Review

I bought a three-room apartment to accommodate my family. The layout is okay, and there's plenty of square footage. But the quality of the construction leaves much to be desired: the walls are crooked, and I had to level them with a ton of plaster.

I immediately replaced the door with a security door; the developer had some kind of foil on it. The locks are secure, but I had to install a peephole myself to see who was sneaking around.

The building is huge, there are tons of people, and I can't remember everyone. I only say hello to people on the same floor. There are tenants upstairs, and they're always dropping things at night, but for now it's bearable.

The noise is incredibly loud; I can tell when my neighbor is going to the bathroom or watching football. There's also a hum from the street; Tole Bi isn't a quiet alley, so it's best not to open the windows.

The developer's renovation was spotless, but there were a ton of issues: the laminate flooring creaked, and the wallpaper was peeling in places. We had to invest in redoing the wiring because the outlets were sparking.

I ordered local, sturdy furniture, with wall-to-wall wardrobes to hide the junk. My wife picked out the kitchen, and it seemed convenient, but the drawers were already starting to creak.

The appliances work, but the power supply fluctuates, so I installed a stabilizer for the entire apartment. I had to install air conditioners in every room; it was scorching hot in the summer.

The view from the top floor is nice, the city is in full view, and the mountains are visible if the smog isn't obscuring it. But the wind on the balcony is so strong it blows away the ashtray, making going out for a smoke a real ordeal.

The building is a veritable anthill, filled with thousands of people, the elevators are always busy, and you have to wait 10 minutes. It looks impressive from the outside, but inside, it's just an economy-class apartment with business aspirations.

The entrance halls are cleaned, but due to the influx of people, they're already dirty by evening, especially in slushy conditions. The elevators are covered in graffiti, the buttons are burnt, and the residents' sense of civility is lacking.

Security guards are stationed in a beech tree, the barrier is operational, and cameras are located around the perimeter. But there's still a walk-through courtyard, and couriers and taxi drivers drive in as if they were at home.

The yard is small for such a huge structure, the children are cramped, and the playgrounds are packed. There's almost no greenery, just concrete slabs and asphalt, and the summer heat is unbearable.

Parking is a pain; the spaces in the courtyard are always taken by "their own" or by those who arrived earlier. Underground parking is outrageous; I park on the street and pray they don't tear down my mirror.

The wind here is terrifying; the house is positioned in such a way that it creates a wind tunnel. In winter, it blows through every crack, so we had to foam the windows a second time.

The Almalinsky district is central, close to everything: work, shops, and the market. But the traffic jams and hustle and bustle are exhausting; there's no peace here; life is in full swing 24/7.

They sweep the roof, but the dust flies in droves; washing the windows is pointless; they're gray again every other day. They collect trash from the courtyards, but the bins are often overflowing, and the wind blows the bags away.

The area is busy, well-lit, and the police patrol frequently. You don't see many thugs, but it's best not to wander the alleys alone at night—better safe than sorry.

A typical urban landscape: high-rises, roads, cars, no romance. Lake Sayran is nearby, but it's dried up and smells of mud; there's little beauty there.

There's plenty of transportation, buses go everywhere in the city, and the metro is nearby. I rarely drive; it's easier to take the bus than to sit in traffic.

The roar of the road is constant, including ambulance sirens and motorcyclists. Sleeping with the window open is impossible; you need air conditioning and earplugs.

There are no parks nearby, so there's nowhere to walk, only around the block. You have to drive to Gandhi Park, it's a long walk, and there's not much time for that.