Fort Crossing (Building #1)

I currently live in 585 Belvedere. It's freezing cold in the room. And the resident manager that I only know is Candace. However，every email I sent didn't get response. I also call the emergency line，and on one answer my call. I really regret to live in this apartment. I can't find anyone to solve my problems here.

NEVER EVER LIVE HERE! 1. The building itself looks beautiful but it is sooo poorly built. Very cheap, everything needs fixing. The AC vent will leak water into your apartment when it rains and ice cold air during the winter. The heat doesn't even work properly. I had mine cranked to the max and it was so unbearably cold I had to stay at a friend's place. There's actual ICE forming on the walls inside the suites and we were simply told to "dress warmer inside". As an added con, the walls are paper thin! I can hear everything every person around me is doing at all times. I need to sleep with ear plugs every night. 2. It is so unsafe. There are CONSTANT break-ins. There are homeless people sleeping in the stairwells and lobby. I've heard of 13+ vehicles being broken into in the parkade within the last few months alone. Every single bike ever locked up in the parkade was stolen. Every resident has been told "it's a police problem" and nothing has been done to address these issues. When I first moved into this building there was security on site at all times, since FIRST SERVICE RESIDENTIAL took over there's been nothing. I feel so unsafe in my own building. 3. The worst part of it all, MANAGEMENT DOES NOTHING! Yvonne from First Service Residential is the worst manager I've ever dealt with in my whole life. It's impossible to get a hold of her and the very rare time that you do, she just avoids your question or concern completely. She's rude and doesn't seem to think there's any real problem. I swear I don't think that woman has ever even actually been in this building. 4. Also, I have to toss in "the laundry". It's only big enough to hold 3 towels MAX and the drier will not dry them. I had towels in for 12+ HOURS and they still came out wet. My laundry constantly comes out smelling musty and damp.

It’s really a lovely place to reside. The rooms are fairly spacious, the rent is a very good deal for the value you get for your money, management is proactive and super helpful. I must commend the underground parking it has made this winter the best in years! So convenient.

Yvonne Obiora is the worst manager. She does not show up on time for anything and I witnessed her harassing a tenant a few weeks ago in the management building and scoffing at them for being correct for addressing their feelings and issues. Do not be fooled, this place is super unsafe as well. The homeless have more rights than the tenants and there have been 25+ break-ins underground in the parkade since June of 2021. Not a moment goes by when I am worried about going downstairs to my vehicle because you will never know what you will find. FSR took away security I believe in June to cut costs, however, our safety as tenants is not even considered one bit.

I am actually in building 2. They are side by side and lovely additions to a heritage section of town that is slowly being refurbished (good on Edmonton!). I fell in love with the apartment immediately. Massive balcony on the second floor! And Selma helped me so much. SO FAR SO GOOD! Excited to start my new life here!

I’ve been living here since the month of January and so far I would say my experience has been great. I was a little skeptical because of some of the reviews I have read and what I heard about this area but honestly I had already fallen in love with the apartment. The place was brand new and very modern which is exactly what I was looking for. I haven’t had any bad experience with the management as they always provide the assistance I need if any. Everything works just fine in the apartment. The laundry machine is super tiny and doesn’t fit much, but we still have the option to use the ones downstairs (which we’re provided a card for - you do need to add money tho) The apartment temperature is great, although we didn’t have a cold winter, I never experienced extreme cold/wind inside the apartment

I didn’t read any of the reviews before I moved here which I didn’t even really think about , but I am really happy here so far! I moved in beginning of March , there were some issues with the thermostat and the maintenance team have taken care of me and been super kind, it’s not that I look forward to future issues but I’m not too worried which is great .. Yvonne has answered all my questions and I’m just quite happy. A lot of the things like the walls being thin and no sound proofing, the washer dryer combo is small and takes a lot of time, these things are realities that don’t bother me , I have seen security down in the underground parking after 12, I’m cautiously optimistic about that. This apartment suites my needs, is pretty, and is affordable, I am hopeful and content here.

Fort Crossing management is lacking in communication and professionalism whereas the structure itself is poorly constructed and designed. Management is unwilling to respond to my emails requesting their help so now I turn to a social media based approach to help others not make the same mistake that I did. The brand new suites are quite misleading upon first look. Once living here you will quickly notice many shortcomings. The buildings were taken over to be completed after bankruptcy and it’s not hard to see it was finished in the cheapest way possible with quality being far from priority. A few examples: The paint job is of very poor quality and gets marked up and scratched off from the slightest touch. The floor is starting to move after only 6 months. The makeup air in the hallways stops working for weeks at a time. The edges of the cabinetry doors in the kitchen and bathroom were left so sharp that they cut open your arms and legs upon accidental contact. After numerous weeks of complaining someone came in with what we were told was a special tool to smooth them out properly - it was a block of sand paper! First ‘Service’ Residential has been generally unresponsive and unwilling to help. There seems to be little to no sense of urgency in terms of maintenance requests and security concerns. The on site manager just flat out doesn’t respond to e-mails or telephone calls and rolls her eyes if you go downstairs and knock on the office door. The maintenance manager said to me “you don’t pay very much rent to live here.” - and that seems to be the attitude all the staff have. The on site staff are frequently unmasked despite current workplace bylaws. 24/7 security patrol was advertised however once First "Service" residential took over management, security disappeared. We received notice that security will be hired however this promise is still unfulfilled. At minimum, 12 vehicles have been broken into in the underground "secure" parking garage. After sustaining a $3500 loss from my vehicle, I was told it was my fault for leaving my work equipment in my car. Management assumes no responsibility at all. Numerous bikes have been stolen, also from underground parking. Locked storage units have now been broken into at least twice. Management posted a letter stating that they take security seriously, yet they seem unwilling to ensure all security devices are fully functional. "In suite laundry" is a washer/dryer combo which takes 2.5-3.5 hours (and still might come out damp), 3-4 towels being a full load. 1 week of laundry takes 12+ hours to complete - hardly convenient. Our machine broke down twice, trapping wet laundry inside. First time took maintenance 5 days to even come and look. Second time took 6 weeks to fix. Management has stated that fixing in suite laundry isn’t a priority as there are machines downstairs for use (they mean the 3 pairs of machines that 59 suites share). The average temperature in the suite during cold days is 18C when the thermostat is set to 22C. This is the same for all tenants I've spoken to. This does not meet the minimum housing requirement of 22C set by AHS. Notice posted to all tenants states "Dress appropriately for the weather. Even indoors we need to dress appropriately for the weather outside. Especially when there are winds or temperatures below minus 25 degrees, the building heat systems are not always [sic] to keep up with the demand." There is a significant draft entering the suite from around the A/C unit and around the balcony door with it’s warped frame (which management has stated isn’t their issue to fix). The "air conditioned suite" means air conditioned living room. The A/C unit is not sufficient to cool the whole 2 bedroom suite...the cooling effect doesn't make it to the kitchen, let alone the bedrooms. My bedroom was consistently 26C + in the summer with the A/C and 3 fans running all day. I’d love to give Fort Crossing and First ‘Service’ Residential a rave review - but it’s been nothing but trouble and laughable service from a company with a very ironic name.