Middlesex Crossing

We’ve lived here for about 4 months now. I have an «it’s good”/“it kinda sucks» relationship with this place — but it’s really not that bad. Our unit was newly remodeled, so we had brand new carpets, kitchen, bathroom, etc. We have a 2 bedroom 1 bath on the 1^st floor — which made moving in so easy — backed the truck up to the patio and pushed everything in through the slider door. Cabinet space is good & appliances are great. The bathroom is very small but nicely updated.
The maintenance team is actually pretty good. We’ve never had a problem with them coming in without permission and they always respond either the same day or next day. So far there has only been a couple inches of snow here & there — but I was impressed with how attentive they were on plowing the parking lots and salting. How the buildings are set up is nice because you don’t feel like you’re living in a 200-​something unit complex. Everyone seems to keep to themselves, rarely any noise (other than the occasional middle school kids running around outside after school). Bedrooms are good sized but closet space is definitely something to be desired (although it’s not awful). You will want to invest in some light blocking curtains because saying they light the parking lot is an understatement. But it’s a good thing — it feels very safe here at night, no dark corners, it’s literally like it’s daylight.
Now, it seems as though this complex has had many owner and management property changes in the past — it is currently Home Properties and there has been some office staff changes in our short time here already. I have heard (and seen on the website) that the rent tends to raise about $ 100/​year — which is a little concerning considering the rent is already pretty high. Heat & hot water is included, which is good because the heat is the most temperamental thing here. The amenities are not free. I think it was $ 25 (either per person or per unit, I can’t remember) for a pool pass, $ 50 deposit for a gym key, you get 1 laundry card to reload (must reload in office $ 5,10,20’s), $ 15 if you want more than 1 and its $ 15 to replace if lost. I guess we were spoiled by having laundry in our home before we moved to MA because it is $ 2.25 per wash or dry cycle. Never had a problem with stolen laundry or anything, but it’s about what you’d expect for a shared laundry room of 3 washers and 3 dryers for a building of 30 or so units.
This complex allows pets and there are a lot of them! We personally haven’t had an issue with dog poop or anything but I’ve read newsletters noting complaints about pet mess. They have little dispensers around with poo-​bags for residents with dogs so I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t pick up after their dog. In general it’s pretty quiet for an apartment building, but when someone walks around on the floor above you, you hear it.
We’ve had a couple issues with the door handles in our unit, which were also brand new, where turning the lever does not open the latch — therefore, locking you in/​out. My infant was locked in her room when she woke up from her nap and it took about 10 minutes to break in while she was screaming in her crib. So that was cool. But maintenance came the next morning to repair it. Then it happened to our bathroom, locking me in while our daughter was in the living room. It’s a lot harder to break out than in.
The paint is… AWFUL. I think it’s the worst thing about this place. It’s very cheap… VERY cheap. It scuffs with the lightest bump. Then if you try to lightly buff it off, the paint comes right off the wall. It was freshly painted when we moved in, but the walls weren’t in the best shape prior to painting. Many nail holes, poorly done large hole repairs, tape, and other imperfections are visible from many years of past tenants.
And finally — the ants. Apparently this is an issue across the complex. I’m very tedious with daily cleaning routines because I can’t stand bugs. Ants seem to appear in the bathroom often (weird right? Because it’s not like anyone snacks in there). I vacuum and wash the floors daily and they still tend to appear.
Anyway, longest review ever, but I wanted to be fair and not just state the negatives because this place really isn’t that bad. But like in any shared living situation, some things are out of your control and kind of suck.

I just reviewed their website and the prices have increased once again! Absolutely ridiculous! Also, they STILL have not updated their floorplans. BE CAREFUL. Read the rest of my previous review (attached here) for more info on why this place is horrible.