The Monticello

Pros

• The property is very peaceful, nice, and calm, with heating that worked well throughout the stay.
• The management renovated the carpets and made several other improvements.
• The maintenance staff is very friendly.
• The stay was nice, and there were no major issues.
• The apartments themselves are nice and in a great location.
• Rent was a steal compared with the location.

Cons

• The property is plagued by a serious mice infestation.
• Maintenance requests are slow and often unresolved for weeks.
• Management is unresponsive and unfriendly, with communications frequently ignored.
• Elevators frequently malfunction, leaving residents trapped.
• The pool has limited hours and is often closed for maintenance, with the water often cold.
• Rent and utilities have increased without corresponding improvements in service.
• Hallways and common areas are consistently dirty, indicating poor upkeep.
• A persistent cockroach infestation remains despite extermination efforts.
• Heating is unreliable in winter, with temporary space heaters provided and tenants bearing extra electricity costs.

Review

The experience at this Madison property is a mixed bag that tilts heavily toward the negative once Katz Properties took over. The place itself is described as nice and well located, with reviews noting peaceful surroundings and recent cosmetic improvements like carpet renovations. Yet lurking behind the appealing exterior is a pattern of ongoing problems that tenants say have grown more serious and persisting since management changed hands. The strongest refrain is that into the latest period, residents have faced a combination of pervasive pests, unreliable service, and a management approach that feels unresponsive and sometimes dismissive. The situation has left many tenants frustrated, hoping for better performance that never arrives.

A recurring thread concerns the incentives and credibility around online reviews. Several commenters allege that a $125 incentive was offered to leave 5-star reviews, supposedly to cover the cost of a roommate change; this has led to concerns about the reliability of glowing testimonials. One update notes that the fee for that incentive was stopped, but the broader implication remains: reviewers worry that the most positive feedback may have been unusually boosted, complicating readers' ability to gauge the true state of the property. The sentiment is reinforced by complaints about maintenance and service quality that persist regardless of the praise they have seen online, suggesting a disconnect between favorable reviews and lived experiences.

Communication and responsiveness are consistently cited as major pain points. Multiple tenants report that emails and calls go unanswered, and that the staff comes across as unfriendly or unhelpful. Even when maintenance requests are filed, the process often stalls; residents describe having to make repeated office visits and follow-up calls, only to be met with delays that stretch for weeks. A common complaint is that the maintenance portal is ineffective, forcing tenants to rely on persistent phone calls for updates. In several accounts, residents describe feeling left in the dark during ongoing issues, with little-to-no communication about what is happening or when repairs will be completed.

Maintenance itself emerges as a central concern, with delays and incomplete work cited as routine. There are accounts of hot water outages lasting multiple days, and heating problems during the winter that are not promptly resolved. Some tenants report being provided space heaters as a stopgap, yet still bearing higher electricity costs without rent reductions or compensation. Elevator malfunctions are described as a frequent and disconcerting nuisance, sometimes leaving residents trapped and untreated for extended periods. While a few residents note that maintenance staff are friendly and diligent, the overall pattern is one of slow responses and repeated, unresolved issues that erode confidence in the property's upkeep.

A separate cluster of complaints focuses on facilities and cleanliness. The pool is said to operate on limited hours and often be closed for maintenance, with water that is uncomfortably cold when it is open. Hallways are reportedly dirty on a regular basis, and trash chutes can back up for days, filling the building with a noticeable odor. The frequency and persistence of these problems contribute to a broader sense that common-area maintenance and housekeeping have declined under Katz's management, even as residents point to improvements under the prior regime.

Pests and infestations feature prominently in many reviews, described as a persistent and unacceptable problem. A coordinated narrative across multiple tenants highlights ongoing cockroach issues that persist despite professional extermination, signaling what residents see as inadequate pest management. The presence of mice is also flagged as a serious concern, with some reviewers portraying the situation as a significant blight on daily living. The combination of pests, limited hours for amenities, and visible cleanliness problems compounds residents' frustration and fuels a sense that basic maintenance standards are not being met.

Financial aspects weigh heavily in the commentary as well. Several reviews contrast the rising cost of living with the quality of service received. They recount sharp rent increases after Katz's acquisition - one reviewer notes a double-digit jump in the second year, with another mentioning a 16% increase followed by a 12% increase the next year. Additional charges are cited, such as a quarterly water fee and dramatic parking-rate hikes. In some cases, residents point out that water and sewer used to be included, calling the new charges unfair or poorly justified given the service quality. Even those who acknowledge the rent's relative affordability in a pricey market insist that the accompanying service and convenience do not match the higher price, especially in the face of recurring maintenance and utility concerns.

In one long-form perspective, a tenant who lived there for several years contrasts the current state with the prior management, describing a marked decline in service and upkeep after Katz took over. They attribute much of the deterioration to staffing changes at the corporate level, including turnover among on-site managers and the relocation of Milwaukee-based staff to Madison, which allegedly disrupted consistency and accountability. This view aligns with broader complaints about delayed issue resolution, inconsistent cleanliness, and a perceived prioritization of cost-cutting over resident welfare. A few reviewers acknowledge the positives of living near a good neighborhood and appreciating the apartment's intrinsic appeal, yet these reflect more on the location and price than the actual living conditions under the current management regime.

Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a portrait of a property that remains attractive in theory but fails to meet many tenants' expectations in practice. The apartments, location, and some cosmetic updates are praised, while the day-to-day realities - unresponsive management, maintenance delays, persistent pests, limited amenities, and growing rent-related costs - produce a widespread sense of dissatisfaction. The consensus urge is to look beyond the most favorable reviews and consider the broader range of experiences, especially those noting ongoing issues. For anyone contemplating a move here, these reviews suggest weighing the allure of the address against the recurring practical challenges and the reported gaps in communication and service.

This part of Madison, Wisconsin offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to relocate to the area. With a variety of physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals in close proximity, residents can easily access healthcare services. Additionally, there are several cafes and restaurants nearby, providing plenty of dining options for socializing or enjoying a meal out. The presence of multiple parks in the area offers opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this neighborhood provides a balanced mix of healthcare resources, dining options, and recreational activities that would be beneficial for seniors looking for a comfortable and accessible community to call home.

Physicians

• UW Health Digestive Health Center (0.4 miles)
• Associated Physicians (0.8 miles)
• The Rawal Institute for Hair Restoration and Aesthetic Medicine: Shamila Rawal, MD (0.8 miles)
• Rogers Memorial Hospital (0.9 miles)
• Dewitt, Aaron Madison West Va Clinic (0.9 miles)
• UW Health Research Park Clinic (1.3 miles)
• Oakwood Village (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Moka (0.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• The Heights (2.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Bartaco (0.6 miles)
• Café Hollander (0.7 miles)
• Great Dane Brew Pub-Hilldale (0.7 miles)
• Vintage Brewing Co. (1.5 miles)
• Delaney's Charcoal Steaks (1.8 miles)
• Gates & Brovi (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• UW Health University Station Clinic Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• UW Hospital and Clinics Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Przybylski, Daniel J (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Bergmann's Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Cell Line Genetics (1.2 miles)
• UWHC Outpatient Radiology (1.6 miles)
• William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (1.8 miles)
• University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority (2.6 miles)
• meriter Middleton clinic (3 miles)

Parks

• Oak Park Heights Park (1.5 miles)
• Lakeview Park (2.1 miles)
• Haen Family Park (2.6 miles)
• Mendota Park (2.8 miles)
• Firemans Park (2.9 miles)
• Pilgrim Park (3.2 miles)

Theaters

• Point Cinema Madison, Wi (2.9 miles)