The Foundry Apartments Austin Review: Sub-$850 Rent After Concessions, But Security Has Been Broken for Over a Year

If you searched for “The Foundry Apartments Pflugerville,” you should know this property used to be called Century Stone Hill South. Same building, same management company (Highmark Residential), new name. The 750+ reviews you’ll find online cover both the old name and the new one, and I’ll break down what that means for you below.

As a licensed apartment locator (TX #679806) who tracks pricing and screening across 1,000+ Austin-area properties, two things jumped out when I looked at this one. First, the A1 floor plan with 6 weeks free drops your effective rent below $850 for a one bedroom in Pflugerville. That math is hard to beat in the 78660 ZIP. Second, this is one of the few larger properties in the area that explicitly allows misdemeanors.

But here’s what the listing sites won’t tell you: the security gates have been broken for over a year according to multiple residents. The elevator goes down for weeks at a time. And the 3.7 Google rating hides maintenance complaints that run deeper than slow response times.

Quick Facts

The ratings tell a complicated story. Google’s 3.7 and ApartmentRatings’ 3.9 go all the way back to when this place was still Century Stone Hill South. Apartments.com’s 4.1 is the highest, but that site gives residents reward points for leaving reviews, so take it with a grain of salt. What tells you more is ApartmentRatings’ breakdown by category: neighborhood gets a 4.6 out of 5 (excellent), but safety gets a 3.1 (below average) and grounds get a 3.3 (also below average). That split tells you exactly what’s working and what’s not.

Who This Property Works For

You need a larger floor plan at a mid-range price. Most Pflugerville apartment communities top out at two or three bedrooms. The Foundry goes up to a 4BR/3BA at 1,910 square feet for $2,238. That’s unusual for apartment living in this ZIP code. If you need that kind of space but don’t want to rent a house, this is one of the few apartment options out here.

You have a misdemeanor on your record. The property explicitly allows misdemeanors. That cuts your options down fast, because most communities in this price range around Pflugerville and Round Rock don’t advertise that. If you have a misdemeanor and 600+ credit, this is one of the communities I’d check first. For a broader look at communities that work with criminal backgrounds, check out our guide to felony and misdemeanor friendly apartments in Austin.

You want walkable shopping without downtown prices. Stone Hill Town Center is a 14-minute walk (0.8 miles). Starbucks, restaurants, a movie theater, and groceries are all right there. You’re paying $949 for a one bedroom instead of $1,400+ for the same thing closer to Austin’s core.

Who Should Skip This Property

You need reliable entry gates. This is the single biggest red flag in all the reviews. One resident wrote that gates were broken “10 of last 12 months.” Another said the gate was broken for “over a year and half.” A third reported a vehicle break-in and said management “still refuses to fix the gates.” This isn’t a maintenance delay. It’s a pattern that shows up on Google, ApartmentRatings, and Yelp going back years.

You have mobility challenges or live on an upper floor. The elevator breaks down frequently. One recent Google review said it was “broken going on 3 weeks.” In a community that goes up to four stories, that’s a real problem if you’re carrying groceries or children up the stairs.

You’re noise sensitive. Multiple residents describe thin walls, upstairs footsteps at all hours, and neighbors playing music loud enough to hear lyrics. This is 2012 garden style construction with wood framing. Noise transfer is part of the deal.

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Location

The Foundry’s location is the best thing about it. Stone Hill Town Center is right there: Starbucks, Morelia Mexican Grill, Panda Express, and a Cinemark movie theater are all within a 14-minute walk (0.8 miles). H-E-B is about 1.5 miles away on Pflugerville Parkway. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center is 2.6 miles out.

So what’s the catch? The commute.

Commute Times from The Foundry

If you work in Round Rock or along the 130/45 corridor, this location works well. Downtown during rush hour? You’re looking at 40-55 minutes each way. That’s the trade-off for sub-$1,000 one-bedroom rent. I’ve got a full breakdown of the north suburb apartment markets if you want to compare Pflugerville against Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Georgetown.

Public transit doesn’t exist out here. The nearest MetroRail station (Howard) is 8.4 miles away. Walk Score is 40. You need a car.

The neighborhood is quiet and suburban. Pflugerville ISD schools for this address include Brookhollow Elementary (5/10 GreatSchools), Park Crest Middle (6/10), and Hendrickson High (7/10). Katherine Fleischer Park is nearby for outdoor space.

Pricing and True Cost

Here’s what’s available right now and what you’ll really pay.

Floor Plan Breakdown

Net Effective Rent: The Math

I’ll use the A1 Athens (most popular, 16+ units available) with 6 weeks free on a 12-month lease:

• Base rent: $949/month
• 6 weeks free = 42 days
• Daily multiplier: (365 – 42) ÷ 365 = 0.8849
• Net effective rent: $949 × 0.8849 = $840/month
• Monthly savings: $109

For the B4 Vancouver 2BR with 1 month free on a 12-month lease:

• Base rent: $1,355/month
• 1 month free = 30 days
• Daily multiplier: (365 – 30) ÷ 365 = 0.9178
• Net effective rent: $1,355 × 0.9178 = $1,244/month
• Monthly savings: $111

You qualify based on base rent, not net effective. So you’d need to show 3x the $949, not 3x the $840. The property doesn’t publish its income multiplier, but 3x rent is standard for Highmark communities in this price range. Confirm with the leasing office before applying.

Fee Breakdown

Required Fees (everyone pays):

Optional Fees:

True Monthly Cost

A renter in the A1 Athens 1BR with one dog:

• Base rent: $949
• Pet rent: $25
• True monthly cost: $974

When you factor in the 6 weeks free, your real monthly cost drops to about $865 averaged across the lease. But you’re still writing a check for $974 most months. The free rent comes as a lump discount, not a monthly reduction.

Move-in costs for this scenario: $75 (app fee) + $250 (admin) + $500 (deposit) + $250 (pet deposit) + $250 (pet fee) = $1,325 before first month’s rent.

Want to Compare This Property’s True Cost to Nearby Options?

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Screening Criteria

The Foundry doesn’t publish detailed screening criteria on their website or any listing site. That’s typical for Highmark properties. It’s also exactly why working with an Austin apartment locator saves you money: I can check before you apply.

Here’s what I know:

What’s confirmed:

• Allows misdemeanors
• Application fee: $75 per person
• You can use a deposit alternative instead of the full amount (listed on Apartments.com)

What I’ve pieced together from Highmark’s patterns and a real applicant’s experience:

The property uses RentGrower for screening. One applicant who left a review on HAR.com reported getting denied with a 4-year-old eviction filing (even though the debt was paid), a low credit score, and the screening company pulling the wrong income info. That lines up with how screening works at similar properties in Pflugerville.

Income Requirements (Estimated at 3x Rent)

What Likely Gets You Denied

Based on Highmark’s patterns at similar communities:

• Active property debt (money owed to a previous landlord)
• Eviction filings within 5 years (one applicant with a 4-year-old filing got denied, even with the debt paid off)
• Felonies (misdemeanors are OK, but I haven’t been able to confirm their felony policy)
• Not enough income documentation
• Lying on your application

If you have an eviction or broken lease on your record, our guide to second chance apartments in Austin that accept evictions shows you which communities work with those situations.

Application Process

1. Apply online through the property website (SSN or ITIN accepted)
2. Pay $75 per applicant (not refundable)
3. Screening runs through background, credit, rental history
4. Decision typically within 2-3 business days

Here’s what separates working with a locator from applying blind: I can check whether your income, credit, and rental history are likely to clear The Foundry’s screening before you spend $75 finding out. If The Foundry looks tight for your situation, I know which Pflugerville communities have more flexibility.

Resident Reviews Decoded

I went through 750+ reviews on seven different sites: Google, ApartmentRatings, Apartments.com, Yelp, RentCafe, ModernMsg, and ApartmentList. Here’s what the data actually says.

Review Pattern Analysis

What’s working: The leasing staff gets real, specific praise on every site I checked. Danny, Miranda, Jamie, Jalisha, and Razeane all show up by name in multiple reviews on Google, ModernMsg, and ApartmentRatings. When the same names keep coming up across different sites and different years, the office team is doing something right. Maintenance techs Raul, Rafael, and José Duque also get called out for quality work. And the 4.6/5 neighborhood score on ApartmentRatings backs up what I said earlier: the location is the real draw here.

What’s not working: Maintenance speed and quality are splitting. About half the reviews praise same day service. The other half describe incomplete repairs, tickets closed without resolution, and what one resident called a “cover it up” approach. A roof leak got painted over instead of fixed. An apartment was left unlocked after an inspection. One resident said the vendor sent to fix a dryer vent “had to go and buy the most basic tool” for the job.

Your first week can also be hit or miss. On ApartmentList, a May 2026 reviewer waited 17 days for a refrigerator repair after moving in. On RentCafe, another resident showed up to a unit where the smart home system didn’t work for over a month, the backdoor lock was broken, and the garage remote took a month to get.

Guest parking is worse than you’d expect. Older ApartmentRatings reviews describe only about 10 visitor spots for the entire 370-unit complex. After 6 PM, visitors must park by the front office, and those spots fill up fast. If you have people over regularly, this matters.

How management handles reviews: Highmark responds to almost every review on Google, ApartmentRatings, and Apartments.com. The responses are polite but cookie-cutter. Almost all of them invite the resident to “call or stop by the office.” Some responses still reference the old name, Century Stone Hill South, months after the rebrand.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section. I’m not trying to kill the deal. I want you to know what you’re signing up for.

The Gates Have Been Broken for Over a Year

This isn’t a one time maintenance issue. Multiple residents across 2024, 2025, and into 2026 report the same problem: entrance gates broken, rear exit gate unsecured, walk-in gates always open. One resident said gates were broken “10 of last 12 months.” Another reported a vehicle break-in and said management “still refuses to fix the gates.” For a fenced, gated community, that’s a big gap between what’s advertised and what you actually get.

The Elevator Goes Down for Weeks

In a community with buildings up to four stories, you need the elevator to work. Recent Google reviews report it being “broken going on 3 weeks” and “breaking down too often.” If you live on the third or fourth floor, every outage means carrying groceries, strollers, and everything else up the stairs.

The Rebrand Didn’t Come With Renovations

The Foundry is a new name on the same 2012 building. The website still uses centurystonehillsouth.com. Management responses on Google still reference the old name. Residents report older appliances, a gym that needs updating, and green areas in “very poor condition” after four years of neglect. New name, same building, same problems.

Move-In Day Can Be Rough

A RentCafe review lays it out: smart home technology didn’t work for over a month after signing the lease. The backdoor lock was broken. The garage remote took a month to get. Keys were changed without warning. An ApartmentList reviewer from May 2026 waited 17+ days for a refrigerator repair after moving in. Stack those on top of Google reviews about units not being cleaned before you get the keys, and it’s pretty clear: they’re not getting units ready before people move in.

Ready to Move Forward, or Want to See Alternatives?

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FAQ

Is The Foundry the same as Century Stone Hill South?

Yes. Same property at 1225 Town Center Dr, same management company (Highmark Residential). The name changed to The Foundry, but the building, staff, and operations are the same.

Does The Foundry allow dogs with no breed restrictions?

They don’t restrict any breeds. The only dogs they won’t take are aggressive ones or any dog with a bite history. Pet rent is $25/month per pet, plus a $250 deposit and $250 fee for the first pet.

What’s the income requirement at The Foundry?

The property doesn’t publicly list their income multiplier. Based on how Highmark runs their other communities in this price range, expect 3x rent. For the cheapest 1BR at $949, that means about $2,847/month or roughly $16.43/hour full time. Call the leasing office to double-check before you apply.

Are utilities included in rent?

No. You pay all utilities separately. One thing to watch: a reviewer reported water bills of $100-150/month, which is high for an apartment. Ask the leasing office how water billing works before you sign.

What school district is The Foundry in?

Pflugerville ISD. Zoned schools: Brookhollow Elementary (5/10 GreatSchools), Park Crest Middle (6/10), and Hendrickson High School (7/10). Hendrickson is 0.9 miles away, which is close enough to walk.

Does The Foundry have in-unit washer and dryer?

It depends on the unit. Some come with a washer and dryer already installed. Others just have the hookups, meaning you’d need to bring your own machines. Ask which setup your specific unit has before you sign anything.

Is The Foundry a gated community?

On paper, yes. In practice, multiple residents say the gates are broken more often than they work. Ask about the current gate status during your tour.

How far is The Foundry from downtown Austin?

About 14 miles, or 25 minutes off-peak. During rush hour, expect 40-55 minutes depending on your route (I-35 vs. 130 Toll).

Does The Foundry accept Section 8 or housing vouchers?

Not confirmed either way. Call the leasing office directly at (512) 768-2661 and ask. They should be able to tell you on the spot.

The Bottom Line

The Foundry’s math works. A one bedroom under $850 net effective in Pflugerville’s 78660 ZIP is hard to beat. You won’t find this kind of floor plan range (1BR all the way up to 4BR) at many apartment communities in this area. Staff gets real praise from real residents. And the misdemeanor acceptance opens doors that most properties in this price range keep closed.

But the building has problems. Gates broken for over a year. Elevator outages lasting weeks. Maintenance that’s fast to respond but inconsistent on quality. A rebrand that changed the sign but not the building.

This property makes sense if:

• You need a 3-4BR apartment in Pflugerville under $2,300
• You have a misdemeanor and need a property that explicitly accepts them
• You work along the 130/45 corridor and want walkable shopping
• You want a first floor unit where the elevator and gate issues won’t affect you

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• You need working security gates (and most people do)
• You live on an upper floor and need elevator access
• You’re sensitive to noise and thin walls
• You need public transit access

Here’s my honest take: The Foundry gives you good math, good staff, and more floor plan options than almost anywhere else in Pflugerville. But the security and infrastructure issues are real, and they’ve been going on long enough that I’d want to see them fixed before sending someone there without a heads-up.

Need Help Finding the Right Pflugerville Apartment?

Want to work with me? My service is free. The apartment community pays me a referral fee from their marketing budget when you sign a lease. Your rent is the same whether you use a locator or apply directly.

I can pre-screen your situation against The Foundry’s criteria, compare their true costs to nearby Pflugerville communities, and make sure you don’t burn $75 on an application that won’t get approved.

Prefer to go direct? Call The Foundry’s leasing office at (512) 768-2661. Just tell them “Ross Quade from Austin Apartment Team” referred you on your tour and application. Text me at 512-360-0852 when you apply so I can make sure everything’s on track.