<p>We signed a lease at the Castilian for 2011-2012. Unfortunately, we agreed to re-lease for the 2012-13 school year before we realized the number of unresolved or inadequately resolved yet serious problems. I want to warn those considering the Castilian as to what is not mentioned on the tour or the website, and I also suggest some alternatives to students and parents. The issues included:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Five weeks without hot water- The Castilian is 45 years old; it is not properly repaired. We immediately realized there was no hot water in my ds room last year. We reported the problem before regular move-in day, but instead of fixing it, management denied there was a problem. Only after weeks went by did management stop denying there was no hot water, but then, according to the Operations Manager, it took two weeks to trouble-shoot the issue: calcified pipes due to poor maintenance. The result: 5 weeks with no hot water. A few community bathrooms were to be shared by hundreds of residents only at scheduled times until the problem was fixed. The handful of over-used community bathrooms could not be kept clean. No compensation was offered.</p></li>
<li><p>One week without any water-Another poorly-maintained pipe for which the Castilian, not the City, was responsible. It burst below the building last year, resulting in no water at all (no bathrooms, not even at night, and no laundry) for a week. The Operations Manager said it was an accident, and asked , what did you expect us to do? The clear answer: maintain and repair pipes before they burst. The Castilian provided 5-gallon jugs of water to students, but that does not replace showers, toilets or washing machines. No compensation and no refunds were offered.</p></li>
<li><p>Other repair issues - last year, overhead pipes burst on two floors, resulting in water flooding the rooms. There is water damage on the ceilings of other floors. There are signs on the 10th floor of the parking garage warning students not to park there because the overhead pipes may burst. This year, the spout of my ds tub is held on with masking tape. Last year, the air conditioning window unit in her room poured dirty water into her room, causing the room to smell of mold. The wet carpet ruined her new book bag and several books. This year, toilets were clogged on move-in day, and air-conditioners were not working at all in several rooms. My daughters upgraded furniture (an extra fee) was heavily gauged and scratched. Last year, one resident paid for, but did not receive the furniture upgrade and was simply told she would have to wait weeks until the Castilian might be able to comply. There was no compensation.</p></li>
<li><p>The lack of adequate security-the Castilian lacks a card-access, one point of entry security system. Anyone can enter the elevators on the ground floor during the day and evening, and although the front elevators are turned off late at night, leaving only parking garage access, there is a single security guard in the parking garage who cannot be everywhere at once. No one notices who comes in or out of the elevators and into the stairwells on the eleventh floor. Despite numerous complaints, management ignores the situation year after year. Hundreds of homeless are fed by the church a block away; they have followed students into elevators and down hallways.</p></li>
<li><p>Lack of direction during an emergency - last year, the buildings alarm was tripped in the early morning hours. There was no direction from Castilian management or the RAs. Students were unsure of whether the alarm was false or where they should go. There was no attempt to remedy this problem of lack of adequate direction during an emergency.</p></li>
<li><p>Parking problems - students may park in any space before a certain date; this year, it was September 5th. There was a parking party on September 4th, when students were to relocate their cars to their assigned spaces. My ds space was already occupied by a resident who did not attend the party. My d tried that night and the next morning to move her car, but she was told she could do nothing until 10 a.m. She had class at 10 a.m. Her car was towed at 12:30. The management who staged the party made no attempt to: (1) give my d another space for the day until the situation could be worked out; (2) contact the offending resident whose information they had; or even (3) contact my d before her car was towed, knowing she tried to move her car. The offenders car was not towed. Managements response: the issue was cut and dried. In other words, she should have skipped class to move her car at 10 am, they were not going to help in any way. The cost of the tow was $200. </p></li>
<li><p>Internet fees- the Castilian does not provide free Internet service. The contracted service is not very good, forcing students to pay the premium rate ($395/year) to get even mediocre Internet service.</p></li>
<li><p>Other issues - the rooms on move-in date are not clean. Scrubbing the bathroom floors did not help. Last year, the bathroom cabinet was virtually unusable because the door was put on backwards. We asked it be fixed. It was not. The tracks for the closet doors were also not in proper repair, making it difficult to open and close them.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>For these and other reasons, we will not be back at the Castilian next year. For those looking for some alternatives to the Castilian, as a parent, I might suggest the following (I do not work for any of these facilities, I am an OOS parent):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The Callaway House -opening Fall 2013. Located a block off campus, it is closer to many UT buildings than the Castilian. It will be brand new so, unlike the Castilian, there will not be massive debacles over pipes, water, air-conditioning. There will be a single, secure entrance point providing far greater security than the Castilian does. The suites will be clean, and the Internet and utilities are at no extra cost. There are options for shared bedrooms or private bed/bath in a four-bedroom suite. There will be a full-service dining hall with more meal plan options than the Castilian has. There will be professional staff on-site 24/7. There is a bi-weekly maid service and a parking garage. Downside: it is not built yet, but American Campus says they have not missed a move-in date yet.</p></li>
<li><p>The Penthouse at Callaway - opening Fall 2013. These are the top two floors of the Callaway House, with furnished apartments and full kitchens. Again, it will be new, secure, and clean. It is slightly more expensive, and utilities are not included. There are two- and three-bedroom apartments with private baths and parking garage access. The meal plan will be available to those who want it. Again, not built yet, but promised.</p></li>
<li><p>2400 Nueces - Another new furnished apartment complex a block away from the Castilian. One-four bedroom options. Full kitchens but no meal plans. 24-hour maintenance and a parking garage. Utilities are provided including Internet. Downside: not built yet, but construction seems farther along than Calloway House. </p></li>
<li><p>San Jacinto and the renovated parts of Jester, also Scottish Rite dorm.</p></li>
</ol>
