I have lived here since 2004 and my wife has been here since 2002. In general we have had no significant problems with with the complex, the management, or the maintenance staff. In our experience the maintenance has often been quick to respond to the kinds of minor issues you typically have in an apartment, and they've fixed the problems correctly the first time. We're pretty low-maintenance tenants so our dealings with office staff have been fairly low-key and always positive.

So, what explains all the negative reviews here' Stockton itself is a challenged place so it's hard not to ascribe some of the more vitriolic reviews posted here to personal issues and overly demanding expectations for an apartment complex in general, and in this city specifically. Demographically, the complex serves a working-class and middle-class clientele. By no means is it a "ghetto" complex (no Section 8), but the mixture of residents means some will be coming from more troubled lives than others (domestic instability, unskilled labor, low education mixed with university education and advanced degrees) and those troubles perhaps lead them to deal with management (and other staff) from an adversarial standpoint. This might also explain why some reviews here are very negative but blame *the complex* for issues they have with individual tenants or petty crime.

Yes, there is a gate, and no, it's operation is not 100% perfect. But it's operational a good majority of the time and it's not designed to make the complex an impenetrable fortress. Again, reviews that warn potential renters away from the complex because the gate sometimes breaks are simply expecting to much from a dumb gate.

In general, the grounds are very well kept. The grassy areas are watered and green (if a bit muddy at times from poor drainage) and the sidewalks are cleared of debris by the weekly groundskeeping visits. The complex features a network of fountains, waterways, and bridges that are home of dozens of Mallard ducks. The waterways are generally kept free of trash by the maintenance crew but it's an uphill battle. Unusual events, like downed trees during storms, are handled in a perfectly timely manner by the maintenance staff. Sidewalk lighting is good and burned-out bulbs are replaced in a timely manner. The complex has two pools and they are acceptable, though one is not serviced as well as it could be. A small fitness center is also available, and in my experience has been fine.

One of the nice features of the complex is the presence of recycling bins next to the regular large garbage bins. At first they were only for paper, but they have recently been marked as accepting all recyclable materials (whether CRV or not). This was a great move by the management, but alas its effectiveness depends on the tenants to care enough not to spoil the recycling with household garbage. Unfortunately, given the demographics outlined above, there are too many who are ignorant of the distinction between recycling and garbage or who simply don't care that other residents might care deeply about it. This is a problem of individual tenants and not the complex.

As for noise, we've been fortunate not to have too many problems with that. Our immediate neighbors have been quiet and respectful and we live at the back of the complex, looking out over a slough to a walnut orchard and then the delta. In return for occasional agricultural noise, we get magnificent sunsets and a fabulous watershed of birds and amphibian life each spring. Other units that are more "inside" the complex of 51 buildings might have more problems with noise, and noise is probably an issue on a case-by-case basis depending on individual tenants. The inside buildings are also less expensive than the outer buildings, and that might contribute to the noise problems other reviews have complained about.

My greatest peeve has been the inconsistency of enforcement of the prohibition against junk cars taking up parking spaces in the public areas. I don't believe in giving the poor too much of an opportunity to pollute more respectable areas with their trashy ways, and dirty broken down cars are a prime example of that kind of disrespect. However, usually, after a complaint or two to the office the cars have been "tagged" and they *are* dealt with, if slowly.

In all, Waterfield Square is pretty good for a middle to upper-end apartment complex in Stockton. Like any complex, it serves a diverse population of residents, but in my experience it generally tries to serve them well.

User Responses
From: WorkingWoman	Date: 10/25/2009
I have lived here since May of 2007 and completely, 100% agree with this review. I moved here from the Bay Area whre I paid a lot more rent and lived in a true "ghetto" complex. I also live at the back of the complex and enjoy the beautiful view, the wildlife (hawks, river otters, racoons, turtles, egrets); but more than that I enjoy the incredible staff who make living here home.

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