SOUTH BROOK Condominiums Sanctioned Sexual Harrassments, Domestic Violence, Verbal Assaults in Public Pools and Common Areas, Thefts, Drugs, Illegal Entries When Residents Are Not At Home, Feral Cat Feces in laundry rooms, Jacksonville, Florida

Thank you for your comments and concerns. You are right in that the property has gone to hell, however it has been for the past decade that the property has been declining not just the past year. Nightly security guards have no power to do anything other than call 911 which anyone can do including yourself.

I do take offense to your reference to the new board's "idiot solution", as I am sure the rest of the board members do as well. In my humble opinion, I would think criminals prefer not to be video recorded.  The quality of the security cameras is phenomenal. If at any time you would like to view the footage please contact your landlord and request a viewing, the property management company, Elim Services, will be happy to schedule a time for you and your landlord to view them.

I disagree with the property being very dark, the property is kept quite lit and light bulbs are replaced regularly, in addition to replacing the lighting sensors when they go out. (I will agree that a couple of months ago the light behind the rear laundry facility was out and the sensor had to be replaced, I do apologize for that inconvenience, it was repaired within a reasonable time).

Yes, the gate has been broken quite a bit lately, it is unfortunate. However, the people breaking the gate are being fined and reported to the JSO officers that patrol Southbrook. If you would like to schedule a time to meet with Lt. Clement to discuss your security complaints, please contact your landlord and have them schedule a time to meet. Lt. Clement is happy to discuss any security issues you have at Southbrook.

Again, I take offense to the accusation that "this new board thinks everyone here is unintelligent". I am sure the rest of the board members take offense as well and will make no further comments on this. 

As for your comments and accusations that "most of the units are owner by slum lords who do not upkeep their property" and "these rentals would have several code violations if checked" I personally know a lot of the homeowners that rent out their unit (s) and find them to be very nice concerned homeowners. This statement is offensive to the homeowners, including your landlord.  

I personally do not find the property to be too noisy, people live here, people make noise. Especially if you live in a condominium with 232 units. There are two pools in Southbrook not just one, if you are offended I apologize, and suggest you use the other pool. 

It is your choice not to recommend anyone moving here. You are also free to move out.

The new board has been in place less than 3 months, we are doing the best we can with what we were handed. 

We have asked for consideration and patience during this transition period. Southbrook had the same president of the board for 20 years. 

We will never be able to make everybody happy and everybody will not always agree. However, history was made at Southbrook Condominium on February 2, 2016 when a new board was elected for the first time in 20 years.

We are and will continue to do the best we can for homeowners and tenants in our community and thank everyone who voted for electing us as your new Board of Directors.

Patience is always appreciated. Be kind to your neighbors.

Thank you,

Board President

In the past year this property has really gone to hell.  The new board in all their wisdom have decided to do away with a nightly security guard in this a questionable neighborhood.  Their idiot solution was to install signs stating there is video surveillance on the property.  Please tell me what criminal is going to be concerned about a security camera?  Since the property and parking lots are kept very dark, any video would be worthless.  Further confirming they are not concerned, since the security guard left, the gated arm leading into the property has been broken almost every day which gives free access to anyone which is evidenced in the surge in traffic at all hours.  Unfortunately, this new "board" seems to think everyone here is unintelligent and we will buy into and just go along with their bad decisions.   Most of the units are owned by slum lords who do not upkeep their property but rent them out anyway to whomever.  I am sure most of these rentals would have several code violations if checked.  The property is noisy, you cannot enjoy the pool unless you don't mind sharing with drunk people throwing the "f" word among others every few words.   The outside of the buildings are in need of extensive repair/refinishing, (makes you wonder what the owners' HOA fees are for).  Overall this is turning into yet another rundown slum property.  I WOULD NOT RECOMMNED ANYONE MOVING HERE EVER.

 My reason for writing this rebuttal is to provide a update to the state of Southbrook Condominiums and point out some things about the complaint posted on this site when you Google "Southbrook Condos". As it might mention, I am currently employed for Southbrook Condos and have been a renter (not by any of the before mentioned association) before I was employed and still am). I personally do not adhere to any particular race, sexual orientation, political standpoint, or even area of this country I was born in. I know and have known people of all these areas of life. I was not persuaded to, told to, or suggested to come here and read complaints or provide a rebuttal to a complaint by anyone of influence over me (such as anyone in this association). In fact, I'm sure they may never find out I have come on here. Enough about me because I think you get the point about my point of view(s). I would like to point out that if you pay attention to this complaint, you'll notice that they seem like they were just writing when they mad for whatever reason and didn't care about being objective. I think the association is typically old fashioned and they're definitely strict most of the time. This obviously points out that they weren't hippies or even up in that era, they probably never struted down a road or rock'n'rolled in the 80's or 90's. I know from my own experience that they are trying to adhere to regulations and laws. I also thought that a person was not supposed to make rascist remarks on this site, but I would say that calling someone a "white-supremist n**i" sounds a tad rascist. I have talked to all other employees here and very few of the association's rules seem like those put out by a "n**i". It simply sounds to me as if the complainer had a negative agenda and was upset. Being a "courtesy patrol" man or gate guard, I can personally say that if anyone thinks that they can and should be able to go around in these condos and make plenty of noise at night, park in other tenant's parking spaces without their permission, enter through any if the gates without stating to me where they are going or simply bypassing any of the gates, breaking the gates or other bad behavior, that they need to get the bad "nasty" letters, fines from the association and/or police coming to them! This is similar to a HOA (Home Owner's Association) and in order to protect (or try to at least) property values and keep Southbrook a relatively safe and typically quiet neighborhood...some rules need to be made and enforced. If you want your freedom and don't mind mowing your lawn, fixing your roof or plumbing, move into a house. If you want the convenience of an apartment, but want to own your place, feel free to move here. I try my best to keep this complex safe and quiet as is my job. Some people think that because they've lived here for decades that they can be noisy at 10-11pm at night. I say this is unacceptable. The afore mentioned Ken was an employee years ago, but was fired for bad behavior (as I have heard). Targeting someone's generations of family members, which only one have I ever seen before even, is shameful to say the least, but the complainer did so without any shame in doing so. Sorry if it sounds like I'm attacking the "victim", but their report sounds like it's based more in emotion than facts. I'm sorry they had such a terrible time here, but they end with essentially All the residents here crazy and/or bad people for living here. That's along the same ideological thinking as "Everyone that lives in Iraq, Afganistan, Pakistan should die, because terrorists that attack anyone not like them... were found to have come from those countries!" No place is perfect and they could send out upcoming board meetings instead of posting them and perhaps make some other changes, but no one is perfect. I've never heard of cat feces being in the laundry rooms, but there is a population of stray cats that roam about here and many residents here feed and take care of them. I do think they should reopen up the tennis court or change it to something else, but the pools are kept clean and are open to residents and their guests year around. We have a dock open all night to residents, but anyone back there at night should also be quiet. This community is best for older people (50+), but anyone that can abide by the rules (I am no exception and I make sure I abide as closely to them as I expect anyone else living here to) I think would enjoy this place for the price you pay. Apartments in this area can be nearly $600 for Less amenities! If you want to buy a condo here..I'd suggest paying for the whole thing at once. Otherwise, with possible repairs, upgrades, remodelings, or the like Plus the condo dues (which pay for landscaping, grounds maintenance, security & courtesy patrol, pest control, JEA water, a roof repair allotment, etc. ), a new owner can easily get in over their heads. For what they said condos were going for ($15-$20K), it sounds like the recent recession was in full swing. Lastly, I can't honestly say what did or didn't happen years ago, but I can speak for myself and say that I am honorable, feel like I have the respect of 70% of this community, try to keep order at night with courtesy and a gentle-hand, and wish to say how I see things in 2015. I have worked for Southbrook for a year and just as many times as residents have complained about the management, I probably have complained about unruly renters and owners. The management has only a few tools to help keep order in this place and give my position any validity at all. Fines are about as strong of a tool as they have. So if you think loud drunks should wake old ladies in the middle of the night, Southbrook isn't for you. (lol :P )