Arelia James Island Luxury Apartments

This place used to be a nice place to live but is now turning into every other apartment complex in Jax. It is not maintained well and they rent out a lot of corporate apartments which means you will have new neighbors every couple of months who don't care about the rules or keeping the place looking nice because they only plan to be there a few months anyway. \r \r They also charge you a $200 fee if your automatic debit or rent check is declined or returned. I had a purchase that came out at the same time the rent was due and so the rent payment registered a non sufficient funds (NSF) fee of $75 plus they automaticall treat NSF payments as late even if they aren't and charge you a $125 late fee. So expect to pay $200 in fees if you have a returned check.\r \r The dog park is not very well maintained and they have to come into your apartment at least twice a year whether you are home or not. There is also poor electrical in some of the apartments. Our lights would blow out after only a month or two at a time and when they replaced them, they didn't have anymore of the original size bulbs so they replaced them with ones that don't really fit into the receptacles.\r \r They have completely abandoned this place and clearly put their focus on their new property next door. I wouldn't go there either since they have the same property manager.\r \r Bottom line this place is terrible. more

I have been at Arelia for about 6 months now, and it has been the greatest place I could have ever asked for. First of all, the management is so incredibly helpful and kind - in the beginning we needed some things fixed, and on the SAME DAY maintenance came out and got it done! Management is on top of their game. Sometimes I'll come into the office needing help faxing stuff in and they will come over and help, no problem, no questions asked. They actually care about their residents. When I hear my friends all complaining about their leasing office, I know I picked the right apartment.\r \r Now, about the actual apartments. They are gorgeous. They are well maintained, your trash gets taken away at 8 pm on most nights, and the buildings are in great condition. My apartment looks like a show apartment, and it's to the envy of everyone that comes to visit my roommates and I. Lovely dark wood cabinets, countertops that look like granite, plush carpet, and an amazingly spacious layout (we have a 3 bedroom). Both bathrooms have double sinks, giant tubs and plenty of counterspace, and there's a breakfast bar in the kitchen. Having looked and stayed in many apartments in Jacksonville, this is by far the most beautiful and reasonably priced for what you get.\r \r Pets are allowed, as I'm sure it says on their site - we have a cat. However, if you have a dog, there's a great little dog park in the middle of the complex. Two friends of mine live here and own a dog, and really love it. \r \r It sounds like this isn't a real review, so I will let everyone know that it is an apartment and it isn't soundproof! If you (or your child) stomp around like a maniac, decide to hold wrestling tournaments, or play Twister badly (that's our loud activity of choice), people under you will hear the thuds and thumps! So be courteous. This is at every complex. But you will probably never hear noise, even if someone is blasting music or screaming. And that is a real benefit, since thin walls have been a complaint in places I have lived. \r \r Overall, I highly suggest giving Arelia a shot. Everyone is so friendly, the residents are great, and it feels like a little community. Amazing place!\r \r more

Hello! I am the Property Manager at Arelia James Island and I wanted to address the tips on CitySearch about our community. Arelia is a lovely community and we are an apartment, if we said that we were sound proof or if any community tells you that they are, they would not be telling the truth! We always work with people when they have issues and we ultimately want our residents to be happy! Please contact me directly if you need assistance with anything. Keep in mind that negative reviews are usually written by people that do not agree with decisions that have to be made at the community but I can personally promise that we have our resident's best interests at heart. Fortunately, there are only a few unhappy residents compared to the hundreds of happy residents that have lived here and still live here! more

the noise is worst gate alway open.. complaint many time about the noise but not help at all.. more

This place is A+ in look-location-fitness center-community room-floorplans believe me we looked at many apartments in the area. It is clean and new compared to others. The girls in the office are super people and are very professional. Shout out to Kelly-Nicki and Shannon. The pool is beautiful and a nice mix of nice people living there. more

I have been in my apartment now for 5 months and the complaints on here are just one sided. When I had a repair needed they had contacted me within a day or two and were at my apartment fixing it within 1 or 2 days from that. I love the girls in the office. Shannon has been s godsend to me. As far as the thinness of the walls - what apartment complex doesn't have thin walls. I live on the bottom floor and all though I can hear them walking (at times), I do not hear any talking or dogs barking. I can not blame management if after someone moves out and didn't take care of the carpet, walls or anything in the apartment would want you to replace, after all you are RENTING their apartment. I would not want to move into an apartment that their dog or car had an accident on the rug. That is why the apartments in Baymeadows have gone downhill. I looked at plenty of apartments before I chose to live here and most of them smelled musky or just nasty. When I moved into here, the apartment was clean like it was new and I myself take great pride in keeping it that way. I have no plans on leaving anytime soon. I love the atmosphere and like i said the girls in the office and the service technicians are awesome. When you read these comments - please keep in mind the people whom write negative things left and expected to just walk away without taking care of their rental obligations as per the contract they signed. more

Awful management (mainly the owner), this place charges fines all the time for random things. The front gates are constantly broken, and usually left open. Like others said, noise is a problem. When I called on our scheduled move out date (we already were moved into our new apartment), I was told to hang on to the keys and they would get back to me cause the owner was out of town for a few days. I never heard back until I got a bill charging me for the keys they told me NOT to give them, and extra rent. The apartment was very nice looking and new, and if thats all you care about then move here. If you want a place where management cares enough to get back to you and treat you decently, dont move here. more

Couldn't wait for the lease to be up! The place is new, but construction lacks in soundproofing. I could hear my next door neighbor snoring, pets barking, and when the person upstairs walked around my FLOOR shook. Property gates are often broken, and stay open long enough for 2-3 cars to come in at a time. The valet trash service was been acceptable, though there is often trash stacked outside the compactor or recycle bins. The few complaints I had, I was told would be taken care of, and they never were addressed. They mysteriously always lose the office copy. I got tired of calling and would rather move instead. Great that they allow pets, but they should penalize the barkers and warn you if you are moving in below, above or next to someone with a pet. more

Absolutely, the worst experience living there. The management is awful and extremely rude. If you ever have a maintaince issue, don't ever expect it to fixed. It took over two months for our door to be fixed and we had to pay for the damages up front. We also requested someone to look at the eletrical outlets in our bathroom because they weren't working but they NEVER came to fix it. Altough they did send me about 3 email notices to let me know my maintaince request had been resolved. I brought this up to them when we moved out and they could of cared less.\r \r If you have pets, children, or ever expect to walk on the carpet, I wouldn't suggest this place. They do have very nice carpet but if you have an accident and spill something, your dog has an accident, or your child spills their drink, you will be replacing the ENTIRE CARPET. They can't patch up the carpet so expect to spend at least $1000 when you move out. They also tried to charge us $180 for a toilet they told us they would replace when we moved in but in the 15 months we lived there, they never replaced it . (But wanted us to pay for it when we moved out)\r \r The walls are extremely thin and you can hear conversations of your neighbors. The paint on the wall comes off after about a month. I could go on about all the issues we had living there but I think you get the point.\r \r Avoid this place if at all possible. You can find nicer places right down the street that will be the same price, if not cheaper. \r \r more