you are much better off at the Paramount. this is really a second-rate apartment complex. Cheap appliances, fixtures, painting...and you're right next to CalTrain. They pitch it as a convenient location-- try just plain loud through the night. The common areas are quite nice though- from a marketing perspective, the common areas probably have to be nice at this price point-- these areas bait people into touring the place. I feel sorry for the suckers in the new building (301 King St) that think they are getting a good deal. It's right next to the CalTrain -- good luck trying to get any sleep! And security is pretty lax, especially with the highly visible recreation center in the lobby.

If you ignore this post and rent here, you'll live what I'm experiencing. 6 months to go!! I read this website before renting and assumed many were just disgruntled former residents. NOPE! Be absolutely sure to raise the issues discussed here during your tour. The leasing agents will smile with you, but should any substantive issues arise, they will do nothing. From auto thefts in the parking garage to maintenance issues etc, the management team is quite useless. They'll respond within 24 hours, but it will take several more calls to get a resolution...if there is one. The concierge staff are very friendly, but not very helpful- they are more like a concierge at a Holiday Inn than at the Ritz. They will hold your packages, take your maintenance requests, and sometimes buzz you in the door. Call me crazy, but at $3000 and up in rent, I expect at least Marriott (3-star) level service. Paramount seems to offer that!

The management team is fairly unprofessional, and perhaps this is by design. Avalon is a public company, and they tend to cut corners on expenses to meet earnings numbers. So if you need anything other than a free lightbulb, the inept maintenance team will screw it up. You'll get the run-around trying to resolve any substantive issues. There have been a few break-ins in the parking garage. Management's response: we are not liable. The concierge staff is quite nice, but they are not the most helpful. br>

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/20/2007
Bravo. I am experiencing the same exact problem in Phase I here. This place is terribly overpriced. "FAUX LUXURY" is what I call this place. I happen to have been an owner of one of the cars that were broken into, and they basically laughed at me. That was just over 1 month after I moved in, so we had no choice but to stay. Did they comp me anything as an apology? Of course not. Did they increase the security? Of course not. Did they even provide video footage due to the breakin? Of course not. Thieves!!! This is the place to come. Just look for a door that stays open on the front of the building, then head down to the garage for free looting!!! At our first opportunity, we're outta here. We're paying over $4200/mo.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/11/2007
Thank god, I heard the truth before committing based on their false marketing. So any recommendations for a decent 1BR luxury apartment in Mi.Bay/SoBe area?
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/18/2007
Recommendations for apt-- the condo buildings are better- go to craigslist and see if you can get the Beacon (right across the street). Just make sure it doesn't face caltrain -- NOISE problem. Paramount is good too. Metropolitan is nice inside, but in a seedy location.
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/05/2007
Total rip off...you might as well live in the fillmore.

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