Wafa G.
Google
I would not recommend Cortland Columbia Pike under its current management. Since the management change, there has been a noticeable decline across the board: increased theft, trash left in hallways, stripped-back amenities, and an overall culture of antagonistic front desk and leasing staff. If you are noise sensitive, this is not the right building either because there are parties, and the floors/ceilings are constructed in a manner in which you can hear the movement of your upstairs neighbor. I can hear my upstairs neighbor chopping everyday at 1pm for two hours.
Getting help here has become nearly impossible. Emails go unanswered, phone calls are ignored, and when you show up in person, you are often demeaned, dismissed, or treated as an inconvenience rather than a resident.
Recently, my doormat was stolen and replaced with trash that was deliberately arranged on my doorframe. Other residents’ holiday decorations nearby were untouched. I filed a police report and immediately shared it with management. When no one followed up, I went to the leasing office to ask for guidance. I had simply wanted to know what reasonable steps I could take to secure my front door, and if there is a general pattern of theft in the building that we can work as a community to resolve.
That was a mistake. The leasing agent I spoke with, Gervon, attempted to adjudicate whether the incident “counted” as theft and vandalism, minimized the situation as “just trash,” and even expressed his personal disdain for doormats and how he requested when he first began that residents not have doormats yet his management did not agree. He asked me, “So what do you want us to do about it?”
When I asked about reasonable safety measures, such as a door camera, he incorrectly told me it was “against the law” and said the only way to request one was through an ADA disability accommodation form. He then launched into an anecdote about how a wheelchair user at a prior property was denied a ramp. No solutions were offered. No alternatives. No concern. He acted as though I was lying, and he did not believe me.
Surprisingly, he actually sent a follow-up email with the ADA accommodation form. I responded by requesting contact information for the community manager, property manager, or regional manager—exactly as my lease allows. There is no reason a leasing agent should be handling a security concern involving a police report. There was no investigation, no follow-up, and no concern for resident safety. Gervon explicitly told me, “We cannot guarantee your safety here.” The tone throughout was adversarial and dismissive. I left with a strong impression that Cortland residents are viewed as problems to manage rather than people who live there.
If everything is quiet and nothing ever goes wrong, you might be fine living here. If you have a high tolerance for stomping sounds and hearing your upstairs neighbor every move (and having others hear YOUR every move), you will be fine living here. But if you ever need support, clarity, or management involvement—especially around safety—do not expect it.
Cortland is welcome to contact me directly regarding this review and I request they avoid the standard "sorry for your experience, give us a call." I have contacted the office about all of these concerns. Solutions are what I am looking for.
