The Canal

Honest review for those choosing a place to live: I enjoyed my stay (would probably live here again). Nowhere is perfect but the issues I encountered were minor (detailed below) and wouldn’t deter me. There are some poor reviews about the staff, but during my experience they typically answered me pretty quickly - often the same day, I think always within 24 hours. Have not gotten a move out charge taken from my deposit yet - I will update if outrageous. Pros: -I never saw a single bug in my apartment -Neighbors are quiet! Not sure if the walls are very insulated or if it is the quiet group that lives here. Maybe both. I never hear through the walls and rarely hear above me -No extra charge for covered parking (a big reason I picked this place)(two garages, one with direct access to the buildings)(some units have private garages too). Plenty of guest parking -Amazing complex to walk a dog. Overall, a clean and impressive looking. Long walking path by the canal (and small dog park too). Dog poop bags/trash cans provided -Trash pick up at your door is 5 days a week -Rarely had to call maintenance - no big problems with my unit. They came by pretty quick and are nice. Easily submit your request on app. -You can text the office instead of calling or emailing. -I had a canal view and felt my unit was very private. I never felt “perceived” by my neighbors (lol) -I feel very safe in this area -You can tour the actual unit you are renting (only if unoccupied). They won’t show your unit to people if you’re living there (have had this is the past and it is so weird) -Can control the thermostat when you are away through an app -Washer and dryer are pretty new models -Every unit I toured looked different, which I liked because you can choose what works for you and your color preferences -There are ducks(?) and bunnies near the canal. So cute -elevators in my building Cons: -Recently people have not been picking up after their pets. Sometimes I see a worker coming around to pick up the poop, but not super often and it does build up before then. (They shouldn’t have to be doing it at all though, but it doesn’t seem like they are looking for the culprits). This is only a problem on the walking path. I wish they did more to identify the people doing this because it's probably only one or two, but it adds up -The office doors aren’t always unlocked during operating hours. This hasn’t been a huge deal for me since I have never had a big problem, but if I did it could be frustrating -There seemed to be a lot of yellowjackets in the summer. They were building nests on the ceiling of the garage and on my balcony. We are near nature though so I understand things like this may come with it, but I do think there are things to be done (removal of nests and traps please!). Gone by winter -My particular unit got very little natural light. However, I did have a wonderful view. Obviously not fixable -You have to use their trash can (provided) and there is often trash in the hallways waiting to be picked up. There are specific rules for when you are supposed to put your can out, but nobody follows these rules anymore and they aren’t enforced further than the staff sending out an email reminder that doesn’t change anybody's behavior. That pretty much goes for any email reminder -Smart Lock. A plus to some people, but I would rather have a key. You have to change the batteries in them yourself and if they die you are locked out and have to pay $250 to get into your apartment (has not happened to me). I may not mind as much if the batteries were provided or the switch was done for you, but to me it feels like I have to pay to open my own door

PLEASE BEWARE OF THIS COMPLEX!!!!! This is truly the worst apartment experience I have ever had. I should have known when I wasn't able to move in on my signed date and was given attitude the first time I ever interacted with the office staff. My patio was littered with broken glass, cigarette butts and garbage (photos provided) My shower didn't work, my freezer started leaking and none of my windows would lock (I'm on the first floor so yikes). When I notified the office on my move in day of the disgusting state of my patio someone "took care of it" by cleaning maybe 20 cigarette butts and then leaving. I went to the office 2 other times AND submitted more maintenance requests for it and it never got done. I just did it myself which is ridiculous. I've had repeated problems with my freezer leaking (4 separate times) since I moved in 3 months ago. I have MOLD and water damage because of it and it's been going on for far too long. The solution is apparently to just put some new baseboards on and call it a day. Putting a bandaid on it will not fix the problem. I have not gotten any follow up from the office to see if my mold or water damage has been taken care of. Maintenance is not very quick overall, although I will say Tony has been more helpful than anyone else in the entire complex. He actually communicates (sometimes) about problems I've had. If you ever have a problem and reach out to the office, you'll only be met with passive aggressiveness and a "not my problem" attitude. I can't tell you how often I've gone to speak to someone in the office and no one is there. How the heck are you running a complex with no staff to help? Also beware of the upcoming changes!!! They're going to let people use their apartments for AirBnB, which is honestly a safety concern for residents. They're forcing new and renewing residents to get Gigstreem internet. It's got some pretty terrible reviews (also no one has ever heard of it when I ask) and they're forcing everyone to pay $70 a month for it with no choice. Save yourself the headaches and don't even bother touring. Such a disappointment.

Where do I start? The staff here is absolutely amazing!!! My husband and I have lived here for two years now and The Canal has not disappointed us at all. Mike is so amazing and truly cares about us residents. Jay is so sweet and really listens to your concerns! Valentine is a stellar maintenance guy and is always nice and very professional. This team is a power house and one of the best apartment staff I have ever dealt with. Thank you all so much for making our stay here that much more memorable!

I’ve lived here for 7 years and I’ve had a great experience here. The new resident manager, Mike, goes above and beyond to assist with any needs and organizes fun activities that make living here feel like a family. The apartments are clean, and maintenance follows up quickly. I’ve loved the courtyards, which are perfect for lounging and spending time with family and friends. The garage has security cameras, providing extra peace of mind for car safety, and the management does a great job keeping residents informed about updates and changes. From my experience, the community is generally quiet, parking is easy and guest-friendly, and there’s a small dog park for pets. The area is still developing, so restaurants and shops are about 10–15 minutes away, but one of my favorite memories has been when food trucks come to the area, giving you the chance to try new places nearby. I also admired the pet grooming truck that would come around, which was very convenient. Throughout the years, it’s remained a friendly and a safe place where I’ve met so many wonderful people.

Interestingly styled apartments. Outdoor looks like British styled apartments with bricks and other features. Well designed pool area with sitting areas. I love the gym with the play space or residential common rooms. The play space or residential common room has a snooker boards, library shelves with good books for book clubs or lovers, fridge/freezer, sitting areas, brainstorming room, TV, open balcony to the pool, etc. From the photos: that looks like an outdoor space or quadrangle with trees and sitting areas. Stumbled upon rabbits around the canal with some interesting looking green wall with trees and other plants as a barricade to the canal and saw the train passing on the other side of the canal. I’ll recommend more lavender or scented plants alongside with the green wall to spread good scents around the area. Parking outdoor looks good and loved the parking garage especially because of the distance between the parking on both sides. The parking garage has reserved parking. Stairs and elevator (the elevator gets hot during summer, slight recommendation: it needs a cooling system/fan and scheduled maintenance). Great apartment but Farmers Branch needs more food restaurants and shopping centers in it. Residents in this apartment or surroundings will need to drive a bit for food and other stuff.