Lydian

So far its been a good experience and is a well run building. Some parts of the apartment feel a little dated but its ultimately good value for money. The neighborhood can feel a little crunchy at night but Ive never had a bad experience.

General lack of communication from staff. Constant intrusive in unit inspections with minimal prior advance notice only weeks apart. Services can be out of function for weeks or months at a time including essential functions like elevators or security gates. "Security upgrades" have been quality of life downgrades like removing key fobs and replacing with windshield stickers and requiring install of intrusive apps on phones and datamining rent collection program. Promises made by building staff in writing regarding upgrades and access of delivery people have been revoked and residents were lied to. Constant changing of rules regarding package pickup window requirements. Security upgrades fundamentally useless regarding elevators when the stairs are completely unlocked and two feet away and do nothing to prevent actual bad actors from accessing the building. Rules regarding tailgating serve only to give the staff an excuse to yell at residents and no way for residents to actually stop others from following them into the building through the parking garage due to sensor placement. Email blasts about pets go out to to all residents even those without pets. Lack of communication from staff. General downgrade of services including increased cost to access amenity spaces and decreased hours and days of office staff availability. Lack of communication from staff.

I'd rather have lower rent and not have to pay the equivalent of a car payment for my monthly parking, instead of "amenities." I don't need free coffee, I don't need a gym, I don't need a pretty lobby, I don't need party rooms and meetings rooms. I need an affordable place that doesn't charge me $300/month to park my car.

Parking fees are comparable, but you’re not guaranteed a spot and might be waitlisted. Staff is great besides the manager, building-wide unit maintenance checks are very frequent for some reason (but quick), you can only have 1 guest in common areas otherwise you have to pay the reservation fees, common areas also close at 10 PM and security will kick you out even though signs, for example, the gym say 24 hour, the walls on the third floor are very thick because they’re made of concrete but higher levels will have thinner walls. Oakland parking and rent taxes to fall onto you. Don’t expect your security deposit back - they will encourage you to not clean so they can charge you what they want for extra sanitation, etc, but even if you do clean like I did and others, you will likely have to pay still. They do not follow “itemized receipts” and their resolution support for security deposits is very poor and rude in my experience, and they are willing to send you to debt collection before answering your emails or calls. All in all if you have the funds for all that/ don’t care about that, it is really nice being walking distance to the lake and Maya Halal.