someone (don’t know who) will pick up when they come to do their walk through. Our rent is a good price and that’s why we are here; otherwise, I wouldn’t stand for the attitude and crap that’s been going on for this past year.

This is the most recent «news letter» given out by management.
Parking Your community offers open parking, along with covered assign parking; however we do ask that you restrict one car per tenant. All assigned numbered spots will be subject to towing at the owners expense should you not have a valid parking decal placed in your vehicle while parked in the assigned numbered spot assigned to you. To better accommodate our residents, we have implemented rules concerning parking. First, register your vehicle with the office (parking decal). Keep your vehicle registered, licensed and in good operating condition. You may use any parking space designated by management for recreational vehicles, boats, trailers or similar non-​passenger vehicles. Parking spaces may only be used for parking a passenger vehicle; you may not use any parking space for storage of any kind. Vehicles, including motorcycles, are not allowed to be parked on the grass, in front of dumpsters, or in any other areas that are appropriately marked «NO PARKING» OR «Tow Away Zone». No one is allowed to park in a marked handicap space unless the legally required handicap insignia is displayed in the vehicle. You may not use any parking space to park a vehicle that is inoperable, leaks fluid onto the pavement, is unsightly, is a safety hazard, or has an expired license plate or vehicle inspection sticker. You may not use any parking space to wash or repair vehicles, to change oil in vehicles or for any purpose other than parking. If you do wish to perform minor repairs on your vehicle at the community, you must get permission from the office first. You agree that your use of any parking space will be at your own risk. All vehicles must follow all parking and speed policies. Consult the office for other special parking regulations. If you violate any of these parking policies, your car may be towed at your expense. If your car is towed, please contact Pools towing at 813−671−8097. Remember, if you are parked in an assigned numbered space and have «NO DECAL» you will be towed at your expense.
Most of this seems pretty understandable. Although what is ridiculous to me is that they make you pay for a parking space you are not allowed to fully use. They have promised an area to wash vehicles although still have not dedicated one. The thing that really kills me is that they go around judging peoples vehicles that aren’t up to par with their liking. Be warned this place is going down hill fast and if you move in you will feel like you live with your parents considering you have to ask permission to do anything on the property. Ask permission to wash your own car in your own parking space you pay for every month.