I've been living at Alborada since June 1999. I've seen it all. The good, bad and downright ugly. On more than one occasion I've been inclined to move out but the sad, sad, very sad truth is every apartment complex in Silicon hole is exactly the same. I've looked, I've seen. By moving somewhere else I'd probably only end up in another "Alborada". You get treated the same anywhere you go. The mission statement of every apartment manager in the valley is to squeeze every penny they can from their tenants while delivering as few services as possible. It's call "profit margin". And we're the piece of wedgey that makes the money train go around. Shoehorning us into these boxes stacked on top of one another. So comparing Alborada to other apartment complexes on that level is nonsensical.

Here's the scoop on this place. It tries to be upscale. Catering to the so-called "tech professional". But its all just a facade. The only thing upscale about this joint is the price tag. Although it does have a few amenities you won't get in some of the other older rat holes; central air, washer/dryer in the unit, etc. But basically, all new apartments now have these in all their units.

I'm finding that lately the newer tenants here are younger, louder, and ruder. Loud rap music blaring from car stereos at all hours of the night. Sometimes I wonder listening to them drive by outside if I haven't ended up in East LA or Compton. I think the only real tenant screening they do is finding out the size of your wallet.

The management here could be just like the one down the street at "Joes Rat Hole and Barn Lofts on the Creek". Okay, it's a made up name but probably describes this bunch pretty well (just trying to keep it light here). They are pleasantly accommodating only up to the point where they think you begin to take up too much of their time (more than 5 minutes unless you are forking over cash to them) or you appear to start costing them money. And their threshold level is very, very low. After that they get surly, nasty, and absolutely arrogantly b*tchy.

I've have had several run-ins with management here and probably will have several more before I leave. I'm embroiled in another on-going saga right now over late payment. Anything for a buck these people. The gate eats my car and they refuse to pay for it, I'm 2 hours late with the rent on a Sunday and I have to cough it up. Truthfully, I don't think I like them. I've tried to. But they are like a dog with bad disposition. One minute nice and the next it turns on you and bites without warning.

Speaking of dogs, there is a dog situation here. A serious one. There are too many of them and their owners like to take them for real short walks. The result is a foul smell that seems to be nearly everywhere. The further into the complex you go the worst it is. The entire complex seems to be nothing but one big dog toilet. I live up near the front of the complex so it rarely affects me. But I stay away from the pool and the gym because of it and its gotten much worst over the past couple of years. Apparently, too few here have heard the old saying "you don't ---- where you eat". And you shouldn't let your dog do it either.

They also have a problem around the garbage can areas. The trash just gets hurled in there and ends up strewn all over. The stench becomes overpowering after a few days. Management does nothing to address the situation.

Parking is a nightmare royal unless you pay extra for a parking spot (when I first moved here carport parking was free). Just another convenient service courtesy of the management. Sort of a self-valet parking. There is no on street parking in front of Alborada (why, I don't know), so if you don't pay for a spot you could end up parking 2 blocks away.

Maintenance seems to be good and fairly quick to respond. But you have to fill out a request form to get anything done. Asking verbally just gets you first on the ignore list.

At one time when I first moved in here this was a really nice place to live. Management really seemed to care and the grounds were well kept and the tenants, being well educated and apparently from families that took the time to teach their kids proper hygiene and good manners, well behaved. But the complex got sold to Equity, new management has come and gone, and it just isn't the same place I moved into way back in June 1999. Hard to believe I've stuck it out here this long.

Over the course of my seven years here I have witnessed a gradual deterioration of the place. Most of the deterioration has come because quite simply, a lower class of people moved in. Ill manner and totally lacking in any proper hygienic habits. Hence the trash situation, the dog situation, etc. Management doesn't live here, is lazy, or just doesn't care enough to do anything about it. As long as the check clears they don't give a damn. As a result, the place has quite literally, gone to the dogs.

This is the third review I've written on Alborada. The first one I wrote nearly four years ago. In the past I've been more than kind about it. Too kind I think. Glossed over the reality of what this place has become. Now, I'm just too fed up to care anymore. Sure, there are worst places to live, but for they charge here it should be a lot better than it is. A hell of a lot better. Therefore, my resolve that this time, when my lease is up, I'm finally done with this place, once and for all. Even if I just end up in another "Alborada".

User Responses
From: ftorre	Date: 05/05/2006
Alborada is a dog friendly complex which is one of the reasons we moved in here. Maybe you should suggest that certain areas be off limits to our dogs. I don't walk my pooch any where near the grassy areas because there are ample places throughout the complex for them to go. This is still a great place live, we all need to care more about our surroundings and respect each other. My company President recommended this place and I have not been disappointed. The location is adjacent to Lake Elizabeth.
From: jasonborrows	Date: 05/10/2006
I agree and disagree with the original poster. I lived there 5 years and the poster is absolutely right that the clientel level has somewhat gone down more since managment is giving out low discounts for first time move in's which usually attract a lesser ecomonic base. The dog poo has always been a problem and the garbage was beginning to be a problem before we moved out. BUT........The place is probably still the best place in fremont to rent. Like the original poster said, it's one of the only places which has central air and doesn't look run down like all the other dirthole's in fremont. But the mantanence ppl are good there, the location is great. The nit picking for paying for each amenity sucks too but since I was there years ago it was all free so I ddint have to deal with any of that.

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