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A Mixed Bag...Great Once I Get Inside My Apartment
From:
-Anonymous-
Date posted:
1/26/2008
Years at this apartment:
2007
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2008
3 responses
This was the cheapest place I could find in downtown Seattle where my lack of income actually enabled me to qualify. There is an income cap in order to live in this tax-credit building; the rents here are FAR below market. Try finding anything downtown under $900 without a roommate... While I have overall enjoyed my time at the Lowman Building, it has been a mixed experience. But I don't have high expectations for the amount of rent I pay for the location I am in, and I manage apartments downtown so I know the market and these are no slum lords (I worked for one before too!). My feelings coming into the building swing from slightly negative to positive depending if I an en route or actually inside my home.
The location is fantastic, although living on 1st Ave is incredibly noisy, but what can you expect living in bar central' The exterior of the building is a beautiful and the interior was been completely renovated 3 or so years ago. All my compact sized appliances are new and work fantastic, the cabinets are plain white but new and very clean, hot water is centrally heated so it's hot ASAP, all utilities are included, walls are decently thick that I only hear my neighbor when the music is super loud, building is somewhat secure, is a smoke-free building, and the one manager and one maintenance guy do what they can get done in a day taking care of leasing, maintenance, retention, budgets, paperwork, etc. I lucked out when I took sight unseen an apartment on the floor with 14 ft ceilings and a water view. So I LOVE being home in my cozy 500 sq ft studio looking out over the water.
The bad parts of about living in this building aren't things like lack of amenties or 24/7 manager presence, but there is NO parking in the building so good luck finding parking on the street and paying the meter every 2 hours at $3 a pop or else it's a $35 parking ticket.
The two elevators are frequently screwing up so there's only one working now, or they skip a floor so you end up one higher than what you pushed. The elevator interiors are just horrific as well, I don't know who had the bright idea of putting carpet on the floor and using carpet to upholster the sides. They have definitely smelled like urine and/or beer on a more than a few occasions.
Until the new manager came the front door call box was non-functional, and the key cards randomly do not work. The main door has been pulled on so often that the wood is starting to crack and the nails are showing.
Apparently one night someone pulled so hard on it that it actually opened and the arguing couple shot a gun in the lobby and left a bullet hole in the interior entrance door. Gotta love the domestic disputes on a drunken night in Pioneer Square. The side entrance hallway walls are scuffed and needs repainting and feels like a homeless camp-out. On rainy days the gutters keep water from dripping all along the storefronts but not over the entrance so you get wet walking in and out.
The laundry and garbage situation is pretty awful as well. Garbage is thrown away in an unventilated room on floors 3-7 that get picked up and dragged into the elevators daily into the alley. Remember the carpeted elevators' Laundry rooms are $3 a load to wash and dry, that is if they are even working which is usually not the case. So dragging my laundry somewhere else has been the solution.
I guess if I had more issues with my apartment or had higher expectations that needed tons of maintenance or the manager's help, then my story may be different. Since I pay my rent on time each month and keep my apartment in good condition this is about all I complain about. This is one of those basic apartment homes where the minimal needs are met at a great price downtown.
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User Responses
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From:
tiny1
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Date:
07/24/2008
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i will relocate to Seattle in my 09. i hope to move here tell me about the size of the apartment. I would love to live on a top level. can you tell me about the area. and do they have balconies. I'm to excited to move there truly hope you get this message
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From:
Anonymous
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Date:
07/28/2008
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hey tiny. The apartments are overall pretty small, I think most are around 500 sq ft or less, but you should check with the building manager. Yes, try hard to get a top level. The 8th floor has 14 ft-ish ceilings and I hear the top/10th floor has cathedral ceilings. And there are no balconies.
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From:
anitalou
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Date:
10/13/2008
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thanks
I really hope I get an apt there i move in 208 day's ...so exicited this is the ideal apts for me and my cat....well mabey i will see you .
tiny1
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Disclaimer: No attempt has been made to verify or assure the accuracy of the claims made by the author of this opinion or responses. You must judge the truthfulness of any review and accept responsibility for your use of this information.
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