|
|
Looks great, poor value
From:
-Anonymous-
Date posted:
11/6/2002
Years at this apartment:
2002
-
2002
Premium price asked for nice-looking property suffering from a number of poor design choices. It is beginning to look like a $1000 paint job on a $200 automobile.
New construction, owners chose to forego installing air conditioning. All tenants are being required to sign a mold/mildew lease addendum requiring specific behaviors to prevent moisture build-up in the apartments. (You are required to use kitchen exhaust fan to remove moisture. Fan exhausts at front of microwave, not outside!) It must already be a problem. Majority of buildings are still under construction (mostly inside, but can be noisy during the day). Double-glazed windows greatly reduce noise...but you need to keep them open for cooling/ventilation (now required by lease'). Construction dust occasionally sets off fire alarms.
No meeting rooms, clubhouse, business center, recreation facilities, or fitness center. A guest apartment is available for visitors. Complex includes retail space at ground level. Parking lot is for retail customers only--tenants must lease garage space or park on street (not recommended). The facility is a reasonably safe island in what appears to be a less than desirable neighborhood. Albertsons is large, clean, well-stocked, and seems to be reasonably priced. Starbucks is inside Albertsons and there is a Rite-Aid pharmacy.
Note: A Bally Fitness Center is scheduled to move into the retail space someday.
The "one block" walk to BART is just over one block to the outer parking lot entrance, a stroll across I280, then another 100 yards to station entrance. Thats "one block" to the marketing person that wrote the brochure. It is a pleasant walk (during daylight), but a reminder that information provided by staff and brochures may be open to a different interpretation.
There are two bus stops in front of the facility. The MUNI J-line is two blocks away at Arch & Randolph. Daly City BART station is three short blocks away. There is easy access to I280 and Hwy1/19th Street.
Inside parking is well lit, but the layout is very poor. Spaces are not reserved, vary in size and obstacle content. Parking is only available for one vehicle.
Only two telephone jacks in apartment. No cable TV. Must use PacBell Satellite TV. This is a problem if you already have a satellite TV service. (PacBell resells DirecTV. If you already subscribe to DirecTV, PacBell does not recognize that account, and requires that you sign a new contract with them. This does not release you from your DirecTV contract payments. You cannot use the TIVO or Ultimate TV features that you have/had with DirecTV.) Internet connection choices seem to be limited to dialup or PacBell DSL.
Appliances are one step above "builders grade". If you like to cook (or have to), stove heats slowly and doesnt have the BTU output expected. (I had appliances elsewhere from the same Mfg that looked almost identical, but performed much better.)
There is a choice to be made in whether to waste energy using the heat booster in the dishwasher or risk the health hazards posed by low wash water temperature. Im sure the central water heating system is much more efficient than 500 electic booster heaters.
Note: Hot water temperature is below the minimums specified in the dishwasher and washing machine manuals. You must use the temperature booster in the dishwasher to kill germs. Pots, pans, and cooking utensils cannot be properly sanitized without the dishwasher (tap water temp is too low for washing by hand safely - I checked USDA and FDA site to verify). Be prepared for lukewarm showers.
Apartment addresses use street names that are not on city maps (i.e. Oceanview Terrace) causing problems with deliveries. FedEx ground kept rerouting packages to Mill Valley--there is an Oceanview there. UPS may leave delivery attempt notices outside complex at rear gate (most tenants enter from underground parking garage, there is no parking on this rear driveway). It is also aparently a problem for Police and EMS (we were awakened once by a desperate search for the source of a 911 call).
Noise is not much of a problem at this point as occupancy is low. Tenants should realize that conversations held in the courtyard are easily heard through open windows on the fourth floor. Fountains mask most ambient outside noise, but the night may be shattered by buddies loudly sharing their nights adventures, overly loud cellphone conversations, or the roar of a shopping cart. (Shopping carts are not allowed on the property, but may occasionally be found in stairwells, hallways, courtyards and elevators. One has been proudly displayed on a balcony for over three months.)
Cleaning fee is applied regardless of condition when apartment is vacated. Not my words! You may want to ask, and decide how much cleaning you need to do when you leave.
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer: No attempt has been made to verify or assure the accuracy of the claims made by the author of this opinion or responses. You must judge the truthfulness of any review and accept responsibility for your use of this information.
Up to: Oceanview Village
San Francisco apartments
|
I'm the author!
