Nicollet and Franklin Area (apartment complex, rental, work)

[Simple Living]

I saw that building. Looked like a regular apartment building. I'll check for signs tonight, although, looking out the window, it looks like its going to rain. Doesn't matter. I need to find an apartment, so.... Thanks for everything nick.

I did find a great looking apartment on Franklin and Bryant, just one block from the Wedge and the bus, which is IDEAL. The phone conversation went really well and it looked promising, and then I asked about the cat deposit and here's how the rest of the conversation went:

Me: And how much is the cat deposit.

Dumb Apartment People: Oh.

Me: Oh? No, no, no... there are no "oh's" in this conversation. No "oh's" allowed. I've been apartment hunting since Jesus walked the earth and I can't handle an "oh" right now.

Stupid Apartment People: We don't accept cats in that apartment.

Me: Pardon me? I don't understand, your ad says you accept cats.

Moronic Apartment People: Yes, but not for that apartment.

Me: Oh, I see. Is the actual apartment allergic to cats?

Idiotic Apartment People: No, but the carpeting isn't three years old.

Me: Oh, so it's just the carpeting that's allergic to cats? I'm sorry to hear that.

Heartless Apartment People: No, we don't accept cats in apartments when the carpet isn't three years old.

Me: Oh, now I understand. Cat owners can't have nice things and have to live in dirt and filth?

I explained to her that I used to train animals to work in the movies and that my cat would hang his bum out the window to go if I told him to. I also explained that I have a Dyson vacuum for pets and that not only would suck the cat hair off the floor of the apartment below mine, it would also suck up the cat. I even offered to double my cat deposit and sign a waiver stating that if my cat soils, or damages, or even thinks about pooping on the carpet at any time, I will pay 100% of the cost to replace the carpeting.

They refused. Did I mention I hate the city?

[nick is rulz]

state law mandates the apartment building has to replace the carpets every three years anyway, so basically they're saying they just dont accept cats at all?

[Simple Living]

Who knows. I thought state law was seven years. Oh well.

I walked by that apartment building your friend lives in again tonight and they are renting a small one bedroom apartment, but the building doesn't take cats.

I'm growing weary of apartment shopping.

[Slig]

I can see both sides of the cat issue. If I was renting out my house I wouldn't want the renters to have cats either.

[Simple Living]

Saying no pets in the building at all is fine. I understand that. But, the building does allow cats. Just not in all of them. That's where I have a problem. It should be an all or nothing deal. I've never heard of anyone with this policy before.

[Slig]

I agree, that is a little strange and I could see how it would lead to frustration on your part. However, there is no shortage of apartments in Minneapolis and I'm sure you'll find some decent choices that do allow cats, so don't give up.

[Simple Living]

Thanks, Slig. The hard part of this has been that, in that area, the company with this policy owns so many of the buildings there.

This is the last weekend I'm putting into apartment hunting. If I can't find anything this weekend, I'm taking the apartment on Nicollet and Franklin and just be done with it. It's a nice enough apartment, but I can't get over the fact that the tenant has to pay heat and gas, according to the square footage of the apartment, whether they turn the heat on or not. That bothers me. So does a $250 cat deposit, with none of it refundable. That's too high for a fully non-refundable deposit.

As I was typing the above paragraph, I just had an apartment company call me back and tell me they don't accept cats. Apartment hunting with a cat has become just as difficult as it used to be for people with dogs. I think it's ridiculous. So many apartments these days are telling you what you can and cannot do that I find it disturbing.

This is why I really hate cities, Slig. But, one more year. Just one more year and I'll be out for good. On the bright side, this really causes me to be more earnest in getting my debt paid off by the end of the year so I can get out of here.

[nick is rulz]

just dont bother telling them you have a cat. I did that at my last two places.

[Simple Living]

I can't do that. Living honestly is a big deal to me. If I owned an apartment building and didn't want cats living there, I wouldn't want someone to not tell me they had a cat and sneak one in, so I can't do it to someone else.

Oh well, something will happen! It always does. It's just an adventure to get to it that's all! (Amazing how much better I feel after a good night's sleep, isn't it?!)

[Simple Living]

Well, I did it! I found a great place to rent! It's on DuPont between 35th and 36th Streets in a very quiet neighborhood. The rent was right and the building is well taken care of. There are a lot of senior citizens in the building, which I love. It has a new air-conditioner and, something I was really hoping for, a balcony. It also has a great sauna.

I walked for miles today. From Loring Park down to 36th and all the side streets inbetween from Kenwood to Wedge area, all through Uptown and finally down to 36th. Anything that had a For Rent sign on it, I called right then and there. Nobody was available to take my calls in any of them, which I found unusual for a Saturday afternoon, but...

I was just about to head home when I decided to walk the final block that I didn't walk. I wasn't going to go there because by then my legs were aching. I decided to check out that final street just to say that I had walked EVERY street and every block between here and there. I saw a sign on the last apartment building advertising an apartment and wasn't going to call it. Again, just to be able to say I called EVERY sign I saw, I called and a woman actually answered. She was an elderly woman who caretakes the building and she asked if I wanted to see it right then! Anxious to at least see something, I agreed and I'm glad I did. I really like the building and the apartment was pretty much what I was hoping for.

I signed the papers and left a deposit. Now, it's just the formality of being approved, which won't be a problem. It's a bit further down than I wanted to be, but it turns out it's right on the exact busline I need to get to work and The Wedge, so I didn't hesitate.

I can't tell you the relief I feel! Wednesday is my birthday and I wanted to find a place by then.