Vertica Resident

Quiet Residence

Roach infested homes with absolute mismanagement

The elevators in the building are always broken. They rarely clean the carpets, there is wallpaper peeling off the wall and moguls growing in the hallways. The exterior is not kept - the fountains are never all working at once and are garbage collectors. It is turning into a slum.

Communications from management are improving. There do remain issues like the undersized elevators breaking down regularly (but being slowly modernized) and your water is often cut off for an entire day at a time due to renovations or repairs. There seem to be unusually numerous reasons to have to enter apartments...perhaps a function of a 54 year old building. Vertica is the property management firm owned by Great West Life Reaities. They eventually are accountabile to Power Corporation.The multi-layered ownership leaves insufficent operating money for property improvement. Vertica could demonstrate more sensitivity to its renting community. The management simply doesn't walk around enough.The on site Vertica Community Manager(s) and staff are warm responsive and well-intentioned but have no real budgetary discretion and therefore cannot make most operating decisions w/o getting approval from the off-site higher ups. But the higher ups are absentee, very rarely on their own property and cannot have the perspective of those they receive rent from....or fund budget requests with insight. There are excellent Concierge services and friendly maintenance and custodial staff. A 2-bedroom can cost you $2,800 a month or more. Parts of the grounds that are not dilapidated, are a real asset and gives a sense of relief from the usual immediate urban busy streets and sidewalks. Unfortunately this once remarkable property with its parkland, water features and lush gardens has largely been left in a rather delapitated state. It would be helpful to everyone's sense of place if Great West Life would share their medium to longer term strategic plan with the residents. The generous size of the apartments, convenient location, great views and a very sociable polite residence community are important highlights. Close to the subway; short walk to Spadina village; dog friendly; walking or running ravines off either end of property; resident's are friendly mostly older and seniors with some younger families. Despite the on-going exterior lighting malfunctions, elevator issues and poor state of the grounds, 400 Walmer offers a generally fulfilling living experience in a wonderful location giving you access to all of Toronto.