Woodbridge Apartments

Woodbridge was a great place up until about 2020. (I moved here in 2016.) Now, it is a s*** hole. If you must live at Woodbridge Apartments, be prepared to pay for amenities and utilities that you don't have access to nor use. The swimming pool has been closed for three years, squalid public spaces (e.g., the exercise room), endless maintenance and public health/safety issues, communication failure from the office, lack of responsiveness documented by customers, overcharges for water, sewage, electricity.

Naturally, I'm embittered by my experience here over the past 5 years. I am not a vindictive person. I am merely reporting the truth in my experience, and warning potential residents.

Buckingham has nearly $4 billion USD in assets under management, and an annual revenue upwards of $90 million. Their Board of Overseers members receive up to $40,000 per year as an annual cash retainer, for four meetings per year. They get $10,000 for 2-3 hours of work in a posh meeting room with all expenses paid. Buckingham pays its board members to put on a suit, get fed $100 lunches, and make big business decisions. Apparently, their input is worth $4,000 per hour. Oh, I know they take time to read the preliminary reports, do a little homework, and respond to some emails now and then.

They are rich. We pay comparatively high rent for borderline slum-like conditions. None of this makes sense.

Most egregious is that we residents aren’t asking much, and there is a simple solution to our daily problems living here: Money. Instead of acquiring more property and increasing their real estate portfolio, Buckingham could swiftly inject some cash (manpower, materials) into the properties they own. This would improve the quality of life of its paying customers.

There is no way to contact Buckingham’s corporate office. I have wanted to speak with them for years. However, you can find the CEO’s contact info online if you’re savvy. He lives in Indianapolis in case you want to drive there and have a word with him.

In 1984, when this complex was built, the founder elected to buy cheap copper piping from China to cut costs on plumbing. Forty years later, the company’s residents are suffering not only inconvenience, but deprivation and fraud. Why fraud? Because Woodbridge has not kept its word for services offered, and they’ve made no capital effort to course-correct.

The place is now falling apart, which is physically inevitable. Atrophy happens. Buckingham’s failure to invest in their existing assets is the reason I’m posting this.

In short, $1,550/month for 610 square feet is not justifiable for this place.

Do not assume Woodbridge’s advertised base rate is what you will pay per month. Electricity/gas is a separate bill. Their community water and sewer system charges will vary. Living alone, I help pay the water bill for families of six. That does not bother me so much as the fact that my sewage charge for last month was $71 and my water bill was $41—despite my plumbing not working for one week. And unless you live off the grid, your rent will include internet/cable services ($83).

This once was a gorgeous, healthy, thriving community. It still could be, but greed and negligence has taken root.