The Pier Apartments

Working with Jensis Taveras made my move-in process smooth and easy. He was professional, responsive, and genuinely helpful from the start. After I'd viewed the apartments on my own, he patiently and clearly answered all my questions during the showing. Negotiations felt collaborative instead of stressful because he was fair and transparent, and willing to meet me in the middle. Before I moved in, he handled some important checks, including making sure the electricity would be turned off after my lease began and until I moved in, so I wouldn't be charged unnecessarily. At the move-in inspection, he documented some surface-level apartment issues so I wouldn't be unfairly charged for them when moving out. That attention to detail gave me peace of mind. He was flexible with scheduling and let me move in over the weekend, which made the transition much easier. He also arranged a discount on the moving service, which was thoughtful and helpful. I really appreciate his professionalism and would recommend him to anyone looking for a supportive, seamless leasing experience.

We've had six false fire alarms in the past two months, mostly in winter, and none were caused by actual fires. They're loud enough that you definitely won't miss them, and sometimes they go off at 3 a.m. or 6 a.m. Running out into the street in pajamas makes the winter drills extra exciting. My kids and I aren't fans, so I'm giving this place two stars.

We moved into Pier in May 2024, and our experience has been positive overall, even though the list of cons is longer than the pros. Most of the problems are manageable, and hopefully they'll improve. The location and views are great. Our recently renovated apartment has nice finishes, lots of storage, a great patio, and high ceilings in the living room, though ceiling height varies by room. The floor-to-ceiling windows have good insulation against cold and noise. Some reviews mention helicopter noise, but with the windows closed, we barely hear it. Management communication is fairly good too. We came from Newport, so our expectations were low, but the difference is noticeable. The concierges and maintenance people are kind, helpful, and professional. Anthony goes above and beyond, and loves playing with our dog. John and Marybel are always helpful too. Colin is especially nice and has helped with maintenance several times, including one weekend evening just minutes after we sent in a ticket. The building's smoke-free rule isn't enforced, and we smell smoke, mostly weed, from different neighbors every day. Management has sent email reminders, but nothing changed. The AC units are more than 16 years old, and a year ago management said they were over 15. They're noisy, over 75 decibels from six feet away, and inefficient. Summer bills run $350 or more, yet the units still can't keep things comfortable on hot days. Management says nothing can be done. The bathroom fans are another small annoyance: they make 90-decibel noise, and we've been told they're as old as the AC units and can't be fixed or replaced. In summer, party boats often play loud music late at night. The windows block most of it, but the bass gets through and wakes us frequently, especially Friday and Saturday nights. We've had some minor washer and dryer problems, while other residents went months without theirs and had to use machines in vacant apartments that often broke too. Water has been dripping inside one of our walls for three months despite multiple reports and maintenance visits. There's mold in the building and apartment, probably common along the NJ waterfront, but leaking pipes don't help. False alarms happen about once a month, mostly during daytime, with only one at night so far. Most were caused by leaking garage pipes. Elevators often break down, and repairs take a long time. The gym AC also fails a few times a year, sometimes for up to a week.

The location, concierge team, and resident community could make Pier apartments wonderful, but the problems driven by Equity corporate's greed outweigh those positives. In 2026 alone, the fire alarms have gone off seven separate times with no fire, and the water boiler has left us with either freezing cold or scalding hot tap water. Residents pay $750 a year for amenity access, up from $600 in 2025, while the lounge upstairs is rented out for outside events through PeerSpace. The lease says more than six guests upstairs counts as a party and requires a reservation costing $750 for two hours. That lounge is promoted as an amenity alongside the gym and kids' room, but the building has no pool, game room, or similar amenity besides the lounge, which outsiders can book. Equity collects the resident fees and outside booking money, while residents are left paying the difference. It's a shame. There's proof from PeerSpace showing our lounge rented for $904 for three hours.