[MAGuy]

I'm a single male lawyer in my mid to late 20s, and I just got a job in Springfield. Salary is in the mid 60s.

I'm mostly interested in Enfield, the Windsors, and Longmeadow.

I posted a thread under the Mass discussion forum (http://www.city-data.com/forum/massa...ice-where.html), but I wanted to here what those who are more familiar with CT have to say.

These are some of the places I'm looking at:

Woodgate Apartments in Enfield, CT (http://woodgateapartmentsct.com)

Countrywood at Enfield in Enfield, CT (http://atcountrywood.com/cwenfieldhome.htm)

Executive House Apartments in West Springfield, MA (http://mustseerentals.com/ExecutiveHouse.aspx)

Park Street Manor in West Springfield, MA (http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/MA-West-Springfield-Park-Street-Manor.html)

Bigelow Commons in Enfield, CT (http://www.bigelowcommonsapartments.com/home.html)

Fox Hill Apartments in Enfield, CT (http://equityapartments.com/hartford/enfield/fox-hill-apartments.aspx?PId=364&FloorPlanConfigurationId=2 &MoveInDate=8/24/2009%2012:00:00%20AM&MetroGeographyId=&FloorplanID =67220&BldgID=011&UnitID=98)

Does anyone know anything about these apartment complexes? Also, any other advice or information, in particular information on Enfield and Windsor, would be helpful. Thanks.

[KH02]

Originally Posted by MAGuy

Woodgate Apartments in Enfield, CT (Woodgate Apartments - Enfield, CT)

Countrywood at Enfield in Enfield, CT (cwenfield home)

Executive House Apartments in West Springfield, MA (Executive House)

Park Street Manor in West Springfield, MA (Park Street Manor Apartment Ratings, Reviews, Map, Rents, and other West Springfield apartments for rent from ApartmentRatings.com)

Bigelow Commons in Enfield, CT (Enfield Connecticut Apartments - Home - Bigelow Commons)

Fox Hill Apartments in Enfield, CT

Enfield or Windsor would be excellent choices when commuting to Springfield.

Bigelow Commons isn't in the greatest area and tends to have quite a few cars stolen from around there. You can call the local PD to verify.

Fox Hill are in a fine area but claim themselves to be luxury apartments and there is nothing luxury about them. Though they do have good highway access and are very close to the Enfield Mall for shopping needs.

Woodgate apartments are really nice!! They are your basic apartments but the area is nice and a tad more rural then the others but also has highway access via the 91 King street exit which is also very north so very easy commute into Springfield (10 min maybe). I have had 1 family member and a set of friends live there and they both enjoyed the complex.
IN my opinion this complex would be the best on your list.

Countrywood at Enfield is located on the same Street as woodgate apartments but further past them on the right across from "the hamlet" condo complex (dont confuse the condos as being part of countrywood as they are not). I do not have tons of experience with those apartments the area is decent but alot of the condos across the street at the hamlet are run down in my opinion.

I think your best bet would be WoodGate as far as location, price and management as I do have experience with that complex and they do manage it really well which is always important.

Good Luck!

Just an FYI if you do look in Windsor that the Poquonock section is the nicest which is off rte 75.

[MAGuy]

Correction to my first post: "I wanted to hear," not "I wanted to here." (I was typing quickly/wasn't thinking.)

[MAGuy]

Originally Posted by KH02

Enfield or Windsor would be excellent choices when commuting to Springfield.

Bigelow Commons isn't in the greatest area and tends to have quite a few cars stolen from around there. You can call the local PD to verify.

Fox Hill are in a fine area but claim themselves to be luxury apartments and there is nothing luxury about them. Though they do have good highway access and are very close to the Enfield Mall for shopping needs.

Woodgate apartments are really nice!! They are your basic apartments but the area is nice and a tad more rural then the others but also has highway access via the 91 King street exit which is also very north so very easy commute into Springfield (10 min maybe). I have had 1 family member and a set of friends live there and they both enjoyed the complex.
IN my opinion this complex would be the best on your list.

Countrywood at Enfield is located on the same Street as woodgate apartments but further past them on the right across from "the hamlet" condo complex (dont confuse the condos as being part of countrywood as they are not). I do not have tons of experience with those apartments the area is decent but alot of the condos across the street at the hamlet are run down in my opinion.

I think your best bet would be WoodGate as far as location, price and management as I do have experience with that complex and they do manage it really well which is always important.

Good Luck!

Just an FYI if you do look in Windsor that the Poquonock section is the nicest which is off rte 75.

Thanks a lot. This post was very helpful.

I called Woodgate today. Unfortunately, they have no openings until November. I'm going to visit them on Friday anyway. I'm also going to visit Countrywood, Fox Hill, and Park Street Manor in West Springfield.

I think Enfield is my number one town right now. I am a little concerned because some have said that some of Enfield is not that nice/that it has bad areas (e.g., Thompsonville) though, so maybe Windsor would be better for me.

Do you know anything about River's Bend in Windsor? (Rivers Bend in Windsor, CT)

[MikefromCT]

MAGuy - I have a friend who lives at Rivers Bend, and those units are nice. Really spacious, semi-detached units with hills in the backyards. My friend was telling me that when he and his GF wake up in the morning, from their bedroom they can see sheep grazing up on the hill every a.m. without fail. Area is fine - not a WHOLE lot going on over there in terms of nightlife, but you'd be about a 2-minute drive from Buffalo Wild Wings.

As far as Enfield goes, there's a few areas that are a little dicey, but you also have nice spots as well. Definitely look into Riversbend, and if that doesn't work, you might want to give Suffield a look. They have a few rentals I'm sure and it's a pretty nice town.

[MAGuy]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

MAGuy - I have a friend who lives at Rivers Bend, and those units are nice. Really spacious, semi-detached units with hills in the backyards. My friend was telling me that when he and his GF wake up in the morning, from their bedroom they can see sheep grazing up on the hill every a.m. without fail. Area is fine - not a WHOLE lot going on over there in terms of nightlife, but you'd be about a 2-minute drive from Buffalo Wild Wings.

As far as Enfield goes, there's a few areas that are a little dicey, but you also have nice spots as well. Definitely look into Riversbend, and if that doesn't work, you might want to give Suffield a look. They have a few rentals I'm sure and it's a pretty nice town.

Thanks for the advice. I just took a look at the reviews of River's Bend on Apartment Ratings :: The leading source of apartment reviews by renters for renters. (River's Bend Apartment Ratings, Reviews, Map, Rents, and other Windsor apartments for rent from ApartmentRatings.com) and saw some negative stuff there. However, there are negative reviews of all complexes, even good ones, so I'll probably go by and check the place out.

Anyone know anything about Countryside Apartments in Windsor Locks? Countryside Apartments in Windsor Locks, CT | Apartments.com

Also, here is another link for River's Bend: Equity Residential - Apartments for Rent - Apartment Rentals - Apartment Search

[MAGuy]

Also:

Wyndwood Apartments in East Windsor Wyndwood Apartments Ratings, Reviews, Map, Rents, and other East Windsor apartments for rent from ApartmentRatings.com

Carousel Apartments in East Windsor Carousel Apartments Ratings, Reviews, Map, Rents, and other East Windsor apartments for rent from ApartmentRatings.com

and River Hollow Apartments in East Windsor River Hollow Apartments

[KH02]

I would steer you away from Rivers Bend personally. I have heard bad things on and off about the complex though the area is decent.

Aside from Thomsponville there aren't any bad areas of enfield, don't let people scare you. Even then Thompsonville is only bad because it has quite a drug problem going on, it's not like people get shot weekly or anything.

There is only 1 apartment complex in Suffield and they generally have a 2 year waiting list, so I would scratch suffield off the list unless you find a condo being rented out online or something...

In my opinion you're better off staying OUT of East Windsor all the complexes there tend to have cops being called there all the time and there is a significant drug problem with those areas as well. Not to mention East windsor CAN be far from highway access unless you live right on the enfield line.

Enfield or Windsor I suppose are you're best bets. Some of West Springfield can be okay, Forest Park area is nice. But dowtown Springfield isn't the safest.

[MAGuy]

Originally Posted by KH02

I would steer you away from Rivers Bend personally. I have heard bad things on and off about the complex though the area is decent.

Aside from Thomsponville there aren't any bad areas of enfield, don't let people scare you. Even then Thompsonville is only bad because it has quite a drug problem going on, it's not like people get shot weekly or anything.

There is only 1 apartment complex in Suffield and they generally have a 2 year waiting list, so I would scratch suffield off the list unless you find a condo being rented out online or something...

In my opinion you're better off staying OUT of East Windsor all the complexes there tend to have cops being called there all the time and there is a significant drug problem with those areas as well. Not to mention East windsor CAN be far from highway access unless you live right on the enfield line.

Enfield or Windsor I suppose are you're best bets. Some of West Springfield can be okay, Forest Park area is nice. But dowtown Springfield isn't the safest.

Very helpful. Thank you. Which town do you live in, by the way?

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by KH02

I would steer you away from Rivers Bend personally. I have heard bad things on and off about the complex though the area is decent.

There is only 1 apartment complex in Suffield and they generally have a 2 year waiting list, so I would scratch suffield off the list unless you find a condo being rented out online or something...

In my opinion you're better off staying OUT of East Windsor all the complexes there tend to have cops being called there all the time and there is a significant drug problem with those areas as well. Not to mention East windsor CAN be far from highway access unless you live right on the enfield line.

What exactly did you hear about the Rivers Bend? It can't be any worse than when I was living in the Kane Street apartments, which everyone says is "SOOOOOO BAD" and I never had an issue. (The cops showed up only one time the whole time I lived there.) I admit I don't live in Rivers Bend but I didn't get a bad vibe, I wouldn't have recommended it if I had. There's another complex I would avoid called Cheateau Wood - it's mostly condos but they'll likely have units for rent. Kind of a dingy looking place and they've had a real hard time selling units there.

When I mentioned Suffield I should've mentioned there might be condos for rent as well. Sorry about that. I know it's a smaller town but I had no idea the waiting list was so long for the apartments there.

As for East Windsor, there's a large apartment complex in the Broad Brook neighborhood I would avoid. I had a few friends living there & it wasn't a great place. It's not even that old and it just seemed like it had deteriorated badly. So I agree - skip it.