Jonathan P.
Yelp
My fiancee and I stayed at the Roost in a 2 bedroom unit on the 5th floor for 2 months (June and July, 2015). We were in Philadelphia for business and needed a comfortable place close to our office on Market street that would accommodate the 2 of us + our dog (medium sized Border Lab mix). We looked several options in the area and settled on the Roost based on the quality of the units, kitchen and laundry in unit, dog-friendly, adjacent parking, and the flexibility of the lease (we weren't 100% set on a return date).
The Roost worked out really well for us. The price was very reasonable (relative to other apartment hotels and local hotels). It was easy for us to walk our dog in Dilworth park or Rittenhouse square. The location, while VERY convenient is in a VERY congested part of Philadelphia--traffic, construction, bars, restaurants, etc.
The only real issue was in the nature of the lease. The sales person (and the lease) described the ability to extend the lease with approx 15 days of notice. We tried to extend for an extra week (with appropriate notice) due to business needs, but were informed that there was no availability. We were not happy at the prospect of having to relocate, given that we had 2-months worth of stuff and our dog. After a lengthy email exchange with the manager of the property, we were finally offered relocation to another 2 bedroom unit in the Roost (the Penthouse, which was an upgrade over our unit, for the same price as our original unit; they also handled the moving of our stuff...THANK YOU, ISAAC!!!). The only issue was that we had to move out for a day before we could move into the new unit. They offered to pay for another location, but we opted to go it on our own for 1 night. Was this a big pain? Yes. Did we feel that management was breaking the terms of the lease? Yes. Were we ultimately accommodated and treated well? Absolutely.
In the end, I would return to the Roost. My take is that the management is still working out the kinks, and as popularity (demand) grows they will need to adjust their leasing terms.
The Pros:
-Easy reservation and payment processes
-The staff (special shoutouts to Daniel at the front desk, Isaac who heads up facilities, and Daniel Cruz who manages the Roost)
-The size of the units
-Fully-equipped kitchen
-Convenient location in the heart of Philadelphia
-Adjacent parking with a GREAT staff
-Nice rooftop gym and balcony
The Cons:
-Noisy and congested part of the city
-Sparsely decorated unit (our first place had very little art or decoration, while the Penthouse was beautifully appointed)
-Issues with extending the stay
-Small(ish) washer and dryer