Magnolia, A Prosper Community, tuscaloosa-al

Our college move-in experience was a complete disaster. They sent an email at 9pm the night before arrival stating the move-in time will be 4:00 pm. We decided to go earlier as that was entirely too late in the evening. We did get our keys, but when we got to the apartment it wasn't clean. We requested a furnished apartment and a roommate without cats. We were placed in an unfurnished apartment, and the roommate had a cat. The cat was in the room my daughter was to occupy, we had to continuously chase it out. Finally, we were able to lock it in the half bathroom. As we looked around, flies were everywhere, the kitchen window was full of them! The leasing agents were overwhelmed because everyone was having the same issue. Mind you most of the leasing agents were college students as well. We finally were able to speak with the person in charge, Cheryl. She was overwhelmed as the property manager Belita Gill had locked herself in the leasing office and refused to speak with any parents. Parents were frustrated, students were frustrated and the leasing agents were frustrated. The cops had to be called; there were people sitting on the curb and fights were at the brink of breaking out. Cheryl did her best to offer accommodations which led us to look at a studio apartment. I asked about the rent and was told it would be either $875.00 or $900.00. We agreed, I went and bought my daughter a bed and mattress so we could move her in. Fast forward to Tuesday, I receive a new lease with the amount of $1100.00. I called to speak with Cheryl and was told that Belita refused to adjust the rent to the lesser amount. I reached out to Asset Living the parent company of Magnolia Prosper, they have been unresponsive as well. Now they are wanting to move her back into a 2 bedroom or have us stay in the studio for $1100.00. Mind you I've bought a bed got her settled and comfortable in the studio! Lastly, I would like to mention Cherly did her best to handle the parents and all the fallout. But she and the other leasing agents shouldn't have been put in this position from the beginning. This is an upper management issue. Someone from corporate need to visit the property and contact parents to offer some resolve. I'm attaching photos of the apartment we were expected to move into on Saturday. There is no way anyone from the leasing office performed a walk-through in this unit. I'm so glad we arrived early otherwise this is what we would've walked into at 4pm. Not to mention the temperature in Tuscaloosa was 100 degrees! Anyone considering this complex should not be swayed by the model apartment they are showing. This is a poorly maintained apartment complex and needs lots of updating and power washing. Some kids had to be put in hotels because their units had black mold, their units were already occupied, or the unit was plain nasty and needed cleaning.

People get robbed and murdered at this place. Safety is never a priority. Management also never responds… to anything. Maintenance thought I had moved out because I had started moving my stuff to Florida and I left some of my stuff to come back and get it.. when I came back, maintenance tossed the rest of my stuff out 2 weeks before move out date and the manager did not care, and still tried to charge a fee. I never turned in my keys, so to my understanding, that is theft. I would AVOID this MISERABLE AND MOLDY complex, and all the people who work in it.

I am genuinely appalled by the way this situation has been handled. In what world is it acceptable for an apartment complex to split up a group of roommates days before move-in because management overbooked or failed to properly account for the number of leases they signed? A student who was scheduled to move in this Saturday received an email at 9:24 p.m. informing them that they would no longer have a place at this complex, while the other three roommates in their group apparently still do. This is not a minor scheduling issue or inconvenience. This is someone’s housing, one week before college begins. Many college students in Alabama are moving several hours away from home. They and their families have made plans, purchased necessities, arranged transportation, and prepared for move-in based on the reasonable expectation that a signed lease meant they actually had a place to live. If this property accepted more leases than it had available units or bedrooms, that is a management failure. The consequences of poor planning should not be placed on students who signed their leases in good faith and did everything required of them. Transferring someone’s lease to another complex is also not an acceptable substitute. These students signed leases expecting to live at this property and with the roommates they selected. Separating one student from their chosen roommates and expecting them to move to another property—potentially with complete strangers—does not “resolve” the problem. It simply forces the consequences of management’s mistake onto the student. Even more concerning is the possibility that affected students may not be guaranteed alternative housing at all. With classes beginning in approximately one week, leaving students scrambling to find somewhere to live at the last minute is beyond irresponsible. The timing and manner of this communication make the situation even worse. An email sent at 9:24 p.m., just days before move-in, informing someone that the housing they had every reason to believe was secured is suddenly unavailable demonstrates an astounding lack of professionalism, preparation, and consideration for the students and families affected. This situation deserves far more than a generic email or an attempt to quietly relocate students elsewhere. It will be taken beyond the on-site management office. Corporate management, the property management/ownership company, and any other appropriate parties higher in the chain of command should absolutely be made aware of how this has been handled. The leases involved should also be carefully reviewed to determine exactly what obligations were agreed to and what options are available to the affected students. There needs to be accountability, a clear explanation of how this was allowed to happen, and an appropriate solution for the students whose housing arrangements have been disrupted at the last possible moment. If zero stars were an option, that would be the appropriate rating. This is an absolutely unacceptable way to handle student housing, and the people affected deserve better than being told days before move-in that the housing they signed for may no longer exist.

Dear, Sam let me start off by saying you did an amazing job during my apartment tour.you explained floor plans,the rent and all of the fees,the rules and the amenities too.You did a great Job.you were so calm and confident about your job.you made me feel relaxed,calm and it already felt like my home away from home .i was ready to move in at that moment.Thank you for your dedication and time,your energy and positive attitude too!! I recommend #Team Sam💛

I have been living in Magnolia for about six months and highly recommend this community to renters for several reasons. First, the rent is lower compared to other places, and the new manager is doing a great job. There are security guards patrolling at night, both on foot and in cars, which adds to the safety of the area. The maintenance team is highly skilled, and the neighbors are friendly and respectful. The community also offers great amenities, including a free gym, pool, basketball court, and beach volleyball area. The environment is clean, and the houses are fully furnished, making it a convenient and comfortable place to live. Additionally, Magnolia provides a free shuttle bus to UA for students, running from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shuttle driver, Christine, is professional and punctual. The only drawback, in my opinion, is that the shuttle bus requires maintenance about twice a month, during which we have to rely on public buses to get to UA. Unfortunately, there isn't an alternative shuttle service provided. Also, we cannot pick classes after 6 p.m. because of the shuttle bus schedule. However, the Trolley stop is located across the highway, and we can use it for just a dollar from morning to afternoon.