Did you go to the Saturday BBQ'' So on this past Saturday I went to a Poolside BBQ that Summer House has put together for the all the residents. I am glad that I was able to go and sit down talk to other residents and also staff members. I moved into Summer House in December 2006 in building 475 and really haven't experienced all this negativity other residents are talking about. You know I really can't say to much about my apartment other then I totally feel like I get my money's worth, especially being so close the city. When I originally searched for a new place back in November I went to San Francisco to looked for apartments, which I found nothing decent for under $2500.00 per month which was a 1 bedroom which was still crappier then Summer House. Then I went into Jack London Square where they where asking $2195.00 for a 2 bedroom apartment which was not but not for the budget. Then I search Alameda went to a couple of apartment complex that where old looking, smelled like a old people home, and straight NASTY!!! I came to Summer House apartments moved into an apartment, which was completely brand new and renovated. I live on the second floor and sometimes do hear creeks in the floor, but really ask yourself.... Is it really that serious'' Ask yourself.... Do children playing during the day really hurt you'' Ask yourself.... Is the toilet really that bad'' Or do you flush the wrong stuff down the drain'' You know I think sometimes we need to just STOP, THINK, & TELL OURSELVES...."It really could be worse" We could be one of the homeless people living under the bridges in San Francisco, or the starving children in Africa that have no shelter. LETS STOP BEING SO SELFISH AND THINK ABOUT HOW WORSE IT COULD BE.... After this weekend talking with other residents at the BBQ I nothing but good feedback.. Staff was GREAT.. Everything was perfect.. WHERE WERE YOU'''

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/19/2007
Building 475 is the only two story building in the complex, the first one built and rented, and is completely different from the others. Also, the leasing managers have lived there (at least in the past), so the situation is different. I have never posted anything negative about any apartments I lived in for the past 20 years; but I did on Summer House because my experience has been so horrible. Yes, it WAS that serious. Someone's home should be a sanctuary. I dread going home because I know there will be nasty neighbors, something not fixed, barking dogs and I'd have to wear earplugs to sleep. I begged management to address probelms I was having and that just never happened. So there was a BBQ? There has also been a brunch and another BBQ last October - that doesn't resolve the problems. Don't discount the serious problems some of us tenants have had just because you live in a different building and haven't experienced what we have. The rent is a lot higher than wehre I lived before in Alameda (Neptune Court) and there were never any problems there. I'm a mature, educated professional and pay more than 1/2 my salary on rent. I expect to have a quiet, comfortable place to live. Why am I posting anonymously? Because I don't want any problems when I move out and try to get my deposit back.
From: karen.jefferson	Date: 06/21/2007
Well the last time that I checked I lived on the 2nd floor in building 475 and have a person right above me & the building was 3 stories... I think this is the problem with the residents that live at Summer House... Quick to do the talk but never no actions. Why don't you stop, think, look, then type about stuff that really is valid. I mean like first of all you are going to put out on blast where the staff lives and which buildings they reside in, but have to be anonymous about who you really are. You are a p***Y and shoud be forward. I live in 475-205 and have no reason to hide myself nor be affraid of any residents.
From: LC529	Date: 06/22/2007
I check this from time to time to read and look for consistent issues that "are based in fact" but I continue to notice the very drama and out of context responses fueled by personal opinion rather landlord tenant law issues this entry was started on. I can't say that I've seen any staffs name, building number and apartment number on this site, nor do I understand what would be the reason for anybody to do that, this is not a site that has authority over anything. Tenants??? names, staff names would only serve a purpose in identifying trends in behavior that may need attention...that means action. I'm in total agreement about action BUT this forum helps in two ways. In order for an issue with your building to be an issue there needs to be some form of tracking and/or consistency that shows the building owners and/or staff are negligent. This can be shown in a group standard of non compliance to fulfill a contractual standard or as an individual case upon repeated non-compliance. The best way is to share and gather information, throw out the drama kings and queens and document the facts and use it to make change. Oh yeah I live in 529 and my name is L-C and I don't invite people to knock on my door and discuss building issues with me when I speak directly to the staff, I get what I want or "I put them on blast directly" usually in good time on my personal issues.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/22/2007
Umm...Hey Karen Jefferson, did you see the police at the BBQ who showed up to investigate the attempted break-in? Maybe if there was some proper security here that would not have happened. I also came to the BBQ and tried to enjoy it. Seeing the interaction with the police certainly put a damper on that. And show some intelligence by not using foul language against people. It is hard to take anybody serioulsy if they are not smart enough to express an opinion without cursing.
From: liq2	Date: 06/26/2007
Karen....Can you please change the name of this post, its driving me nuts....Its being DRAMATIC" not "being DRAMA" - i'm in 529 if you would like to chat.
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/07/2007
My experience at Summer House has been a nightmare. And when so many residents have the same issues then there are definitey serious concerns that need to be addressed. For example the plumbing is a critical issue--and I don't put anything unusual in the drain. When two sheets of toilet paper has a problem going down--then something is wrong. All I want is a relaxing place to come home to after a long day of work. This is probably the perfect place for 20 year old, but not a working professional. People are not respectful and constantly park in my parking space. Things also take awhile to get fixed. The security gate outside of 535 has been broken for a couple of weeks--lets see how long it takes to get fixed.
From: FallenGemini	Date: 08/20/2007
I have lived in Summer House when it was known as Harbor Island for 20 years(ever since I was borned in the '80s) up until two years ago when everyone in the entire Harbor Island apts had to move out and if what I have read is true, I am shocked of the issues that the apt is having. Just that we have heard that place will be revamped and will only be for those of upper class. Seems like it was a facade where management only updated the look of the outside and not the inside of the tenant's units. I am also shocked that the place still has a high crime rate from the comments I have read. I mean when I lived there, it started to get bad in the early '90s as more ppl who moved into Harbor Island had criminal records; Harbor Island was considered the worst place to live in Alameda. The police actually found a dead body in the swimming pool years ago. However, I shouldn't be suprised seeing how a lot of the tenants who had to move in 2004 moved across the street to Poggi. I hope what I read is true about the place being bad since I can see former tenants before the Summer House renovation can purposly give the place a bad review for being evicted years ago much the same way the managment is giving the apt a good review for working there.

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