Pros:
Excellent Location
Personable staff
Large size, all corner apartments
Beautiful landscaping and grounds keeping

Cons:
Heating and cooling can be expensive on the second level
Some Noise is heard on the first level
Parking can be difficult if you have more than one car and live in the front portion of the property

Summary: The Park is a little more expensive than others, but it more than makes up for it with its ideal location, great staff, and large apartments.

After three years of living here at the Park, I think I understand it better than most and I wanted to take a moment and write about my experiences here. This review is pretty lengthy, but I think it can answer any real concerns that a potential renter would have when looking at a property.

Cost
For most tenants, the cost of an apartment is the first consideration in deciding to live there or not. I have found the Park to be higher than some apartments in other areas, like Redmond or eastern Bellevue. Having said that, I currently enjoy 1,158 square feet and pay roughly $1.32 per square foot at this complex. I find that to be very reasonable. Also, my rent of just over $1500 a month also includes my vaulted ceilings and being on the second floor. Apartment shoppers may find better prices by living on the first floor, but I prefer the quiet and vaulted ceilings of the second level.

Location
Living here I have the luxury of being right near 520, 405, and I-90 (check Mapquest, this location is an ideal location for interstate travel). Further, the Downtown Bellevue Park is within walking distance. You can use this little oasis in the city to propose to that special person (as I did) or you can just enjoy the scenery of downtown Bellevue framed by beautiful greenery and trees. Bellevue's fireworks also launch from near this location making it a perfect spot on the 4th of July, and if you live at the Park apartments you can simply walk here rather than deal with traffic and parking, which is an excellent bonus. There are also a few bus stops quite close to the complex making public transit easy. By the way, don't forget that the Lincoln Square Cinema, Lucky Strikes, and the Bellevue Square Mall are all within walking distance. Convenience!

The Pool
The Park's pool is open year-round and located outdoors, but is partially covered by the main office's roof. The pool is cool in the summer and warm in the winter, personally I love swimming in the rain or during the occasional snow. There s also a hot tub which is great when it's cold out for bringing friends over and just relaxing.

The grounds
The first thing I noticed about the Park are their grounds. They are really unique and make you feel as though you aren't living right in a big city. The property itself feels personal and safe, I've never had a concern for car safety nor have I had a concern with personal safety when I walk the grounds during the day or night. The abundant greenery and the calming fountain near the office all combine to create a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere.

Neighbors
In the three years I've lived here I haven't had any issues with my neighbors. For the majority of the year, I have never had a problem sleeping here due to sound. I feel as though the apartment walls are very good for keeping away outside noise and car traffic. In the summer it can be more difficult to find quiet since some neighbors will stand on their decks and talk loudly into the night. Having said that, people are people and I have a fan that drowns out their sound without any problems. I have had a door ding or two on my car, but honestly the majority of dings I get are from parking garages in Bellevue and Seattle so this is a minor issue. Again, people are people, and overall I like the people that live here.

The Apartments
I've lived on the second floor in a one-bedroom apartment for about 2 years and a year ago upgraded to a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor. Before I moved into the two-bedroom, I did a test of having my wife stomp around an open upstairs apartment while I was standing on the first floor. I did notice her moving around, but it was quieter than I've heard in other apartments. For me sound is very important, I need a good night's rest and I don't want to hear loud neighbors when I'm relaxing in the evening. Each apartment building has four apartments on each floor, with each being a corner apartment. For this reason you only share two walls with one neighbor each, which drastically minimizes the noise. If you also live on the second floor, you have no noise above you. Because of this, noise in any of these apartments is more minimal than most other complexes. If noise is an issue for you, consider getting an apartment on the second floor. The vaulted ceilings alone make it worth the purchase. One more thing, the two bedroom version has two sinks in the master bathroom. I love having two sinks and think it's a great touch for the apartment.

Utilities
I don't have much to mention here except that there is a drastic difference in heating costs between summer and winter. I think this is where my vaulted ceiling becomes a slight hindrance. In the summer I pay a bill of roughly $60 each month for my energy costs. But in the winter I've had bills reach $180 a month. I'm assuming this is because all my heat rises to the vaulted ceiling, forcing me to use more heat to keep the apartment warm. This is a larger cost in the winter, but I still enjoy the openness I get from the ceiling. If price is more important than sound, consider an apartment on the ground level as they are generally cheaper and I think easier to heat and cool.

The Staff
When I first moved into this complex, the staff made me feel as though I was home. I moved here from Rapid City, SD and didn't know a single person. Whenever I would come to the office they knew me by name and were always willing to help, whether it was maintenance concerns or just directions to different areas, they've always been kind. Roughly a year ago new management staff was hired to handle the property. This new staff is even better than the previous. The current manager, Nikki, is fun to talk with and seems to really enjoy being at this property. Her staff has had numerous events for the tenants since they took over including poolside cook-outs with free food and a raffle drawing and customer appreciation weeks (involving ice cream socials, or free doughnuts and coffee for breakfast). The staff knows me by name and that's important to me. I never want to be just another tenant. Coming from the Midwest, I appreciate good hospitality and I've always had it here.

Conclusion
The Park in Bellevue is a little more expensive than other apartments on the Eastside. Living on the second level is quieter than living on the first but you pay more in utilities for heating and cooling. The staff is professional and accommodating, while the maintenance crew is hardworking and attentive. The location allows you to easily get to any of three interstates. You can walk to the Downtown Bellevue Park and the Bellevue Square Mall, and Chipotle (a personal favorite) or easily take the bus wherever you want to go. Every time my lease comes up, I apartment hunt and compare the Park to other locations. I love it here but I also want to get the best deal possible when living in this area. After three years, the Park has always proved itself to be my home and rise above the competition for the reasons I have listed above. I love it here and I think you will too.

Regards,
Scotteous

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