FRONTDESK R&T Lofts Downtown Des Moines

We used to love living here, but after nearly four years it’s become more expensive and frustrating, and we’ll move out when our lease ends. They’re raising the rent again, supposedly for upgrades, but all we’ve seen is new paint. It doesn’t feel like a luxury place anymore. Two months of free rent at renewal don’t make up for utility bills: ours average $300 a month, and neighbors have told me they pay $200-$300 or more. The thin windows let in constant noise from traffic, sirens, and homeless people yelling. There’s a downtown homeless problem that isn’t the building’s fault. What is the building’s responsibility is keeping the security fob system working. Doors have been broken or left unlocked for long stretches, and people sleep in the lobby, elevator, community couches, and skywalk. That feels unsafe and isn’t acceptable. Water damage is another warning sign. Our window ledge had marks when we moved in, and when it rains or in winter, condensation leaves puddles. Maintenance hasn’t fixed it because the windows need to be double pane at least. They caulk and repaint instead, and mold has grown. The elevators are a constant problem. There are three, but at least two seem to be broken almost every week. If you tour and keep taking the same one, it may be because the others are out of service. The ones that work shake badly and have holes in the floor. They put a new plank layer in the middle elevator, where the dip has returned, and the elevator that works most often has trapped us more times than I can count, sometimes for over 30 minutes. Management turns over about every six months. There was some stability two years ago, but staff seem to know ownership won’t invest in the building. The leasing team even admitted they won’t put money into improvements. The old team kept us updated and got more done. There’s a girl in the leasing office who’s been here a couple years, always says hi and smiles, and was the bright spot when we had management that was helpful and happy. They should bring that team back if they can. The community room was shut for over a year, the rooftop floor is falling apart, and the bocce court is basically a dog litter box. The “dog park” makes the rooftop stink of dog pee and poop, and its trash bin is always full. Hallways are hot and humid all summer, and I can’t wait to walk up 100 flights in that again. Garage pipes burst every winter. One year they ruined our car, and the next they almost did it again, so we now park across the street. Even over there, we see lots of cars with broken windows. Cockroaches come out of the trash chutes. The gym has one working treadmill, most other equipment barely works, and the TVs rarely work either. A lot of five-star reviews seem fake to me. Many only mention tours or former leasing agents, probably because they used to offer free rent for positive reviews.

My partner went for a showing and noticed a few concerns. The parking garage may not actually be owned or managed by the property, and downtown and the skywalks have a homeless situation. He said the halls and units were free of debris, but felt the place was overpriced for a downtown area that’s basically dead. Back in the 80s it was lively, and the former Jaycees-sponsored SeniomSed fest was off the chain.

I lived there for almost five years and finally found a better place. Do not move there, you’ve been warned, lol. The elevators break down constantly, so be ready to take the stairs. When they do work, there’s often trash, dog poop, or dog pee inside. The sixth-floor patio smells of weed and cigarette smoke, and there’s often trash on the ground. It’s embarrassing to bring guests up there. Management tried to mask the smell with air fresheners, lol. Dogs also pee and poop in the patio game area, so stay away. Maintenance has been a problem for years. They used to have people clean the outside of the windows, but stopped years ago, so the downtown view comes through dirty glass. I overheard office staff complaining about spending money on repairs, for what that’s worth. The staff used to bribe tenants with gift cards for positive reviews, so don’t be fooled by those “5 star” ratings. R&T Lofts partners with Crow Tow, and those rats might sneak in during the night, remove your parking permit sticker, and tow your car. They’ve been sued before for doing exactly that, look it up if you don’t believe me. I could go on and on, but hopefully you get the point. You can find plenty of places with a nice view. I repeat, do not move here.

The bullet came through our apartment wall at a fatal height. If I’d been standing in my bedroom, I would have been killed. The shot came from guests staying in the AirBnB next door, a unit the building allows hosts to rent out as a business. Management implied they’d file a police report, but instead made an internal report without notifying authorities. The neighboring tenant faced no consequences. I’ve had plenty of frustrating management issues over the years I’ve lived here, but my personal safety is where I draw the line. I wouldn’t recommend living here.