Balfour Place Apartments

Shady and unsafe From: -Anonymous- Date posted: 6/30/2008 Years at this apartment: 2006 - 2008   I lived at Balfour for 2 years and finally got my act together to move out. Coast Real Estate was the management company while I lived there. My two biggest concerns were security and the building manager's attitude. During that time we had an arsonist for a period of several months. This person lit fires in the trash chutes 1-3 times a week over several months. Tenants organized a community meeting with the police and fire departments, but the building management took over the coordinating and agenda setting. The police and fire departments recommended better security including a number cameras. The management claimed they had three cameras installed, but they wouldn't tell us where they had been placed because the arsonist would most likely find out and be able to get around them. My neighbor was friendly with one of the office staff (who was eventually let go or quit - I can't remember which). According to my neighbor, the owners would not allocate enough money for the staff to maintain the building properly. It is true that there frequently seemed to be damage over and above normal wear and tear to the hallways, laundry rooms, elevators, etc. Also, due to some of the shadier tenants and their 'guests,' the front gate was frequently broken, which made it easier for shady people to follow you in. The intercom never worked the entire two years I lived there. The on-site manager's response to security problems (like if someone were to follow you in, if someone was on the premises who didn't seem to belong there) was for anyone complaining to call the police, when really the best solution would have been a security desk and better building maintenance (e.g. if the gate lock is frequently broken, spend the extra money to get a stronger gate). The manager's attitude always came across as "this is low-income housing so what do you expect'" I don't recommend living at Balfour Place. It is known among many homeless people as a building that is easy to get into (to sleep in stairwells, laundry rooms or occupy empty, unlocked apartments - apparent by their lack of doorknob and locking mechanism). The management either doesn't care about improving the conditions or is hamstrung by the owners.

Recommended: NO Overall Rating

Parking: Maintenance: Construction: Noise:

Grounds: Safety: Office Staff:

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