The Astor Court, in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, is a once-elegant three-story prewar building, now slightly run down. Security entrance, wood floors, high ceilings, beautiful trim. Adequate plumbing for a building of this age.

Capitol Hill is a youthful left-wing neighborhood popular with queer folk, and consists mostly of apartment buildings. The neighbors are quiet, but trash trucks start picking up garbage and recycling as early as 5 or 6 AM, and continue throughout the day several times a week. There is some significant traffic and airplane noise, but it's not too bad, especially when the windows are closed.

The rent increases yearly, and exceeds what the unit is worth in my view (nearly $1200/1-bdr with parking). The location is excellent, though, with a grocery store, drug store, several restaurants, bars, and coffeehouses within 1-2 blocks. Broadway is 7 blocks to the west. Volunteer Park is 4 blocks to the north. Upper units have a partial view of the Space Needle/Puget Sound; others face Mt. Rainier and the Cascades.

A semi-private courtyard in front of the building has a running fountain, surrounded by trees, small grassy areas and landscaping, with a couple of benches. Tenants can sit outside with their dogs or have a smoke (not permitted indoors).

The kitchen is tiny and old-fashioned, and if you love to cook, you'll hate living here. There is no dishwasher, no garbage disposal, and almost no counter space.

The baseboard heaters will add a couple of hundred bucks to your monthly electric bill--better to use a space heater. The electrical outlets in the building are not grounded. No AC, and on a hot summer day the south- and west-facing apartments in this brick building really heat up. On the plus side--tons of closet space: my unit has four closets and there's additional storage in the basement.

The laundry room is in the basement. Two washers and two dryers, a dollar per load. There is a garage under the building; street parking is very limited.

Run by an impersonal property management outfit, but the on-site manager, Kent, is friendly and helpful.

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