Carlton Towers

I lived here for a few years and had an overall positive experience. It definitely isn't as bad as some of the reviews make it out to be. That being said, there is some truth to the negative reviews. The building is very old so the floors creak, the appliances are outdated, the windows are in desperate need of a wash, etc. However, I found my apartment charming, cozy, and extremely affordable. I do wish the building owner would invest some money into updating more of the apartment interiors, cleaning the windows, and replacing the laundry machines, but it definitely isn’t in disrepair. I think if you’re used to living in luxury then this building isn’t for you. But if you’re ok with older buildings and appreciate a good deal then you’ll find it’s a nice place to live. The building manager, Dave, is fairly strict like others have said, but he’s not unreasonable or unfriendly in my experience. He’s just doing his job. Everything else aside, the location really is the selling point, as its literally right across the street from the train station. Westfield is also just a very charming town, with lots of shops and restaurants all within walking distance. So overall the good really outweighed the bad for me.

Lived here for a year and only reason I left was for a new job out of state. Considerably affordable compared to the other available units nearby. Very close to downtown and the train station, great for walking. Updated bathroom and kitchen were nice. Very limited parking spaces so usually have to park on the street. The residential roads by the complex are not that busy though. Unit was heated through radiator that worked great, very efficient in heating up the place. Walls are a little thin and frequent outside traffic noise such as cop cars and horns, not much of a problem though.

I lived here for four years and enjoyed my apartment and time in Westfield. The apartments inside are charming with wood floors, arched doorways and tray ceilings. With the radiator heat, I was always toasty warm all winter. The shared hallways and elevator were always clean and well maintained. It has an inside lobby for package delivery and laundry facilities inside as well. It is in a great location, across the street from the train to NYC and walking distance to shopping and restaurants in downtown Westfield, with a bagel place and deli right across the street. The building manager is continuously updating apartments, and very handy for anything that needs to be repaired. It's easy to reach him since he lives right in the building and is always ready to help. He also shoveled any snow right away, so you never had to worry about venturing out. The town provides permits to park on street for a small fee, it's nice to leave your car and take a very short walk home from the train or town. It's also close to a Trader Joe's, Target, Lord and Taylor, and the parkway at exit 135. The rent prices can't be beat with some utilities included, this is a great deal!

I have been living here for just over 2 years now and can honestly say its a perfect affordable complex conveniently located near everything. I travel a lot for work and have access to all the major highways within 10-15 minutes of home, not to mention the train station with quick access to New York City being right across the street. With multiple vehicles, I was concerned about parking but the town allows residential parking right next to the building that is exclusive to the tenants and neighbors. There is also access to on site washers and dryers that make laundry much easier without having to travel. The grounds are always kept clean and tidy with constant upkeep from both landscapers and management, so theres no fear of having friends or family over to somewhere dingy or run down. Being close to downtown, I have access to a multitude of high end restaurants and shopping. The town is always quite with friendly neighbors and a peaceful atmosphere. There is several tenants that have lived here long term, some for many many years who are extremely kind and make it feel like a small community. Overall, I quite enjoy living here and have no intention of moving out anytime soon.

We signed a one year lease because we had little time to wait and look for more places. It was much less expensive than other places in the area, and after living here it became apparent why. The building itself looks fine from the outside--lots of old, historic charm--but once you walk inside, it looks dirty and neglected. The actual apartments are on the smaller side, which is to be expected in an older building like this, but the windows are filthy, the floors are dirty and creak, and the walls are covered in so many layers of paint that it makes the whole place look and feel so much older than it is. The lease stipulates that you have to purchase carpets for the bedrooms, living room, and hallway, and that can be costly (why they won't just go ahead and carpet the entire place, I don't know). The day before we were supposed to move in, we found out that the old tenant still hadn't left, and it took over a week for us to finally get the keys to the apartment. When we finally moved in, the building manager told me that he had repainted the walls and that the place would be ready to move in, but upon walking through the door, it was obvious that the apartment hadn't been cleaned professionally at all. The laundry facilities are decent, but you have to go through the basement which is in dire need of a cleaning... same goes for the recycling and garbage room. The walls are thin, but we hear the elevator and the outside traffic more than our neighbors. Being an old building, there is no central air. That being said, our windows are open most of the time to let some air in--unfortunately, people smoke directly outside the building and the smoke comes into the apartment. Also, the recycling and garbage bins are rolled out and in very early in the morning, and it wakes us up every time. Notices to tenants are communicated very aggressively, with the landlord and building manager holding practically no accountability whatsoever. We are moving as soon as our lease is up. I'd rather pay more money than stay here any longer than I have to. Pros: Friendly neighbors, across the street from the train station, walking distance to many shops and restaurants. Cons: Dirty and neglected building, old and rundown kitchens and bathrooms, building manager (you can only call him, there is no business done via e-mail).

It's unfortunate that such a nice apartment building, conveniently located near the train station in wonderful Westfield, is managed as poorly as it is. The building, reminiscent of a beautifully old, vintage structure, has been neglected to the point at which it one could only use adjectives such as "dilapidated" and "unkept". While the laundry room features three coin-operated washers and dryers, at least one machine will be inoperable at any given time. The interior of the apartments faired no better. We looked at several units before moving in, but found all to have windows sealed with caulk that had rotted to the point of crumbling and you could see sunlight through the window frames. The building manager claimed that they "were fine" and had "recently" been done. As we noticed that many of the floorboards in one of the units were broken and sagging, we were once again assured that they "were fine". Since we desperately needed a place in the Westfield area, we signed a lease. I wish we had spent the money to live elsewhere. The building manager, Dave, could not have been any less helpful from the time we moved in. You have to move in during the week and only during the morning and early afternoon hours. He requires that EVERYTHING be taken in through the basement, so moving in to anything above the first floor becomes quite tiring. Finding space for a moving truck is very difficult. While there is a small driveway that could fit two medium-sized moving trucks, he informed us that the space was for his truck and wife's car. As a result, we had to park the trucks down the street-thus increasing this wonderful experience exponentially. Over the two years we lived there, the turnover of tenants was remarkable. We were able to get to know several during our time there, and were unsurprised by the terrible experiences others had with the building manager, Dave. Overall, I would suggest paying a bit more money and signing a lease either at one of the other buildings in the area or for one of the many houses available for rent throughout the area. While the rent may be on the lower end for the area, the building manager will make your time in the apartment horrendous.

We all know its about location,location,location. This is true I live right across the street from a train station,which is a pluse 40min ride to nyc. A well maintained building which is key to a comfortable stay. I also like they include all utilities.which seems to help in the decison of where to live. Overall location mixed with utilities included and a well maintained building keeps more tenants in and makes the building less of a revolving door.