Overall the exterior of the complex is quite excellent for the price. The layouts of the three models of apartment are rather nice also. Apartments facing Bart tracks experience quite a bit of noise when the Richmond line is running, but other apartments aren't much affected. This will be my second year here, so I obviously don't hate it, but I don't think it's the heaven that it was when I first moved in.

There are many hidden things about renting here however:

1) Residents must pay to restore apartment to "new" condition. This means you have to pay for normal wear and tear like marks on the wall, etc. that should be absorbed by the landlord as a part of doing business.

2) Many dirty/broken aspects of apartments are hidden by flashy items like shampooed carpet and fresh paint. Found lots of dead bugs in the corners that were pushed aside when they did a fumigation quick carpet cleaning. Also, large holes drilled in doors, bowed closet clothing bars, anything paintable is just covered by new paint instead of replacement when possible.

3) Office staff seems to say whatever you want to hear to get you to stop asking questions but then you'll need to follow up a couple of times to get things done. They generally respond in good time to repairs, but they can get wishy washy if you try to pin point any other details like "when can I get the move out checklist and apartment walkthrough'" I got shuffled around 4 times before I received a semi-satisfactory answer.

4) Only one assigned spot and a handful of vistor spots. Luckily they recently painted in street lines for parking on SP, but this isn't the safest place for a second car. Also, after 5p any calls to management about someone else in your spot, too much noise, etc. go to a messenger service and good luck getting something to happen.

The pool is generally kept in shape and the small gym has one treadmill and beats running around the city at night (some Richmond violence has been spilling into El Cerrito) but nothing to brag about. At least I can have my cat around for the small sum of a 500 smacker deposit.

Despite all these bad things, I would recommend this place at the current prices. It beats what you'd get for the equivalent price in Berkeley and it's only an 11 minute Bart ride away!

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