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    Areté

    3.7 (60 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Jay C.

    Held back doing this Yelp review for a while coz I wanted to get a solid feel of the place before talking about it. Visited about 10 other apartments within about a 45 min bus ride from downtown Seattle. Some near, some far, some cheap and mostly expensive. Arete is the nice balance of it all. We got the Eco Flat (286 sq ft). Came with a full sized bed and mattress, big office table, a chair. Kitchenette includes small ref and microwave(no sink sorry). Neighborhood - Very friendly neighborhood filled with families. The park in front has a basketball court, tennis court and the Peter Kirk Baseball field. 5 min walk to Downtown Kirkland for good eats, 7 min walk to Lake Washington bay walk, 5 min walk to QFC and Kirkland Library. We always feel safe walking around even on the wee hours of the night. Accessibility - Kirkland Transit Centre is 5 mins away and tons of bus routes pass through there. 45 mins to Pike Place on a bad day, 30 on a good day. Plus the buses pass often(every 10-15 mins on peak hrs). Oh and Arete sells $40 annual IRCA card. Unlimited rides on anything! Lots of free street parking but Arete does have parking if you need it. $50/month for a slot and they even have 2 hours free parking for guests. Amenities - Washing machine and dryers are scattered all through out the apartment complex(i think 2 per floor of about 15 units) which means no lugging all your dirty clothes to the laundry area in the far end of the building. Common kitchens are awesome plus the grill in the patio is huge! You get your own Comcast box which means your own wifi and high speed internet. Management - The team is awesome!!! Larry would go out of his way to help anyone out. He would reply to your email in 15 mins or less even on a Sunday. Issues were solved asap like laundry machine being broken or light going out. Management isnt strict on installing shelves or putting holes on the walls. The maintenance team would even help out replacing lighting fixtures and switches. I could go on and on about the things that I love about Arete. The negative reviews on here are from a year ago, a time when they were just starting and have now made huuuuge positive adjustments.

    All kinds of stuff in the washer!

    I don't leave comment on Yelp. But, Arete! I break my rules for you I have stayed here last summer for only three months and it was miserable. Never ever choose an apartment just based on its website! Literally the worst apartment I have ever stayed! WARNINGS! 1. When I moved there, it was still under construction. I always woke up by the construction noises even during weekends. If you think this is tolerable, there are loud music from music room, people alway talking loud outside, people having party, farms market every weekend...I don't remember when there is a time it was quite and comfortable in this property. 2. I lived in the so called Eco flat floor plan. I was more like a cell rather than a room. Everything is compact and low quality. the compact refrigerator can never freeze your food properly. the floor in my room is actually painted, I had never know they can do that(I have pics for it). Be aware of the edges of the furnitures(counter, cabinet), they are so sharp that I got cut many times. The room can rarely fit in a twin size bed. I felt like I can even not breath in that tiny space. 3.. Everything in this apartment is tiny. The management are just trying to make the apartment look fancy by squeezing everything in the apartment. But with limited space and limited cost, everything comes in low quality and sometimes useless. Super tiny gym with limited equipment; leasing office can not be smaller; the pool table room is always occupied with loud people, and I was not surprised at all that the room was vandalized once. 4. The property is always so loud. Sometimes even when it's time to sleep. I used to live near the music room. It was a disaster. People play loud music all the time that I can never get any peace in my room. So I had to move to another room. However, the washer and dyer are just outside my room. They never stopped running and my room shakes with it. 5. What was worse is that some people alway use the laundry facility when you are sleeping even though there were rules that it was not allowed. You will never know what people wash in there. You can find all kind of hair and a lot other weird stuff, not just a little, but a lot, seriously. I will upload some pics. 6. all the after hours concerns should be contacted with American Patrol and Surveillance (APS). which means, the management are not responsible for any of your concerns when you went home after work, or when you enjoying the weekends, which is the only time you are in the apartment. The purpose of the management is only to bring more people into this property, and after that, they are only good at receiving packages for you. 7. You can never get your deposit in full. we carefully cleaned the floor and wiped the table and counter and everything, and still, they deduct $100 from our deposit as a cleaning fee. Even they cleaned it again, seriously it is only a 200 square feet cell! how can it cost $100. Seriously the worst apartment ever. Stay away from Arete.

    Tenants were allowed to move in even though construction is on going throughout the week...except Sunday

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    7 years ago

    Beautiful apartment, great friendly staff. I've got wonderful views of a baseball field, easy parking, and quick walk to downtown Kirkland

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Areté

    Review Highlights - Areté

    Also to acknowledge Joel and Larry in the leasing office who are also consistently amazing and professional.

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    The 101 - Bathroom at The 101 Apartments, Kirkland, WA

    The 101

    (18 reviews)

    Everything was great . Dee leasing agent was great location…read moregreat , building great can't wait to move in January 1 coming back home to Seattle from California .

    Hello! I've lived at…read moreThe 101 for a number of years, and generally enjoyed the experience. Both Dee and Joe are wonderful people. The complex is no longer livable. A construction site has been erected next door, and the noise and shaking is incredible. It begins, every weekday, at 7:00 a.m. and the beeping/slamming/crashing cannot be drowned out even with earplugs. Just for laughs, I checked the decibel level in my apartment at 8:30 a.m.; with no appliances running and seated at my desk (approximately 15 feet away from a closed sliding-glass door), the decibel meter read a very respectable 70 decibels. For the people who will rush to dispute this review, that's about the sound of a running vacuum or hair dryer. Except, of course, those noises generally don't persist for 8-10 hours per day. Oh, and they don't tend to physically shake the unit, either. I cannot open my sliding glass doors for ventilation because of the dust and smoke from the site -- but that's okay because I'm sure I'm getting plenty of it, even with all the rain, through the ventilation ducts. The unit's balcony might be a selling point, except it's unusable during daylight hours. The property manager was condescending, suggesting to me this long-term construction is part of the landscape. Pillar Properties is unwilling to accept the notion this construction has dramatically impaired my ability to function in the apartment. Meanwhile, I am immunocompromised and quarantined for the duration of the Covid pandemic. Even if I were vaccinated and able to move, the Pillar folks won't discuss an early termination of the lease. So I'm here with the banging and clanging and shaking for eight more months. To the point: Hello, devil. Welcome to hell! (And anyone who's thinking of moving here, know that construction has just begun and won't be completed until 2022 or 2023.)

    Vela - Garbage room

    Vela

    (5 reviews)

    Inviting, appealing. The only model is the penthouse 3br (more like 2br with tiny office) that is…read morenot on offer for rent. Nice simple clean contemporary designs. quartz countertops in kitchen. This unit is considered premium because of the wine fridge, led bathroom mirrors, & heated toilet seat (not a toto). I would compare to non-premium units and the cost difference, those are small costs for a developer, & given the upscale vibe it is trying for...wouldn't'; that be standard at least in view units?!? Vela is right in heart of Kirkland, nice for walkability but can get noisy / Note: summer traffic into the heart of downtown Kirkland can take quite a bit of time. If you are new to the area, factor another 20 minutes to get there during summer and or festival/busy times. There is a gym and yoga studio, but you are charged a monthly fee on top of your rent, more like if you were a condo owner. As of this week (late October 2023), Tyler says they are about 53% occupied. Note: Privacy. So you want light & views but all blinds go from top to bottom, verses the bottom up, which is what you need at least for your Bedrooms...otherwise, you are in a fishbowl at a busy aquarium & you are the main attraction. Because you do not own, you cannot change this. Parking is extra; One spot per bedroom for about $175 each (while spaces last), small storage options for a similar fee, common area fee can be about $150 as well more or less depending on occupancy & sq footage. Add it up, it becomes quite pricy. Thus, you may end up another $500 on a 2br in charges plus of course your utilities/wifi etc as you would have anywhere. the unit below the one I saw would set you back about $5000 monthly. Asked about who they consider their competition, Tyler said maybe only two developments in Kirkland. I beg to differ, look at Carillon Apartments Residences, more like condos for rent with the western view, upscale remodels, common areas, easier access & more privacy, and most of those do not include extras for parking & common areas. (but always inquire) Also odd that Tyler said they are leases vs rent. Perhaps leasing sounds better to them...and when I asked about the difference he didn't' know. He seemed a bit confused about condo ownership vs renting at a condo in terms of paying for common areas....as a renter at condo or apartment, usually, one does not pay a separate common area, so they need to be very clear about this early on in their pitch Ie total price. It feels a bit less than transparent re: the many fees. The developer is Continental properties. I would LOOK at reviews for Continental Properties (they also own Voda in Kirkland & another one whose name escapes me, but Tyler can tell you). We are slowly exploring options for family. We own in Carillon area and have a long family history of owning condos, homes, apartment buildings and also being renters ourselves of all those types of housing. After the experience and understanding the value, I will be looking elsewhere. Note, all reviews are from people who do not have a yelp presence so feels a bit fake. No photos of their units and no longevity of renting, if indeed they are or become renters. Hopefully CP will do a great job, but my experience didnt feel so clean/clear. Oh yeah, Tyler D. knew the features of the model penthouse that made it premium but then seemed not to know answers to my questions re: the floor and countertop materials. Turned out he did know but was hesitant to share about the vinyl flooring. Given the large footprint they have in our sweet little Kirkland, let's hope the Continental Properties is a good neighbor.

    We knew as soon as we walked in and talked with Tyler we had found our new home. We could not walk…read morethe apartments due to the construction but Tyler took videos of the apartments so we could feel comfortable with our choice. He has also been very quick to respond to our questions. That type of above and beyond customer service is so appreciated! We have stopped in on several occasions during the process and have been able to meet Courtney and Katie as well. The place is beautiful but the fact that the team taking care of the residents are so great to work with is a HUGE plus! We are looking forward to moving in and calling Vela home!

    Tera Apartments - Fabulous shopping, dining, and recreation opportunities nearby

    Tera Apartments

    (44 reviews)

    I rarely write reviews, but my experience with Tera Apartments deserves to be shared to warn…read moreothers. The management here is truly terrible, especially when it comes to the move-out process. My main issue is with Brandi, who works off-site and handles move-outs. She charged me for absolutely everything imaginable -- even though I left my apartment clean and in the same condition as when I moved in. I was hit with a $180 "cleaning fee" and additional charges for "damages," which were really just normal wear and tear. I had only a few small nail holes, which I carefully patched before leaving, but they still billed me for painting and repairs. To make matters worse, they deducted everything from my security deposit and even charged me extra for an insurance policy that I had already canceled and fully paid for. Their entire billing system is confusing, disorganized, and feels intentionally misleading. It honestly seems like they're trying to squeeze every last dollar out of residents on the way out. The property itself is also disappointing. * The hallways constantly smell like trash, and the garbage compactor is loud. * You can hear everything from your neighbors -- not because they're loud, but because the walls are so thin and poorly built. * The gym and common areas are dirty, often missing wipes or cleaning supplies. It's ironic, because they'll still charge you a cleaning fee when you move out. * Internet service is unreliable -- there's a required provider, and it's overpriced for how often it goes down (sometimes for an entire weekend). * Construction was ongoing for months outside my window. When I moved in, I was told it was "almost done." It wasn't. As for management communication -- it's practically nonexistent. Sometimes they respond, but most of the time, they don't have real answers or just pass you along. To make things worse, Brandi couldn't even locate my move-in condition file, yet still claimed I left the unit dirty. It's unprofessional and feels like a scam. In short: avoid Tera Apartments if you can. The property is poorly maintained, the management is unresponsive, and the move-out process is a complete nightmare designed to charge you for anything they can.

    Good mgmt and nice apartments and amenities. The reason for the "meh" rating is because of the…read morerequired internet service provider, Gigstreem. Can't count on them to provide consistent WiFi. Makes work-from-home super difficult. Hoping Tera Apartments renegotiates their contract with Gigstreem and allows tenants to opt out if service quality doesn't match pricing!

    Uptown at Kirkland Urban

    Uptown at Kirkland Urban

    (4 reviews)

    It smells like a garbage dump for the past three weeks. The duct tapped the garbage chute. Added…read morea note to put it in room. So not only is 7 floors full in the wall, the rooms are half way night of garbage. I have dr's come 3 days a week that can't believe it's legal for people with health problems. I'm personally taking double anti nausea than normal. How welcoming to show a property and feel good about it, that's that just duct taped it. As the current tenants are passed is Ac not working along with garbage. I would run. Being an upscale apartment and you haven't even sent out a email. I don't think it's fair we don't get a big rent credit among with garbage and AC credit for the past couple months. Nobody should have to live like this. Especially with no explanation. We use to get follow up emails on everything that goes on.

    Edit: Management has refunded me the 20-day charge after filing a complaint. Still happy that this…read moreis resolved now. I completed my full 12-month lease and moved out on time, yet management later attempted to charge me an additional 20 days of rent and insurance. I was explicitly told--both in person and in writing--that month-to-month leases were no longer offered. I also clearly communicated multiple times, via phone calls and in-person conversations, that I would not be renewing my lease. Management acknowledged this and promised that the 20-day rent charge after move-out would be re-credited (see screenshot). Despite these assurances, management reversed their position after move-out and issued an incorrect final balance. When I disputed the charge and requested clarification or legal justification, both the accounting team and management stopped responding to emails entirely and refused to provide any legal or compliance contact. This experience has been extremely frustrating and unprofessional. Policies were applied inconsistently, verbal and written representations were contradicted, and good-faith communication broke down once money was involved. As a result, I am now forced to resolve this matter through formal legal channels.

    162TEN

    162TEN

    (9 reviews)

    Property manager Nick Ushka truly exceeded our expectations with his exceptional service. He went…read moreabove and beyond to help us find the perfect first apartment. Nick skillfully coordinated a schedule that allowed us to tour three properties--Vision5, 162TEN, and Tudor Manor--on the same day. His proactive approach ensured that we could apply, sign the lease quickly, and pick up the keys in just three days. Throughout the move-in process, Nick was informative and consistently available to address our questions and concerns, making the transition smooth and stress-free. While all the apartments are small they are clean and have community areas featuring a full kitchen, a laundry facility, an outdoor patio, and a recreation room.

    So due to unforeseen financial circumstances I had to come back to these apartments after moving…read moreout for a while. The management is somewhat the same, but a person named Alex is an added manager. They're patient and awesome. I still give this place a low rating though as pricing has only gotten worse, laundry sharing still sucks if not worse (CLEAN OUT YO DAMN NASTY LINT GUYS AND STOP TOUCHING MY LAUNDRY AFTER IT BEING DONE NO LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AGO), marijuana stank is still heavy, and LOUD neighbors still. Luckily I haven't had to call the police again here, but who's to say I won't have to in the future. My rent is "base" about $1,350 but after utilities and whatnot it's almost $1,600...YIKES for a low income apartment. I blame part newly shared State Farm down stairs (which by the way has been there for about 6 months and I've only seen people in there JUST LIKE TWICE?) Why is it even there??) To briefly mention, I have considered roommates but it didn't work out in my time frame at the time. So besides Alex being a cool additional person, I would NOT recommend this place unless you ABSOLUTELY cannot afford anywhere by yourself.

    Na-Mu Lofts Apartment

    Na-Mu Lofts Apartment

    (16 reviews)

    Central District

    I am not even sure where to begin in this review, so I will start with Sonya who is the property…read moremanager. She is highly responsive, kind, incredibly competent, and has excellent communication skills. She is engaged and efficient. She is also flexible, reasonable, and sees the solution that would best serve all parties. We all love her. The property itself is new and modern and is perfectly located. There is a Safeway on the same block and E Madison is one block away as well as 23rd so it offers major bus lines in all directions. It is far enough away from the fray of downtown to feel peaceful yet be close enough to take a 10-minute Uber or bus to be in the action. Laundy on the property. Easy street parking. All good things!

    Alright, after living here for around 4 months I feel like it's time to write a review. I'm not…read moregetting anything for this review. When I looked it up on Yelp for the first time I was a bit suspicious it had such high ratings but now I know they're justified. BACKGROUND - I am a Seattle transplant. Just graduated and just moved here fresh out of college. I wanted to live somewhere affordable, convenient, nice and still close enough to where all the fun stuff was. I looked at Cap Hill and the prices were outrageous. So the I landed on NAMU from an ad on Craigslist. LOCATION - around 5-10 minute drive from downtown Seattle and downtown Capitol Hill. Close enough for a short bus ride or a cheap Uber pool. If you check on the walk score it's around high 80s and the crime rate for the area is really low. Generally, it's closer to the suburbs. It's quiet at night because of that but occasionally there will be a siren once a week or people yelling once in a blue moon. But generally, really quiet. CONVENIENCE- I live right next to Safeway and can walk there in under 30 seconds which has saved my life many times. There's also a cute plant shop downstairs if you like plants and a Dominos pizza is opening soon, there's a Vietnamese sandwich place near the Safeway as well. The Safeway is open late which is great. There's also a YMCA a block away if you want to workout nearby! APT AMENITIES - in terms of amenities it is solid given how much rent you are paying. There's a bike rack, and a nice rooftop. None of my packages have EVER been stolen from the lobby and I've see packages left there for days so everyone in the building respects that. You can pay extra for storage and the laundry machines are on the 2nd and 3rd floor, which TAKE CARD. Generally they are full on the weekends but I haven't had an issue waiting long times for laundry. There's no pool, or lounge, trash chute or gym. The only things I wish the room had: an oven, a dishwasher (I just do my dishes by hand), and a closet. But I've adjusted. If you need these things to survive, consider that before you move in or if you have a ton of stuff / furniture / clothes because it likely won't fit. NOISE - Honestly, I'm assuming the insulation is top notch because I've heard my neighbors maybe once. ROOMS - The apartment was made in 2015 or something. I moved in 2017 and was the second tenant ever! The rooms are small, around 250-300sqft but I have enough room for a full-size bed, a queen size futon, a wardrobe hanger, and a small dining table and a bookshelf and no issues. It's a perfect studio for a single person and more than enough room to be comfy. Note there isn't a closet though so you'll have to make do with a buy your own closet thing. I really appreciate the mini fridge as it is honestly big enough for one person and since I live by Safeway I never really needed too much space anyway. The bathrooms are clean and modern and there's a big window too which is really nice in the mornings. LANDLADY / MAINTENANCE - This is what prompted me to write this review. The landlady, Sonya, has been nothing but incredible and responsive. She texts back almost immediately and even helped me once when I locked myself out of my room at midnight, and helped me get a package when I accidentally locked it. She's very thoughtful and kind and honestly I never knew how awesome thanks would be to have a great landlady until I met her! She also schedules maintenance once you report a problem to her. The maintenance guy, Mike, lives in the complex and shows up right on time to help fix your issues and is polite and nice. There was an incident where our hot water heater stopped working for around a day and Sonya immediately notified all the residents on the situation and provided suggestions for other solutions. And she even decorated the front door and lobby with a Christmas tree for the holidays!! Tldr - This is a great place to live if you're moving to Seattle as a single person. The rooms are "small" but modern, clean, and more than enough space for a studio. The facilities are brand new, and the landlady is awesome. The rent is affordable and I've I'm very happy living here and feel safe.

    Areté - apartments - Updated May 2026

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