To start with, this building has struggled with a roach problem for years. It seems that when they do hire someone to take care of the problem, only the bottom floor is sprayed, which leads the roaches to head upwards for safer ground. Make sure to stock up on roach spray and replace your traps often. Don't get startled by a roach or two that you see, get even.

However, it has quite reasonable rents and all utilities are included. It's close to the subway and the busses, however shopping is a bit further away - seven blocks for Ralphs, two blocks for the small Latino Jon's market. The end of the street has a dollar store and a liquor store, a block further is a far larger dollar store.

There's a shopping plaza past the parking garage with a McDonalds and hot dog stand, as well as other eateries (Japanese, Italian, Juice bar).

Management doesn't seem to be quite on the ball with their financial records, letting some things carry for months or calling each month about an underpayment that doesn't exist.

There is, in fact, a fire department nearby, as the other reviewer will find out soon. In fact, the parking garage seems to have cars catch on fire every three months or so. It's quite a sight to see.

On weekends in the fall and winter, some men will congregate along the 7th Street side of the building, drinking and pissing against cars or in the street all day long.

The residents continue to feed the cats, although they've been asked repeatedly to stop. This leads to an odd odor from the alley behind the building, as the plates of tuna sit and stink.

There is no air conditioning, so be sure to stock up on plenty of fans. Make sure to have one in the kitchen, which can get insanely warm as one prepares dinner in the summer time.

There is no pool or parking, but the easy location to downtown can override that. I suggest getting a water spray bottle for the summer and just spritzing yourself in front of the fan and pretending you're at the pool.

Speaking of water, during my time there we had several outages in water during the normal working hours. This might not inconvenince those who work outside the home, but for those of us with a home business... stock up on quarters to run up to McDonalds and be able to use the toilet! Maybe they've fixed things, however.

Also, be on alert for both suspicious men (a serial rapist was on the loose when I left) as well as muggings. My last day there I witnessed a man shove a woman down at the corner of 7th and Normandie, steal her purse, run up to the corner and hop in the back of a waiting truck and take off.

I would not suggest going outside at night. The homeless I encountered were quite friendly, but that's not to say all are, or they're the same ones after dark.

Watch out for the entry walk in the morning when the sprinklers are on, it's QUITE slippery.

I would recommend this apartment complex for others on a budget, who need to be close to downtown, who don't have transportation, for those who don't work late into the evenings.

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