I lived here four months before they had a fire. An elderly lady on the ground floor was lighting a candle (not smoking as another said) and dropped a match on her oxygen tube, and unfortunately for her she lived to tell the story. They started reopening in late January '08. I considered everything else under the sun, but in the end I still just wanted to come back. Still live here as of July '08.

The location is very nice. One block from El Camino Real but a quiet street with little thru traffic, easy to get to the freeways, good public transportation though Caltrain is far away. Close to my favorite grocery store, Smart & Final.

Building dates from about 1975 but was built very solidly. Bottom floor is concrete; the floors above are wood and squeak like most CA apartments, but you don't get the bass-drum resonances like you get from some cheap complexes. Walls are nice and thick. Most residents are single people with the occasional noisy family but people generally stay within their own space, which is great for a less expensive complex. People look out for each other and take pride. The building's in the flightpath for SFO, though, which the manager will tell you, and some of the late-night planes are LOUD.

Parking is a little bit tight. You get one assigned space; if you have two cars, you'll need to park one on the street, and Alida Way rolls up and down so you'll need to learn to curb your wheels. The speed bumps in the parking lot are annoying.

The apartments are spacious (the one-bedroom floor plan is approx. 650 square feet), but there are quirky little details. I can't find anywhere to fit a cereal box standing up, and I had to take a rack out of the refrigerator to make a tall enough space for a gallon of milk. Most units have a patio, and those units also have a full-size door screen, which is a nice touch. No A/C, and I never needed it thanks to the infamous year-round South City fog. Nor did I need the electric heaters that are provided in each room; the insulation is really excellent.

Have had problems from time to time with the plumbing. Hot and cold water sometimes switch places, and the hot water is so hot it will land you in intensive care if you're not careful. Management is very responsive, and Etoile and Chandra fix any issues promptly no matter how often you have to call them.

This is a good place to live, I've had many opportunities to leave already but still enjoy it. All it really lacks is the luxury details, and if you can do without the frills, you'll love it here.

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