Pohlig Box Factory Apartments

I wanted to share my recent experience with Pholig Box Factory, particularly in regards to their handling of deposits and applicant interactions. While I acknowledge that my initial application was denied, in hindsight, it turned out to be a fortunate outcome. I submitted an application for a unit on November 28th, 2023 and received a denial on December 2nd, 2023. This review is not about the rejection itself, as I now realize it was for the best. However, what followed has left me disappointed. It has been over two months since the denial, and I've encountered significant challenges in retrieving my fully refundable $100 hold deposit. Despite numerous attempts to address this matter, there has been a lack of responsiveness from Pholig Box Factory's management. This review serves as a cautionary note to those considering engaging with Pholig Box Factory. While my denial may have been a blessing in disguise, the subsequent difficulty in reclaiming a refundable deposit raises concerns about their overall business practices. I believe it's essential for potential applicants to pause and consider the experiences shared here before deciding to apply. This review is not intended to be a rant but rather a factual account of my interaction with the company. Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience.

We have lived in Pohlig for 2 years. Good Stuff: There is no denying this place has great charm as a renovated industrial space, tall ceilings, wood floors, etc. The location is really great too - only a few blocks from Libby Hill, shopping, restaurants, and other urban amenities. Matt, the property manager, is a good dude and is pretty responsive and helpful. Bad Stuff: I work in construction and I can say confidently that the quality of the renovation work they did several years ago was not great. We've had leaks in our ceiling from the unit above, faulty refrigerator, and can regularly hear dripping in the walls when faucets are running. The WORST problem, though, is how much noise you can hear from other units. Even normal walking from upstairs neighbors will sound like thundering and creaking on the old floor boards. God forbid your next-door neighbors are loud, because you can hear almost everything that is said and done in adjacent units. After a year of living here, we had new (extremely disruptive) neighbors move in next to us and the noise is so problematic that we will not be renewing our lease. If your neighbors are normal people or don't have pets, it will probably be OK, but otherwise, good luck with the acoustics. - It's hard to understate this problem.

Location is great--easy walking to Shockoe Bottom, downtown, Capital Trail and the river, and smaller parks like Libby a block away. Plus the market and drug store are conveniently outside the back door--literally. While the finishes inside individual units are being upgraded, the community-feel has diminished in the last year under the more corporate management. Long time tenants are leaving monthly probably for this reason. Rent increased exponentially within months of this shift in ownership--around the start of the pandemic of all times, yet common spaces do not reflect the increase as promised; in fact they are less clean. The lower level exit sign now hangs from a wire and those halls have become someone's personal storage, lined with furniture. The clean scent of the lobby from a weekly plug-in: gone; mail scattered all about the lobby desk; discarded items left for charity and never removed; stairwells often in desperate need of sweeping; plants in front of building: dead or on their way there. As the tenants leave, there is near constant construction noise in the various units as they are upgraded for new tenants. Warning, too, the "free" DirectTV doesn't work in storms and heavy rain, the "free" high-speed internet sometimes goes out or slows to a crawl for no apparent reason, and the HVAC is super loud while the walls are scarily thin. You'll hear your neighbors cough (among other things); luckily, most neighbors are quiet and respectful of this feature. Matt and Colin are pretty responsive to maintenance and other issues, so that's good as well.

To be close to downtown, the interstate, the best restaurants, and to feel like you can still get away from it all. The building is beautiful and the apartments have really nice finishes. There is never a wait long for maintenance work to be done. You can't get any closer to a grocery store or CVS. Most importantly, Holly is the best property manager I've ever worked with!