Cole Apartments

I have lived at Cole for about 9 months. The customer service has been excellent including both the leasing office and maintenance staff. Pool area is clean and well maintained. It's a short walk to Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge which is perfect. Overall it's highly recommended. One small con is that the upstairs noise can be a little much at times (compared to other apartments I've lived in), but this doesn't usually happen at night and people seem to respect the quiet hours for the most part.

We were fortunate to live at the Cole for nearly three years. Regarding the space, the location could not be better: walking distance to Lady Bird Lake, downtown, ACL...you get the picture. The apartment itself had a super cozy, open environment with huge windows facing downtown Austin (we had a 4th-floor unit with a balcony looking north). All the other apartments we looked at during our search had tiny living rooms, but the Cole allowed plenty of room to entertain. The bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets were all spacious, which is plus, plus, plus. I can not say enough about Carly and her team. From the leasing office to the maintenance crew, everyone was amazing. Carly was on it whenever we had an issue and ALWAYS with a smile. The maintenance crew usually had repairs/maintenance done within a day or two. Plus, the staff did a great job creating monthly events so we could get to know our neighbors. Top-notch customer service, indeed. We always felt safe and secure in the environment. Our neighbors were excellent and friendly and the amenities were just what we needed. Seriously, it was a fantastic experience. Carly and the Cole are the best!

I recently had the opportunity to visit Cole Apartments in Austin, Texas, and I must say that my experience was overwhelmingly positive. Nestled in a vibrant part of the city, these apartments offer a perfect blend of convenience, modern amenities, and a welcoming community atmosphere. Location: 5/5 One of the standout features of Cole Apartments is their prime location. Situated near the heart of Austin, residents have easy access to popular dining spots, entertainment venues, and beautiful parks. Whether you’re looking for a morning coffee at a trendy café or a night out enjoying live music, everything is just a stone's throw away. The proximity to public transport also makes it easy to navigate the city. Amenities: 4.5/5 Cole Apartments boast a range of impressive amenities that make life comfortable and enjoyable. The fitness center is well-equipped with modern machines and free weights, catering to residents of all fitness levels. The rooftop lounge offers stunning views of the Austin skyline and is a great place to unwind or entertain friends. Additionally, the pool area is serene and well-maintained, providing a perfect escape during the warmer months. Apartments: 4.5/5 The apartments themselves are tastefully designed, with a focus on both style and functionality. Open floor plans create a spacious feel, and large windows allow for plenty of natural light. The kitchens are equipped with high-end appliances, and the bathrooms showcase modern fixtures. The attention to detail in the finishes can be seen throughout the unit, making it a lovely place to call home. Community Atmosphere: 4/5 The sense of community at Cole Apartments is palpable. I noticed that the management often organizes events, fostering a friendly and inclusive environment. Residents seem genuinely happy and engaged, which is always a positive sign in any apartment complex. The staff is also attentive and responsive, ensuring maintenance issues are addressed promptly and that residents feel taken care of. Conclusion: Overall, Cole Apartments in Austin, Texas, is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a comfortable and stylish living space in a lively city. With its excellent location, modern amenities, and vibrant community atmosphere, it is easy to see why many residents choose to call this place home. Whether you're a young professional, a couple, or a small family, Cole Apartments offer something for everyone. I would highly recommend taking a tour if you’re considering a move to Austin! And Cheyenne was cool too.

Living at this complex has been an incredibly frustrating and disappointing experience, primarily due to the glaring lack of security and management’s inaction. Security is virtually non-existent. Random people frequently wander the halls, creating an uncomfortable environment. We were followed to the elevator once, which was unsettling, and packages are regularly stolen from in front of residents’ doors. Unfortunately, management does nothing to address these issues. To make matters worse, my motorcycle was stolen directly from the "gated" garage, and despite informing the front office, they showed no initiative in helping resolve the situation. It’s clear that the safety of residents and their belongings is not a priority here. Noise is another major issue. The acoustics throughout the building are terrible, so you’ll hear everything from your neighbors to people walking in the hallways at all hours. Residents frequently disregard the pool and hot tub hours, being loud late into the night, and management does nothing to enforce these rules, making it difficult to get a decent night's sleep. To top it off, management has even asked residents for feedback on how they can make improvements, but they consistently ignore suggestions and fail to follow up. This pattern of inaction only deepens the feeling of insecurity and neglect. If you’re looking for a place where you can feel safe, secure, and get some peace and quiet, this is not it. I've lived in various places, and this has been the most unsafe, noisy, and poorly managed complex by far. I strongly recommend looking elsewhere for your next home. I personally can’t wait to leave.

I have loved my time living at Cole Apartments! You cannot beat the location. You are less than a mile from Barton Springs, Downtown or South Lamar which I choose to walk to due to the paths and fun trails. The staff is very kind and responsive. You can tell they truly want us to enjoy our home. I live in a studio and the way it is set up makes it feel spaced out and open. The kitchen is rather spacious for a studio downtown. Neighbors are all nice and social. Highly recommend!

I would not move in here. Package theft is absolutely out of control and no one at the apartment complex seems to care at all and it is WILD. We are forced to use and pay for a package delivery service called Fetch, where your packages are delivered to an offsite warehouse. Fetch allows you to pick a time frame for delivery and then they deliver to your door. Fetch has lost my packages, delivered out side of the time frame and straight up stolen packages. Fetch service is AWFUL, there is even a whole Reddit page called r/EndFetch where people are trying to get this company terminated because there is so much package theft!!!! I have started claims with Fetch and they take weeks to respond to emails, have no common sense and will do anything to not have to offer compensation for lost or stolen packages. If you bypass the Fetch service and have things delivered directly to your apartment door, there is a 50/50 chance that the packages are stolen by either a resident living in The Cole or someone who gets into the building. I have had over 5 packages stolen and my roommate has had multiple as well. I sent a text in the apartment group chat about stolen packages and nearly everyone in the group chat has had the same experience. I have emailed the leasing office about this and they don't even respond! This could easily be taken care of by installing package delivery lockers like LuxerOne. These were used at a previous apartment I lived at and I never had one issue or heard of any issues in the 5 years I lived there. Or they could install cameras in the building and actually catch the thieves. The only cameras they have are by the leasing office BUT my friend's car was hit while he was parked in one of the spots by the leasing office. He submitted a police report and asked the office about the footage and they said they couldn't access it! So the cameras are basically useless. Multiple cars have been broken into in the garage as well, which would also warrant the installation of cameras but again, the apartment complex must still think these are unnecessary and leads me to believe they do not care about the residents or their safety. The criminal activity going on within the complex is out of hand and on top of not being able to have packages delivered, I no longer feel safe living here, and will be moving out. So sad because this is such a great location.

My partner and I have been living at the Cole for almost 2 years now and could not have found a better place in Austin to live!!! Walking distance to Zilker Park, ACL, Blues on the Green, Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, food truck park, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and the list seriously is never ending! Not only is the location unbeatable but the staff is so friendly and accommodating. I especially love all of the events they put on for the residents. And the apartment itself is such great quality. I have a killer view of downtown and have a nice open floor plan that’s great for having guests over. No need to look further, you’ve found your home!

We have been at the Cole for a little more than a year and happily just renewed our lease in a new unit! The location is hard to beat, especially for the price. Our manager Savanna works tirelessly to keep things running smoothly and has been the absolute best manager we’ve ever had in our years of renting!

We were fortunate to live at the Cole for nearly three years. Regarding the space, the location could not be better: walking distance to Lady Bird Lake, downtown, ACL...you get the picture. The apartment itself had a super cozy, open environment with huge windows facing downtown Austin (we had a 4th-floor unit with a balcony looking north). All the other apartments we looked at during our search had tiny living rooms, but the Cole allowed plenty of room to entertain. The bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets were all spacious, which is plus, plus, plus. I can not say enough about Carly and her team. From the leasing office to the maintenance crew, everyone was amazing. Carly was on it whenever we had an issue and ALWAYS with a smile. The maintenance crew usually had repairs/maintenance done within a day or two. Top-notch customer service, indeed. We always felt safe and secure in the environment. Our neighbors were awesome and friendly and the amenities were just what we needed. Seriously, it was a fantastic experience. Carly and the Cole are excellent.

This is really a good place to live. Not Great, but definitely not Meh. There's some problems that would otherwise make for just an okay place to live, but the location and the attitude of the staff of the apartment and nearby stores (Thom's Market and Green Mesquite BBQ) make up the difference. The Great? The Staff. Carly. Carolyn. Juan. Oz. All have been here for a bit and it does feel like a little family. The Good? Good location because of the access to walkable/bikeable things you otherwise would drive to. Ride to the springs, putt putt, South Congress (now that parking is $$). The Bad? The fees and property upkeep. The property is undermaintained from a resource perspective. The trash compactor was out for awhile and that created a roach problem that persists to this day. No real way to get rid of them so roaches are going to be part of your life. The fees are ridiculous. It's not the number so much as what they call them. Pest Control. Package Delivery. Amenity Fee. Trash Fee. Valet Trash Fee. Rent fee (That's right, there's a fee to charge you rent). Just assume $300 in fees on top of base rent and about $140 in electric plus $50 in water so about $500 more than base rent is what you'll be paying. I've been here for 3 years and enjoy it. Would recommend.

I lived at the Cole for a few months, and it was the worst place I've ever lived. This is the only place I've lived in where I had noise issues with multiple sets of neighbors. I understand there is a reasonable expectation of noise when you're living in an apartment, but this was just unbearable. I had two different sets of neighbors live above me who were dead silent during the day, but during the night (usually started around 9-10 pm and continued until about 3 am), they would just hulk-stomp around their apartment all night. I tried talking to the neighbors directly and the leasing office, but nothing changed. I would be woken up in the middle of the night just from my neighbors stomping around their apartment. Basically, the quality of the apartments is just garbage. There's no soundproofing whatsoever. One set of neighbors also flooded my bathroom because they accidentally overflowed their bathtub. So in addition to being loud in the middle of the night, they were also idiots. I also lived next to the pool/courtyard, and people weren't supposed to be there after 10 pm, but you would still get people who would go down there and party late at night (again, waking me up). There were also a few instances where someone had their dog barking all night inside their apartment, and I could hear it. Seriously. Soundproofing does not exist in these apartments. I've lived in other apartments where the walls were thin and I could hear my neighbors screaming at each other, and I could deal with that because it all happened during the day. Here, people don't care if they're making a ton of noise in the middle of the night. The quality of the apartments and the people that live here is low - find somewhere else to live.

Lived at cole for about a year. Great location, good service, plenty parking and monthly resident events. All in all I had a good experience. But then, they jacked up the rent by 35-40% when I was up for renewal !!

Lived here about a month, it's been wonderful so far. Community events are awesome and maintenance is quick. Love the repainting and updates to the building and the units themselves are gorgeous.

My boyfriend and I moved into the Cole Apartments last week and so far we've been blown away by the property and level of service we've received from the leasing office. I toured with Katie and she was so transparent, answering a lot of tough questions that leasing agents like to dismiss. Her manager Savanna seems great as well. Same goes for the maintenance staff guy I met for a minute, Oz. Solid crew! Pro's - LOCATION, huge unit, even bigger walk-in closets, roomy balcony facing downtown (so pretty at night), lots of natural light, clean & quiet pool and hot tub, lots of resident events if you want to get to know your neighbors or meet people, so far I'm loving this place... Con's - Older building, noisy outside with construction, concerts at Zach Theater, cars on S Lamar (but we actually like the city living feel of it), toilet flushes mega-loud, the AC unit is really loud, the gym is tiny and dated so if you're a gym rat who works out at home this isn't for you. For my needs, this place has been ahhhhmazing! I highly recommend the Cole Apartments.

I have lived here for years and love it! It is the most fantastic location. The staff is wonderful and I can't imagine living anywhere else. The units are big and the community is great.

Less than six months in and this apartment is still a mess. Again, I'm not sure if it is just my apartment but my overall observation is that the construction of the building is poor. I moved in on 1/25. By 2/4: 1) Balcony door did not lock; 2) Dryer did not work (vents were clogged so it would not dry any clothes); 3) Garbage disposal clogged; 4) Dishwasher flooded; 5) Toilet flusher gets stuck so it continues to flush water until you have to manually push the lever up again; 6) The oven/stove broke while I was cooking dinner. Later on, the face of one of the drawers in the kitchen literally fell off while I was opening the drawer to get scissors. Pictures below. The upsides to this unit are: it is bright and sunny and in a good location. Maintenance is friendly and quick. The staff do try their best to accommodate; sending in a new washer/dryer and getting all of the issues fixed as quickly as possible. However, there are just too many issues in this unit to be considered normal. There are other minor issues I haven't even bothered to mention. In the last 15 years, I have lived in a number of apartments in Boston (Brighton, Brookline, East Boston), Dallas, Richardson, and now Austin, Texas. I have not had to call maintenance/report an issue this many number of times in all locations combined. I have never lived in a complex with so many issues during my entire stay; let alone the first week. I was excited to live in this apartment but at this point I am ready to leave when the lease is up.

My husband and I lived at The Cole property for 5 years of bliss downtown living. We were on the second floor facing downtown (Toomey St.) The noise was moderate, but never a problem. The building is walking distance to restaurants and bars. Also loved that there is a little corner store a block away. Parking spots were included in the rent which for this close to downtown is a luxury. This was the first build I've ever lived in where I LOVED the office staff, management, and maintenance staff. Everyone was always willing to go the extra mile. The only reason we left was bc we bought a house. If you're on the fence about living here don't be snag that open apartment!

I've lived here about 3 months and this is hands DOWN the best complex I've lived in in Austin. The location is perfect and the units are gorgeous, large and bright and the staff is amazing! Anytime I've had a maintenance request someone was over within the hour to fix the issue, even when they we off duty! I've come from larger complexes prior and it is like night and day with how much easier communication is here. We were were kind of expecting a *party pool* situation given the location, but we've not once had an issue with noise, and all of the fellow residents here are super polite and kind. Did I know I would want access to a hot tub living in Texas? Nope, but now I never want to be without one. Really feels like a true community. Absolutely love love love it.

I moved to Austin from New York and have lived in Cole for about a month. So far very pleasant experience moving in and interacting with the building staff. Management also hosts events regularly which is a good way to get to know the ppl that live here and getting tips for things to do in the city. The apartment itself is modern and spacious and I haven't had any problems so far.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE living here. All the way from location, views, amenities, fun apartment activities, our neighbors, and especially the service from our handymen and front office - EVERYTHING has been nothing but incredible and I'm so happy and lucky to have found this gem of a place in central Austin. Mainly for investment reasons I've purchased a house otherwise I would've wanted to stay at Cole for the rest of my apartment living life! (Yes, that's how much I love it here!)

Just moved back home to Texas from Boston due to work so I know about rude landlords, But I wasn't expecting this type of management in Austin, TX at a Lincoln property. It has been nothing but undesirable experiences..From having to argue with Savana about covering cost of our Hotel room when our apartment is 100 degrees due to AC being broken..to having my car new car towed due to them not entering my information in to the system. Check out the apartments next to Zilker park if that is your attraction to this place, but I suggest you go somewhere people are hospitable. Needless to say, I will not be renewing my lease here... Additionally for those who commute.. schloztksys is about to be a major construction project on top of Lamar and Riverside construction..will not miss the traffic. C- experience at best. Feel free to stop by high note coffee shop and speak to the residents yourselves about their experience, especially during Covid the lockdown...I would attach the picture of the hand sanitizer bottle that has been taped to our elevator for a few months here but I think you all get the point here.

If you want a well priced, well maintained place close to downtown Austin, next to Zilker Park, Barton Springs, the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail and much much more. I highly recommend The Cole Apartments. The leasing staff is phenomenal. Ashley, Savanna, and Sunny are always friendly and willing to do whatever is asked within reason in a more than timely fashion. The maintenance crew, Oz, Pedro, and the others are respectful of my belongings and dogs while handling even the littlest of problems damn near immediately. The anchor restaurant , Barille, has great food and drinks, as well as great LIVE music a few nights a week. All in all, I don't see any reason to look elsewhere for an apartment if you want to live in the heart of Austin and not be charged an arm and a leg. #COLErocks #coleatx

I moved into Cole over a year and a half ago, and it's been such a great experience! The location is incredible, the apartments are spacious and well-made, the staff goes out of their way to provide a wonderful living environment to their residents (shout out to Sunny!! She's so attentive!), and their resident events are never dull. From wine happy hours to rock climbing to ACL hair braiding, there is so much variety you never get bored. My neighbors have always been respectful and friendly, and I truly love living here.

First of all: cockroaches. Enough said there. Horrific neighbors in terms of noise at ALL HOURS of the night (I'm talking 2am to 530am range). Being woken up several times a night, several times a week, EVERY WEEK. If youve never dealt with this before it will sincerely ruin your life. They just kind of have a "shoot that really sucks for you. wheres my rent?" attitude, and dont do anything about it. They actually tried to feed me the "Oh well ya know everyone is stuck at home because of the pandemic so that means people throwing shit at 2 AM is ok." As if the pandemic excuses that sort of thing or as if - were the pandemic to magically disappear overnight - that that sort of behavior would also disappear. Really sloppy painting as well. Flecks of paint all over the floor makes it look like the floor is constantly dirty. Thrilled that I signed a relatively short lease.

Water Leaks ! I lived on the second floor and there are always constant water leaks ! Also the walls are Thin ! You can hear everyone upstairs walking and tons of street noise Plus the horrible design of the living room AC - when the AC turns on you can't even hear the TV! You have to turn it up all the way it's horrible design There have also been multiple break ins in the garage when I lived there Would highly recommend Coldwater instead I moved there after

My wife and I lived here for 2 years and LOVED the location. Walkable to all the ACL and all Zilker events, $5 uber ride downtown, and Town Lake is right in your backyard! New property management took over about a year ago and things improved immediately. Savanna and Ashley are super helpful and friendly and will go out of their way to help you out.

Cole Apartments is the best apartment complex that I've lived in. 1. Location is literally unbeatable. You can walk to Zilker/Barton (ACL, park-life, swimming EVERY DAY, etc.) and downtown. 2. Staff is extremely friendly from office to maintenance. These people care and go further than I ever expected. 3. The apartments are beautiful. We were on the fifth floor, talk about a view (and vaulted ceilings.) 4. It's affordable. For the quality and location, they have the best prices per square foot. Thank you, Cole!!

Lovely place to live. Fantastic location, considerate neighbors, wonderful office staff, prompt repairs, and beautiful, spacious apartments.

I lived at the Cole for 2 years - Cayce used to be the manager, and she was AMAZING. (I believe they promoted her to one of their new buildings) Seriously - wonderfully professional, personable, and no-nonsense. However, the building is older and has a few things you should consider over some other places in town. #1 - I was on the second floor and for 2 years had elephants living above me. The walls/floors are paper thin, so unless you're on the 1st or the 5th floor, it's not worth it. (There is concrete between the 1st and 2nd floors - I checked to make sure the people below me couldn't hear me the way I was bothered by my upstairs neighbors). Also, most bedroom walls share a wall with the hallway - I wasn't exaggerating when I said paper thin. You can hear conversations people have in the hallway like they're standing right next to you. Now think about this when people come home drunk at 2 or 3 in the morning and are shouting/stumbling through the hallways. #2 - My air conditioner ran constantly (turned on roughly 8 minutes after it turned off) and LOUDLY. All of my friends always commented on it every time they came over, and if you were watching TV in the living room, you'd have to crank the volume to be able to still hear whatever you were watching. I'm not sure if it was like this for others that lived there - but at one point they even replaced the unit, and that barely helped it run less (and it definitely wasn't quieter) #3 - They will nickel and dime you on move-out. Document EVERYTHING and take pictures and video - even then you're going to be in for some "fun" trying to fight them. #4 - The pool only gets sun from about 10AM until 3:30PM in the summer which can be a bummer. Having said all that, if you get a unit with a balcony they're pretty good size. Also the parking spaces are pretty big which is awesome. But to be honest, there are better options in town.

I wish I could give two separate reviews. The staff at Cole is polite and responsive, and deserves at least 4 stars. Maintenance requests were handled quickly and completely. The office staff is doing their best to deal with a terrible situation, and I applaud them for that. This review is for the apartment building itself however; you have to live here after all. As other reviewers pointed out, the construction of this building is absolutely terrible. You will think you are living at the NASA shuttle launch site every time your upstairs neighbor flushes their toilet, you will be able to clearly hear your next-door neighbor's every conversation, and trust me, you will hear every footstep taken in the common hallway. I'm sure some people could tolerate the noise, but the rent prices are just to high to make it worth it. Cole isn't alone in their shoddy construction, which seems to be a trend among recently built downtown Austin apartments. I'm willing to bet there has been a chain of deception passed down from the investors, to the builders, to the managers, on down to the poor renter. If you must live in one of these terrible apartments, at least make sure you get a corner unit on the top floor. A parting tip for apartment hunters: Pay attention to the construction of interior doors; you can expect the overall construction to be systemic, and if the interior doors feel like they are made of cardboard, don't expect much more for the rest of the building.

I have lived at Cole Apartments for approximately 2 months now. The location cannot be beat. My husband and I were looking for something near the city and near the park for our two doggies and we stumbled upon these apartments. I really enjoy living here. We have a great view of the city and our dogs like to sit on the patio on watch people walking/biking/driving on the street. On the other hand, the apartments aren't the greatest. You would think with the price we pay for rent, we would have nice cabinets, soundproofing, etc. but we don't. I cannot hear my neighbors to either side of me, however I can hear every single footstep/stomp/vacuum/etc. that my neighbor does upstairs. Its loud.... really loud. Not like, oh... this is just apartment living and is to be expected when you have someone living so close. Sometimes I feel like running upstairs to make sure my neighbor is ok because she is so freaking LOUD! The other outside noises like the train and cars are to be expected because after all.... it is the city. And there aren't many tall buildings around to dampen the noise. The girls in the office are really nice and always seem to help solve any issues we have. Oh, and I haven't formally met a single neighbor since we have lived here. Not really a community vibe. All in all, I would probably spend another year here... only because there are not a lot of other options.

I moved from NYC about 1.5 years ago and Cole has been a really great transition home to Austin. Not only is it the BEST location for anything you're interested in, but the apartments are very spacious and comfortable. The staff is also exceptional. I've never had an issue getting something fixed if I have a request. The team also organizes great community events, which is a great way to get to know your neighbors (and also rare for apartment complexes). I can't complain!

I've lived here for just over a month now and I am overall quite pleased. There were some move-in day pains that could have easily been avoided but Rosalinda in the leasing office not only came tommy rescue on that day but has always greeted me with a smile and reacts quickly to any of my needs. When I put in a maintenance request the dude shows up within three hours. It's amazing. The interior is a little lower in quality than I would prefer. The wear and tear of the 9 years is evident but not disastrous in any regard. Love my balcony, love the pet friendliness. Wish there was more grass near lobby area and that they would get rid of the ugly mobile storage container out front. ROSALINDA ROCKS MY SOCKS.

Fantastic location! Close to Zilker, town lake, downtown and restaurants within walking distance. Staff is friendly and gets maintenance done quickly. Great place to live.

I just moved into Cole, and I absolutely love it. There is nothing not to love. The ladies in the office including Ashley, Kacy and Rosalinda are very nice and so sweet! The best part is that if anything is ever wrong in your apartment, management fixes it the same day and without any bickering! I love living here, it just feels like home :) And you can't beat the location, I mean, it is just perfect.

Lived here for two years and loved it. Had no major issues and the only two I had were taken care of promptly. Moved to try and save a couple hundred dollars but honestly regret that decision! Should have never left.

I have lived at the Cole Building for over three years. Cole has a great mix of professionals, couples, kids and its very pet friendly. I find the building quiet, perfectly located near Barton Springs, Zilker Park, Lady Bird Lake running trail, tons of restaurants and local bars. The maintenance staff has been extremely responsive to all maintenance and repair requests. The front office staff is always available to help and everyone here is friendly, courteous and professional. GREAT PLACE!

My partner and I have been living at the Cole for almost 2 years now and could not have found a better place in Austin to live!!! Walking distance to Zilker Park, ACL, Blues on the Green, Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, food truck park, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and the list seriously is never ending! Not only is the location unbeatable but the staff is so friendly and accommodating. I especially love all of the events they put on for the residents. And the apartment itself is such great quality. I have a killer view of downtown and have a nice open floor plan that's great for having guests over. No need to look further, you've found your home!

I have to agree with Yelper Lara E. (first review). Cole was my first digs when I got back to Austin in '09. I was the first tenant in that unit, so everything was shiny and new. I was on the south side with a balcony overlooking P. Terry's and all that surrounds, including House Wine and Barton Springs Saloon. It was noisy, and I liked it that way. Maybe I can understand the frustration of people with courtyard-side units and/or no balcony, when you're naturally going to tune in to the noise coming from around the building, but my balcony was literally aimed directly at the intersection of Lamar and Barton Springs, and the buzz of the location trumped any quibbles over thin walls and such. The place isn't exactly cheap, and I found my neighbors adequately gentrified: respectful, responsible, and reasonable about noise. I grew to hate the exterior architecture of the building: So much post modern busy-ness and vomit of different colored siding... but I also grew to appreciate the design and layout of the place underneath that skin. Parking is hella cool, and I was not 50 feet from my cars on the fourth floor. I love the clean, modern style of the units, but that beauty is only skin deep: the thin veneer on the cabinets will wear quickly and evidence of cheap construction abounds. Obviously, the location is hard to beat, and Cole wins for that, alone. Management was professional and Brian, the maintenance chief, was as golden and earnest a fellow as they come. The place is very dog-friendly (save for the few douchey tenants who feel above cleaning up after Fido). I moved out after my year's lease, but it was a tough decision, driven by stubbornness and probably a lack of savvy on my part. I received a nice move-in rent credit and figured my cost for the place based on an adjusted year-long amount. When my lease was about to expire, I figured I'd default to a month-to-month arrangement at the full rate. Oh, but no. Just days before I had to make a decision, I received a letter on my door offering me a small increase in rent (over the full rate, never mind the pro rata rent with the move-in discount - or to pay a grossly inflated rate to live month-to-month. I was put-off enough to bolt to a privately-owned downtown loft. I imagine such practices are part of the game for corporate-managed properties, but I felt insulted after a year of paying my rent on time and being an über-cooperative tenant. Silly me for thinking the corporate screws wouldn't be turned when the lease was up, with scant notice as provided in the fine print of the lease. Assuming such practices are the norm, then any dissatisfaction might be common with similar properties, and adjusted for that suckitude, memories of the Cole have a warm place in my heart.

Nice apartments, great complex. Location is perfectly placed between Zilker (10 minute walk) and downtown (about a mile). Rosalinda, in the leasing office, is incredibly helpful and friendly - - and gives the most thorough tour of the complex possible. We've been very happy living at Cole.

More of a hoax than a home; a deliberately set up shell game. This place is carefully contrived to get you in and then to raise your rent shockingly after your first lease is up. You've suffered the expense and hassle of moving in and it's expensive and awful to have to move yet again but 12 months later. It is then calculated to make it *very* hard on you to relocate once you find out about the rent hike and how NOISY and poorly cared for it is. (Garbage in the halls, left there for days.Yuck.) After that first lease is over and they jack up your rent extortionately, if you want to move out, going to month-to- month in order to find a new place will cost so much you won't be able to buy groceries. They are hoping to make it so hard to move out that you will throw up your hands and stay. Meanwhile new folks will be moving in at much lower rent than yours is now (why is that fair? It isn't -it's a scam.), blissfully unaware of what is in store for them. So you're damned if you do stay and damned if you don't. The pool in the middle is an echo chamber/wall of sound. Where do all the frat-like pool partiers from? Lots of endlessly crying babies coming through the walls at all hours, too, and badly built with crappy materials so that the acoustical privacy- or peace and quiet is non-existent; you'll hear your upstairs neighbor's every move. Have a look at their reviews for the twin building at the Cole Apartments on 300 S Lamar.

I have lived at the Cole for over a year. The only thing going for the apartment is it's location near Zilker. I have to agree with the other reviewers about the shoddy construction, street noise, minimal pool and deck area ( because of where it's located, the area is sunny only from 12-3), minimum exercise facilities and equipment. The management also does not enforce the guest or glass policy at the pool (particularly on weekends) when the small pool deck is occupied with large parties. The maintenance guys do a good job on the small stuff. However, bigger things remain undone. For example, the outside windows are supposed to be washed once a year. Since I have lived here, it has not been done. I have requested better exercise equipment, but no changes have been made. The fountain at the entry to the apartment rarely functions. The appliances in the apartments are low quality and the refrigerator does not work properly despite multiple requests to fix it or replace it. Our biggest problem is the noise level in the bedroom from the traffic on Lamar at all times of the day, which is more acute during normal sleeping hours and difficult to get used to. The second biggest problem is the lack of security. Anyone can get into the building with their vehicle or simply walking in. There has been a rash of stolen bicycles lately and the management's solution was to inform the tenants to keep their bikes in the apartment instead of dealing with the issue of how outsiders were getting into the building (assuming the theives were outsiders). Unwanted solicitors also get in and knock on your door. In the meantime, the management continues to jack up rents at regular intervals. Hopefully, the new competition in the neighborhood will get them to take serious actions to fix the situation or provide better value. The office staff is quite friendly

This apartment complex is great. Lived here for a year and wish I could stay longer but life is taking me to Atlanta. Parking is included in the rent and the staff is very nice. This neighborhood is amazing. I used to live on Soco and was skeptical the atmosphere would be as good but I was pleasantly surprised. I can walk downtown or take a run on the trail since it is right across the street. I have an incredible view of the city and the floor to ceiling windows are a huge part of this. I recommend this place wholeheartedly.

After a horrible experience at Soco lofts (dont even think about renting there, it is complete trash) we were crossing our fingers that Cole would be a more positive living experience. The staff is friendly (even after you move in. I know. Shocking.) especially Kristy. She is our favorite. The maintenance staff is nice and answers requests same day. We transferred units mid lease and although we had a LOT of issues with the new unit, maintenance took care of everything quickly and it has been smooth sailing since then. The location is perfect, the building is well taken care of, and it feels very safe and clean. Overall, we have been impressed with the living situation here, and we are high maintenance and not easy to please. :)

Our family has been very pleased with Cole Apartments. The location fits our lifestyle, and the amenities meet our needs. The leasing, management, and maintenance staff are available and attentive should I ever need their assistance.

Thoroughly impressed by the location and staff. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome and to help with anything! Would recommend this place to anyone!

Cole was a great place to live. I lived there for a year, my first year in Texas, and I could not have asked for a nicer community. I see people complaining about noise and quality and such. I will say I enjoyed every second of living there. The maintenance staff was great and always willing to help in every way. The front office is full of great professionals who will bend over backwards for you as well. If you are young, single or a couple I strongly suggest it. If you have a kid, I can see the noise being an issue, but living in that area (by train tracks and a busy intersection...ACL, other music) you need to be smart and know your surroundings. I will miss it.

I live on the first floor and am in love with the interior feeling. It's super modern and the location is wonderful. I moved from San Diego where cost of living was super high for rent. Austin is surprisingly just as high. So considering rates were essentially the same all over the new properties in Austin, I'm glad I chose the COLE. It's a perfect dog friendly location with attentive staff, close to the trail, easy access to parking, neighborly, small pool and bbq access for all, close to PURE fitness Austin and Whole foods. All very important things when looking to live close to downtown. Only downside is apartment living allows for a little noise through walls but if you are used to apartment living then it's a great place! I came from a house and had to get used to it but one little noise machine or run your air fan permanently and it cancels everything out. I've asked each of the downstairs neighbors and we all love this location enough to deal with a little echoing on occasion. Thank you COLE for a great first year. Excited to sign up for year 2! Sprout says thank you too for all the treats.

When I moved into Cole I thought what a perfect location. Sure itsa pretty place and has a good location but if I had read any reviews before I moved in I would have realized why nobody stays after their lease is up. They have big time turn over and people want to get the heck outta here because the NOISE is so TERRIBLE nothing would be worth doing it again. Thats why I see people move out everyday. Then they find a new sucker to move in no knowing any better. They have even admitted that the insulation from top to bottom is thin therefore you will every single thing your neighbor does. I mean everything, peeing, walking, washing, flushing, sex, cooking, dogs barking and walking, tvs, radios, coversations. This is the poorest aprtment I have ever lived in and its my 4th. I would do anything to go back to any of those previous three. Read this and take the advice and warning. They need to shut the place down for a year and re-do all the flooring and insulation for long term investment. soon enough everyone will get smart and avoid this place except for the suckers they get first time without knowing any better. The pool is small, the gym has three total machines in it and they break all the time. Not to mention, no matter holiday, weekend, summertime the entire pool, hottub, girll area is locked up by 10 pm on the dot. Even on the weekends you cannot enjoy a nice soak past 10:02 pm I wish to GOD I would have read a review before moving in, now I am stuck and they know that cause they typically have to throw in three or so months free to get you in and then if you need to break the lease or absolutley go nuts because of the noise they have you pay back that three months upwards of 7K. You are stuck, miserable, depressed, tired, and unhappy and they really dont care because they know they will get your money you will move out and they will prey on the next victim. AVOID COLE or any other Phoinex Properties, they build them cheap and charge a premium until everyone starts getting smart and reading REVIEWS!!!!!

good- mgmt takes action; the community brunches and happy hours are a nice touch! bad- halls are too echo-y; the pool area is more of a space filler than a destination.