I moved to 2nd St apt early last year, being from out of town I didn't have much time to look. I was told the area was desirable, that's about the only thing good about it (and even that is not really true, read below). I wish I had had more time to look. At first it seemed like such a good deal for the area, but the water and parking will get you. Each unit seems to have different layouts, none of them really make sense. I don't think the builder put much thought with either the design or functionality. Unfortunately, these are the things that only became apparent after you lived in it. I've been in smaller studio/1 bedroom that have better layout and design to accommodate better storage than this. The wasted space is annoying.
There's only 1 decent closet, with crooked doors that wont close completely (everything in this building seems to be crooked or slanted) and the kitchen counter space is not workable. I used to cook but ever since I moved here, I have gradually turned to take outs (which adds to the cost of living!) because the kitchen is just tiny, forget about the cabinets and the counter space.
The walls, floor and ceiling are very thin. When you walk it creaks. I have to deal with downstairs neighbor keep knocking the first 2 weeks he moved in until he finally realized he himself made the same noise. It's miserable. The only way to be free of this is if you live on the top floor (provided your downstairs neighbor is understanding or deaf). My neighbor upstairs is a 'stomp-er' who makes living here all the more unbearable. Many residents are students of Bellevue CC so they don't have the same sleeping schedule as working ppl (like me) do. I've lived in apartments I thought as having thin wall and ceiling, but boy this one takes the cake. It's like living in the dorm. Bellevue downtown is full with loud building constructions, road repairs and constant traffic noise, you can't block them even with the windows closed, when they're open you can't hear your TV. The air is bad from all the sources of noise, it's not like you can get fresh air when you open your window. Don't move to this area unless you live in a high rise or near the park. I did not know better. I moved here because its close proximity to my work downtown, but I still don't think it's worth it. I need to be able to rest and enjoy my life when I'm home and here, I can't.
The temp. manager who signed me misled me with the unforeseen bill. The water bill is outrageous and the parking is really bad if you do not pay additionally for the very bad parking space in the basement (they're really tight). I don't even cook and I send most of my laundry to dry clean. The high water bill is really a mystery to me.
This apt. building really has bad air circulation. It's apparent inside your unit, but only gets worse when you step out into the hallway, elevator and is at its worst in the basement where the parking is. I don't think any of the smog from the cars has way to escape. There's always a funky smell down there that makes me cough every time I have to go there. Like what other reviewer has mentioned, I have develop allergic reaction myself the first few months I moved here and have been dealing with it. Summer months were especially bad.
The manager they finally got to replace all the temps, -----, does not really know what she's doing most of the time. I don't think she ever managed a property before from how she handled things (the other reviewer mentioned this, he/she was right about the horrible management). She did not give me certain papers she promised to give until months later and she got certain bill wrong fe times that I had to call ConAm myself out of sheer frustration. She is not really one whose words you can hold (it's so frustrating when someone keeps saying different things to you every time you deal with her, especially when it comes to $). She's untrustworthy, not prompt and unreliable. She does not really return your calls either despite living in the property, she's not that easy to get hold of.
The only saving grace is -----. He's an angel. He is the maintenance guy. Every time you call the office, it's him who will take care of you, return your call promptly and get on top of the problem right away. They really should just have ----- as the manager all together since he's the one who always does everything around here. I don't see why they have to pay ----- for jobs that ----- does. ConAm should pay him more or get another person to help him. There are just too many things for poor ----- to be on top of. He's just 1 person after all.
Please if it may seem too good to be true (the rent) it's because it is. After you add up the parking and the water bill, not to mention the electricity bill during the colder months (it runs high because the windows insulation is bad) they all add up to way over $1000, so it's not really a deal. Find your self a BIGGER apt with better layout and storage space for that money. You most likely have to rent additional storage space if you live here, which adds up. I looked and found better ones. I hate the apartment, hate the management, wish I had better neighbors. I am glad I have moved.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/11/2009
I've lived here at Second Street for years now. I absolutely love it and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Yes I will admit that there is noise between floors, but you get that in any apartment building. As far as the comments about management. I moved in when ----- was her and I do miss her, we had temporary manager for a while. But ----- has been here since last year and seems great. Anytime I've had trouble with something she has been more than willing to help me out. I think your description is rather harsh. Both her and ----- work hard and do a good job at what they do. I do wish we could get the hallways redone though, the carpeting is very worn and the paint is just funny.
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/28/2009
I totally agree with the comments about management teams. ----- is very hard to deal with. ---- is the helpful maintenance. Also people who wants to rent an apartment here should be aware of a bill above for $55 for water!!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/12/2009
I too totally agree with everything in this review. Don't move to this thin walled, noisy apartment. Not worth it. -----, the so called manager is never around and unreliable. The water/sewer bill is crazy. Water is only like $7, but the sewer bill over $50..wtf. Who pays for parking these days in downtown Bellevue? Com'on it's not like Seattle parking. I always smell weird food smells in the hallway, like in a different country. I cough in the garage b/c of the crazy pollution. Now you have thugs in the building and in the next building acting crazy in middle of the night outside. Police will come if you report noise, but much cannot been done, yet they get paid like 90k in Bellevue. They will just tell the neighbors to be quiet. Too many crap to deal with in this place, can't wait to move out.

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