I?m just about to finish my fourth year here and I have been very happy.

* Generally quiet for being downtown. You get the occasional car outside with loud bass or the cars apparently lacking mufflers, but overall, it?s very quiet here.

* Great DSL access. The central office is a few blocks away. Can?t get much better than that.

* Great layout. My apartment has a huge bedroom and plenty of storage.

* Even though I face a big brick building, this place gets lots of sun, especially after 3pm. Although, it can get hot in here if the temp outside is above 75 degrees, so unless you like to roast, keep the blinds closed.

* Good insulation. I never hear the neighbors to the sides of me. Sometimes I can hear the people walking around upstairs, but it?s minimal.

* The parking is great in the garage. Just gotta make sure you don?t park next to any large vehicles since the spots can get tight. There?s usually parking outside on the street for visitors, even on weekends. But when the theater across the street, Nippon Kan Theater, has a show going on the spots go fast.

* Good neighbors. Most of the people here are friendly. Only came across one jerk. But most of the time you won?t see anyone else. It?s kinda eerie, really.

* If you can, get an apartment above one of the garages. The noise from the garage door opening and closing is minimal, and you?ll have a 3rd-floor apartment without having to worry about neighbors below you. But stay away from apartments near exterior doors or the stairs. Because when those doors close, they close hard and loud.

* Rooftop access is great. You can go up there anytime, and it?s usually empty. It?s a pretty good place to watch some of the fireworks shows and the Blue Angels, or just look down on the rest of South Downtown.

* Access to I-90 and I-5 is awesome. You can take the entrance near the new football stadium or go up on James St. Either way, it?s only a few minutes away.

* You can walk to just about anywhere from here. I walked to the Space Needle, clear across town, once in about 30 minutes. But if you plan on walking back you?d better be in good shape because this building is on a steep hill.

* Security isn?t all that great. In my four years here, I think I?ve seen security people less than a dozen times. And police response to this area leaves much to be desired. I once called 911 to report a car burglary in progress right outside my window. It took them about 20 minutes to show up. The police station is only a few blocks away. But overall, there?s very little crime here.

* Moving in was a breeze. You can either come in from the top of the hill through a metal gate that leads to an elevator, or take the large elevator at the front lobby. I was able to move everything in the small elevator, even queen-size mattresses.

* Management is superb. They?ll hold packages for you, and if it?s a big package or you?ll be away for a while, they?ll even bring it to your apartment with your permission.

* There?s a Texaco down the street, and an Uwajimaya, but if you want a Safeway or QFC you?re out of luck. You?ll have to go up by Capitol Hill for that.

* My biggest complaint is the rent. If it wasn?t so much, and if the parking fee was a bit more reasonable, I?d stay. My rent has gone up about 8.3% every year. I?d sacrifice some of the stuff above for cheaper rent if I could.

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