Review

We've been living here for about seven years now; we rented a three-room apartment before the kids even went to school. The apartment is warm, the layout is well-designed, and there are no useless hallways. But you can tell the building isn't new; the windows from the developer had to be replaced right away because they were mercilessly drafty.

The door is secure, Kale locks have never jammed. We didn't install an alarm, the entrance is quiet, and our concierge is vigilant and doesn't let strangers in.

The neighbors are wonderful, long-time residents; everyone knows each other and says hello. There's no endless stream of tenants like in new buildings; families live here for the long haul.

If your windows face the courtyard, it's quiet and blissful, with only the sound of the Bolshaya Almatinka River to be heard—it's soothing. If you're facing Navoi, turn off the lights; the roar of cars and sirens is constant; only triple-glazed windows offer any peace.

The renovation was done to last, the parquet flooring still looks like new, and the walls are smooth. The only thing is, the bathroom tiles could use some updating; fashions have changed, but they're still holding up well.

All the furniture is original and well-made, there's plenty of closet space, the ceilings are high, and it's easy to breathe. The kitchen is large, my wife is happy, and the whole family can fit in for dinner without any crowding.

The appliances work, but the wiring in the house sometimes plays tricks; a couple of times the circuit breakers tripped when everything was turned on at once. Air conditioners are installed in every room, and it's hard to live without them in the sunny areas in the summer.

The view of the mountains and river is the main attraction, and drinking coffee on the balcony in the morning is priceless. The air here is cleaner than downtown, the air is excellent, and smog rarely lingers.

The complex is solid, built with care, a powerful monolith. But time has taken its toll: the facade has faded in places, the paving stones in the courtyard have sunk, and they need cosmetic repairs.

They clean well; the janitors sweep from early morning, and they clear snow quickly in the winter. The entrance hall is clean, but the elevators sometimes smell if someone brings trash in and spills it.

There's security at the entrance, and the barrier is working, but anyone can enter on foot, and the gates are often open. There are cameras, but there are plenty of blind spots, and it's a concern for bicycles in the entryway.

The courtyard is huge and green, with tall trees providing shade. There are playgrounds for the children, and for us, benches by the fountain. The whole neighborhood comes here for a stroll in the evenings, and it's very welcoming.

The building is warm, the walls are thick, and you can't hear your neighbors next door. The elevators are a weak point; they often break down or malfunction, and you have to wait half a day for a repairman.

The Navoi district is the lungs of the city, close to the Presidential Park, the river, and the mountains. The infrastructure is well-developed, everything is there, but getting into the city is a pain because of the traffic.

There are plenty of coffee shops, on every corner, and the competition is fierce, so the coffee is good. I like to grab a cup and go for a walk by the river—it's a ritual.

The Magnum store in Mega is open 24 hours, and there are about five smaller shops in the building. Fresh bread, milk, and vegetables are all within easy reach, so you don't have to go far.

The area around the residential complex is clean, the lawns are watered, and there's no litter. The river embankment is cleaned by volunteers and utility workers; it's pleasant to walk there, and there are no piles of plastic.

The most beautiful place in the city, with mountains in full view and a sea of greenery. In the fall, it's a fairytale, everything yellow and red, and photographers flock to it.

There are plenty of buses, the stop is nearby, but they're always packed because of the students. The metro is far away, you can't walk there, only by bus or taxi.

The noise from Navoi is loud; motorcyclists are the scourge of the area in summer. But if you go deeper into the courtyard or to the river, all you can hear is birdsong and the rush of water.

The First President's Park across the street is our oyster; we go there every weekend. The embankment is also wonderful; I run there in the mornings, the air is wonderful.