Ion Tuscaloosa

ION has a LOT of problems, first of all the reviews on google are definitely faked, or the bad one’s deleted by Ion , checkout the reviews on yelp for a more accurate description. The staff is probably the only good part about Ion , it’s not their fault or their decision to decide what happens and when it happens however , the management is awful. On move in we noticed our stove was not working , we contacted them and it took almost 2 weeks to get our stove to work. The sink was not properly installed resulting in it collapsing, the drain pipe for the sink was not properly installed either , resulting in our sinks drain spewing water onto our floor. We were “guaranteed” a premium pool view , but did not receive one and still pay a monthly fee for it . Nothing had been deep cleaned either , hair still on the bathroom floor , staining , couches with crumbs still in the crevices, poor paint jobs. Seriously reconsider living elsewhere if you prefer to live in a clean environment. Do not let the several 5 star reviews fool you . They are most definitely fake. Anyone in their right mind would understand that after living here. Also if mobility is a concern for you , good luck, the elevators have not been working since November, they were actually operating with expired licenses, it’s now April. If safety is a concern, there are several gates around the apartment that stay open/ unlocked 24/7. There are no cameras in the garage. The cons of living at ion out way the pros by far.

I have lived at Ion for three years. I first started living here right after Scion took over, and while there has been a lot of positive change, there has also been negative change. For positives, the staff is wonderful. Both maintenance and the front office workers are fantastic and will work with you on most things. Good staff is hard to find, so this is a definite perk. I enjoy the amenities a lot, including the recent installation of the small grab-and-go snack center in the clubhouse. Ion has been making an effort to make positive change, and they have done a lot- the snack station, a coffee bar, redoing the floors, etc. Not to mention the location less than a mile from campus and sorority row and the spacious floor plans (compared to similar apartments nearby). However, recently I have not been able to ignore the safety issues at Ion. Many people have mentioned that the parking gate is frequently left open; this is true. In the summer, Ion left both parking gates open for over three months. However, this to me is not my biggest concern, as the gates being left open is more of a technical issue than a security issue (a few people have run into the sensor bars which makes them faulty sometimes). Firstly, it is important to note that there was a death on Ion premises this year. Attached is a screenshot of the email they sent to residents about it. While a death on the premises of an apartment building does not necessarily mean safety issues, I think it is important for anyone considering living here to know that something like this happened. Ion's response was very appropriate and prompt, which I did appreciate. Also attached you will see a picture of an exterior window of Ion Tuscaloosa with projectile marks on it. Make what you will of that, but I will say it definitely makes me feel unsure of how safe the building is. Also, Ion has very few cameras outside of the office and lounge. Today I was walking down to the office to get something and was quite shocked to see that a bucket with everyone's apartments' keys- labeled with unit numbers- was left unattended in an area with no cameras. I don't even want to think about who could have just walked by and picked up the key to my apartment without being seen. I have also had issues in the past with vandalism to my front door with the perpetrators never being caught due to there being no cameras in the residential hallways. I understand privacy concerns, but I believe it is natural to be concerned if there is no monitoring system in an apartment where most residents are 18-22 years old and frequently return to the complex intoxicated or late in the evening. In summary, I have loved my time at Ion Tuscaloosa because the staff is amazing, the amenities are amazing, and the apartment complex is really trying to bring about improvement. However, the safety concerns that have arisen in the last year have worried me, and if I was considering moving in here, I would want to know about a death on the premises and any security concerns. If Ion could effectively address these safety concerns, they would be the best apartment building in town without contest.

I have been very impressed with Ion Tuscaloosa. The customer service has been excellent and any questions I have had have been answered promptly. The online portal is very easy to use and the communication from the office is very helpful. I would highly recommend Ion Tuscaloosa for any Alabama students looking for a place to live.

DO NOT BE FOOLED INTO LIVING HERE. I am not kidding. I have lived here since August 2022 and have had so many issues. I am so thankful I did not resign because I know people who did and really regret it. I pretty much have an issue with everything here. 1. Parking deck is so small it is dangerous and the deck hasn't been closed for about 45% of the time I have lived here. They also have 20+ parking spots blocked off that nobody can park in since they will not pay the ridiculous $50/month to have a closer spot. I sincerely do not feel safe in this parking deck as a young woman. 2. Security is horrendous. Plenty of gates are constantly left open because they do not shut on their own or the gates can be easily pulled open even when closed. They are QUICK to charge you if you do not uphold your end of the lease, but they can let you down time and time again with no repercussions by not even securing the parking deck or gates. 3. Did not have AC for a week with it being 85+ degrees outside and had to call every single day to hear anything about the status of the work being done. 4. Hallway lights did not work and had to put in 5 work orders for them to be fixed properly. 5. Apartment is not cleaned well when you move in. It is literally disgusting and moldy. 6. Fire alarms have gone off about 4 times in the past week and are quite literally deafening. I am sure I have damage in my ear. 7. Elevators either do not work OR are 6+ months past inspection. 8. Wi-Fi is never consistent. Do not let the 5 star reviews fool you on Google. They have been faked and negative reviews have probably been deleted. I know a lot of people who live here and not a single one enjoys it. Live anywhere else if you can, Houndstooth and other places are right down the street and seem much better and safer.

My Daughter has been in ION for her sophomore year and just recently we signed a lease for her junior year. We have been very pleased with ION so far and my Daughter loves her apartment with her friends. We did our homework before selecting ION with other high end properties on University of Alabama campus. And in my opinion ION is the Best of Breed out of all the University of Alabama apartments for cost, location and amenities. It’s where all the Legends are Renting. Roll Tide!! Highly Recommend.

I live at Ion for my sophomore, junior, and senior year and it was the best experience. The people in the office are always so nice and any time I needed a work order it was taken care of very quickly. They are always accommodating. I made a lot of friends with the people that lived on my floor too. I would definitely recommend living at Ion.