Joel and Noella are the BEST. I worked personally with Joel for years and he was always responsive and professional. Him and Noella always go the extra mile to make sure residents are happy. They are great people! Would definitely recommend Arete to friends and family! Ask for these two in the front office for a seamless experience! read more

I lived here for a year. Nothing in my corner apartment is worth mentioning. My college refrigerator leaked all the time, I smelled smoke of all kinds, the walls are so thin i could here my neighbor having sex. The elevas always go down. I found out after I lived here and paid too much and worked my ass off everyday it was also available to those we did. So if you don't work and live off the government this is the place for you! read more

KELLY BRASFIELD!! She's so so great!! She was so helpful when I was looking for a place to stay. The whole process Kelly helped me through it and made it so much easier to move! Her friendliness, professionalism, suggestions! She's made for this job! She's super awesome! I signed the lease and applied for it with Kelly. Made it really easy and enjoyable. Thank you Kelly! read more

Location is prime on these apartments, there is a lot you can do in downtown Kirkland. However, the apartment itself was okay. The walls are so thin, you can hear people walking and talking in the hallway. Our apartment was close to the elevator so we would hear the elevator every single time someone was using it. There was also one elevator per building so the wait time was long every time we wanted to use it. These apartments have heated floors, which we though it was a nice feature before we moved in. However, year-round the apartment was too hot, even though we would move the thermostat to under 70 degrees, it would never go under 74 degrees. We had to have our window open all the time and had to buy a portable AC just to be able to stand the heat. Overall service and apartment were okay, location was great. read more

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. read more

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This review is based on the "eco" and "eco friendly" part of their advertising only. They assign gas vehicles to electric car charging spots, for whatever reason. I was told when I moved in that there would be no issue if i was to get an electric car again, to switch me over to an assigned charging spot. I've been trying to get assigned one over a month now that I have an electric car, and there have actually been a lot of issues. What's the point of having chargers for EVs if you're just going to assign them to gas cars, and call your building "eco friendly"? read more

I've just signed my 3rd lease with Arete after living here for 2 years. I continue to thoroughly enjoy living here in this community. This review is specifically to acknowledge our beyond stellar maintenance staff - Jason Daniel, Alec Donovan, and Colton Everett. All 3 of these men have consistently exceeded my expectations with their attentiveness, knowledge, patience and dedication they demonstrate while performing their work. They resolve issues in more than a timely manner. Thank you to all 3! Also to acknowledge Joel and Larry in the leasing office who are also consistently amazing and professional. They keep the communication flowing in the instance of a maintenance issue and follow up to ensure it was resolved. read more

This place sucks... I live here right now and can't wait until my lease is over! The walls are paper thin and you hear everything and everyone that's around you. If you like the show cops or want to appear on a future episodes of cops you should definitely live here, because the cops are always here.... For the price I pay 2k a month for a single bedroom I definitely expected more. The stairwells are absolutely disgusting and always smell like hot garbage.... Oh wait that's because there's garbage in them all the time. The stairwell handrail was ripped off the wall three months ago and has still not been fixed, but hey I guess the good news is that they finally cut off the sharp exposed nails left by the old stair rail. Definitely would not recommend living here, the location is nice but that's about it. read more

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. read more

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I have been living in Arete about 3 months now and it has been pretty good so far. 1. Staffs (The main reason I love here is the staffs. Kimberly, Joel and Larry are always there to help tenants.), 2. Convenient location (it is near bus station, Qfc, Kirkland waterfront, parks, gas station, etc.) 3. Unlimited Orca card 4. Furnished units for eco flat 5. New building 6. Seasonal fun community activity I highly recommend it. read more

I needed a place rather quickly, and Kimberly was quick with answering my questions and getting my place ready for moving in within a few days. Each flat varies in size. I would recommend checking out the unit first - I love mine! It might seem a bit confusing navigating the hallways. Kimberly walked me through the place twice (when i visited) and by the time i moved in I wasn't feeling intimidated by the hallways. The garage is great if you can get an assigned space (i got mine!) otherwise you're going to have to park some distance away. You will, of course, need to furnish your place to make it... you. But the eco-flats come with the immediate essentials - bed, small closet space, table and chair). Get your pre-moving in shopping done and you can borrow a cart or dolly from management to wheel things up to your flat pretty quick. Oh, and I've read some reviews about thin walls... while some sound leaks into the hallway, once I'm in my room, I can't hear anything except the high pitch of a distant alarm clock. All other sounds are blocked out. Management is always ready to answer any questions you have, fellow tenants are super friendly! Makes living here very pleasant read more

Arete is the greatest apartment experience I could ever ask for! Jazz, Larry, Kim and Joel are the best leasing agents I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and they bring a personal feel to every conversation and question. Since Nov 9th 2016 when I leased my 1 bedroom apartment, I knew it would become my home for the next few years. When my girlfriend and I started getting serious I even asked about the ramifications of me adding her to my lease and no rent increase! When my now fiancee and I wanted to get a rabbit, no pet fees! Arete and its staff care about you and giving you the best stay possible. I get lots and lots of packages as an Amazon fiend, Arete is always courteously alerting me promptly every time and even calling me personally if i have a larger package and recommended to reserve me a dolly. I have had the experience living in apartments in both Asia and the US, and hands down Arete has to be the best. I love how close it is to the great restaurants by the Kirkland Marina and makes an easy trip back from a romantic Friday night date to play pool in the 24 hour community center areas. I recently checked out the brochure area and found a whole bunch of great stuff to do with my Fiancee this weekend. The bottom line ----------------- Arete is an apartment complex and of course has its ups and downs, everything in this world has positives and negatives, but I will tell you what.. there are too many things I love about this place and the people that make it work everyday. 5+ Stars well earned, Christian and Jessica read more

I thought I'd post a follow-up review since management decided to "reach out" to me in the hopes that things would get fixed. If I could give this place ZERO stars, I would. Management offered no feasible remedy to anything I posted previously, and were very rude about the post I had made, asked neighbors if they knew who I was to figure out who to contact, and lied to me about how they got the information. Seriously guys? It just keeps getting from bad to worse! Things are so bad, I decided to end my lease early - cannot wait to leave this place! Stay far far away! The price maybe cheaper than most rents in the area, but you get the quality and service that you pay for - cheap & bad service. read more

As a monthly (sometimes more) business traveler to the Seattle region from Kansas City, I was looking for an affordable place to live while I was in town and save some money over staying in a hotel every few weeks. I saw these Eco Flats online and they are absolutely perfect for what I needed. One of the leasing agents, Joel, was very helpful in finding me exactly what I was looking for and was upfront and honest with everything that I would be paying. These Eco Flats are like hotel rooms but they come furnished with a bed and a desk and you get a kitchenette area in your apartment which is a microwave and a bar fridge. I never cook when I am here but they do have kitchens on each floor with a stove and oven if you need it. There's also laundry machines in the hallways. The apartments feel new and they are configured well for their size. They have a closet area where I can keep my business clothes so I don't have to pack and unpack them every time I travel and the kitchenette area has cupboards where I can keep nonperishable food. They also have their own private bathrooms with a stand up shower. I like that internet was included so I didn't have to set that up with any company, it was just ready to go when I moved in. The building also seems to have a lot of common areas like a gym, a BBQ area, pool tables and TVs, etc. I don't use them often but it's nice to know they are there. I've also noticed that they started having a farmer's market in the courtyard area on the weekends so it was pretty cool to go get some fresh fruit and vegetables just a few feet from my building. There always seems to be a lot of community events going on so if you are into that there is a lot here for you. The management team is top notch and are super friendly when I come into their office for a package or if I need anything. They have a high level of customer service and Joel is always going out of his way to help me out. For what I needed, my apartment is just what I was hoping for. Affordable and located right in downtown Kirkland, this place really can't be beat. Highly recommended! read more

Arete is a great community for those on-the-go individuals who don't need much space and don't spend all the time at home. I honestly enjoy living in Kirkland downtown at a very reasonable price. The necessary furniture, all the bills, a number of communal goodies (grills, mini-gym, decks..) are included - check. Transit center, QFC, banks, eateries, all sorts of small businesses, a shopping plaza across the road opening very soon - check. Special props to the community manager - Joel, he's awesome! And to the Little Brother restaurant downstairs - it's great! read more

Short story: Great idea, poor execution. Long story: The location is great, across the street from Kirkland's largest park. However the building leaves a lot to be desired -- it's still under construction (originally told it would be completed in December 2015). Management is pretty much only nice when it's convenient to them (ie - when they want you to sign the lease). Otherwise any request is met with an attitude or unwillingness to help. The units themselves, are HOT. I never turned my heat on once(I lived there during the winter), and it was ~75° consistently; I had to leave a box fan going 24/7 to keep the heat to a "cooler" 70°. And I hope you aren't tall because they have 7ft ceilings unless you're on the top floor. There are also "community" fees that you have to pay even if you rent a full-sized apartment (amenities that are designed for the eco flat units). The walls are also PAPER THIN. I could hear snoring through the walls.... If you bring a car, be prepared to pay a pretty penny to be packed in like sardines. And there is no street parking; you sign into your lease that you either park in the garage or park 1 mile from the building. If you even THINK about parking on the street by the building, management will "threaten" you that you are breaking your lease policies and can be terminated. You also have to buy an Orca card, regardless of if you want it. If you have a dog, don't be fooled by the "pet area". It doesn't exist. However, if you are single, a student, or aren't home much and only need ~300 sq feet... then this is the place for you! It's not a community for everyone, but if you have minimal needs for space, then Areté will probably be perfect for you! Happy apartment searching! read more

Ok, so, finding a place to live and that can afford is unheard of in this area unless its with roommates. 32, fresh off a divorce....I didn't need much. It's super convenient the micro-studio concepts (the eco flats) come with a bed. SOME have a full, others twin. KNOW THAT. There's NOT a huge price difference between a large eco flat (like mine) and a studio that is fully loaded. There are a zillion floor plans. Try to be generous with your budget when looking, a full kitchen might persuade you to round up 100/month. Oh....garage parking is up to you. I didn't say it, but I do know residents who park nearby, shouldn't, but they do, and no one cares. It's a quant area. Someone else mentioned outlets.....the only issue i have are in the bathroom, hairdryer/flat irons don't fit! you might want an extension cord in there, or do it elsewhere Noise DOES echo a bit, I can hear ever move my neighbors make. The construction at QFC makes it hard to open windows during the day. Heated floors rock, its easy to decorate and make like home, and management really cares. Doesn't hurt that its 5 minutes from the waterfront and ALL the good food! Planning on staying for a bit -- the cost is worth it. PS - You will have Comcast. Call them and ask them to boost YOURS to blast internet speed for $10 a month. Otherwise you're sharing ONE internet with THE WHOLE COMPLEX. read more

Arete....Such a world of disappointment. I've been living here since November '15 and the only positive thing I can say is "at least there's a window!" 1) Tenants are allowed to move-in the building even though it is still under construction. Should this happen to you, be prepared to be awaken by drilling, sawing, and sometimes, jackhammering. 2) Mail: currently, the postal service has not been able to deliver mail since construction crews have decided to put mountainous pile of gravel and dirt right in front of the mailboxes! 3) Very limited visitor parking, 3 only to be exact! 6 additional spots are occupied by construction and supplies. 4) Packages: Should you have a normal work schedule (9-5pm), get used to getting your packages on Saturdays since the leasing office holds the packages and are only open from during 9-5 office hours! How convenient. 5) Closet and storage: very limited since half of one closet is used for the washer and dryer. And, should you be lucky enough, it'll be the closet in your bedroom. 6) The walls between apartments are quite thin. Between video games and music blasting on one side at 11-1130 pm, to the sound of microwave beeping on the other. There's no shortage of cacophonous sounds reverberating. read more

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As someone who's shared multiple different apartments I can say that the eco-flats here are the perfect starter apartments! Kimberly (one of the leasing associates) was incredibly professional, kind, and gave me a great tour of the complex where I completely fell in love with the place! The rent is incredibly affordable for the area, and the complex has so much to offer, from a fitness center to even an art studio! My apartment came furnished with everything you would need, modern appliances and internet is even included in the rent! I recommend this place to anyone looking for an affordable place to stay in an area that is only becoming more expensive. read more

Although the eco flats have a convenient location in an otherwise suburban neighborhood, they resemble a college dorm in terms of quality and size. This might be a great option if you are single, in college, need a temporary place, or simply don't need much. The eco flats come with basic amenities such as a washer/dryer and communal kitchen which are bundled into a "community" fee. The price is low by Seattle standards, but it's still surprisingly high considering that you're paying for college dorm-style living. It's a shame that the eco flats can't have a better design for what would otherwise be a great opportunity. The eco flats barely have any storage space. The kitchenette only has a small fridge and microwave, and there is a single sink in the bathroom which seems like it should be bigger. The eco flats come with a bed and table along with an uncomfortable metal chair, so you'll need to buy your own furniture despite Arete marketing them as a furnished unit. The walls are paper-thin and the floors echo noise, so you better get to know your neighbors well if you want to live here. You can hear conversations in adjacent rooms, as well as other peoples' TVs and microwaves. There is also noise from construction across the street and outdoor events on apartment premises. Due to the lack of proper noise insulation, the apartment officially has a "quiet hour" from 10pm-8am during which you cannot even do laundry. The apartments don't have A/C (which is important if you're heat tolerant), and if you bring a car then be prepared to pay $150/month for a tiny spot with very limited space for visitor parking. read more

Resident since: November 15, 2015. They have the best staff and the community is amazing. You can pay all your bills on one payment!!! They also provide you with an Orca card to use the public transportation anytime. The micro studios range on sq, but everything you need is a walk away. (Qfc) (Transit station) (The marina) (food) (food) (food). Pet friendly too. Arete is still finishing up a couple projects. They offer a music room, grill, and pool table for the community. read more

I personally love living at Arete. Me and my boyfriend share an Eco-flat and I find that the small space helps me to organize, teaches me how to utilize space, and it helps to get me out of my sleeping quarters. I find the temperature of the apartments to favor the warm but with fans or a portable AC unit, it's manageable The location is amazing. Super convenient to live the pedestrian life style that I've lived my entire life. Being so close to restaurants, a grocery store, and the bus terminal makes for an easy life for the pedestrian at Arete. They even make you purchase an Orca pass which you only have to pay for once and it's at a much cheaper rate than its typical pricing on Orcas website. The amenities are pretty cool especially the community room and the conference room which I use often. The vibe of the whole place is overall pretty relaxing. The staff here are super friendly and have been extremely attentive with almost all of my requests. There are a few problems to be had with every apartment complex. If you have an apartment that is towards the front of the complex you get loud noise from the construction and if you live in the back of the complex you get loud noise from the garbage and recycling trucks that seem to come every other day. In the flats you get a mini fridge that doesn't hold too much and without any community fridge you have two options; say goodbye to large freezer purchases (especially ice cream which WILL NOT stay frozen) or invest in a second mini fridge. The floors in the Eco-flats are concrete so be prepared to invest in some rugs cause your feet will not enjoy standing around on it all day. Still despite these cons I have been enjoying my life living at Arete. I hope to renew next year when my lease ends. For the future residents here I give three pieces of advice: IKEA can show you many ways to improve your tiny home, embrace the pedestrian life style, and get ready to join a community of cool people. Edit 1 Star: I've since moved to the side of the complex where they are building a new building directly next to my window. Noise starts promptly at 7am and doesn't even begin to let up until 3pm. The fact I am paying so much for this tiny insulated noise box shouldn't be legal. During the summer I couldn't cool down my room so much so that my cat was panting and trying to lay in the darkest coolest parts of the room. This is a nightmare of noise and lack of air circulation. read more

I moved into The Arete Feb.5, 2015. I could not be happier. A couple of months ago my SO and I decided to sell our beautiful 1.5 mil home here in downtown Kirkland. Our home has a walk ability rating of 10 out or 10 so you can imagine my standard for an apartment complex might be a bit high. We knew we did not want to leave downtown or give up our walking lifestyle. We had a few other things on our list too. 1) View of the city and the ability to form community where I live. And room for family gatherings. 2) A place that my SO can play guitar and practice and my daughter has room to paint and sculpt. 3) A great complex with room for my dog to run and our son to be able to play his favorite games and work without lag time. We wanted a place that checked all the boxes. We got it with Arete. The complex offers community events and lots of gatherings to build friendships. There are several areas available to have larger family gatherings too. Even if your apartment has small sq. footage you can still have people over. There is a music room for my SO to play and great neighbors who support creativity. My daughter can use the art room whenever she likes to sculpt or paint and I don't have to clean up. The park is right across the street for our dog and we are a 10 minute walk from the marina too. We have FIOS hard wired to our apartment so work and gaming move at the right speeds. I have a view of our city and we are still part of our downtown life we love. Arete is under construction. We were told this before we moved in. Our leasing agent clearly stated there will be occasional disruption to our daily living while Arete finishes up. We decided it was worth it to get into a brand new community like this. We have had a few hiccups. The staff has resolved every issue we have had within a day. Sometimes within the hour. I think the Arete is doing an amazing job of offering affordable, eco friendly and community oriented living. We won't be leaving anytime soon. Thanks Arete! read more

The management team here made it such an easy process to move in. The building itself is beautifully decorated and inviting. The furnished eco suites were very helpful and the cleanest I've seen. It was nice that I did not having to worry about furniture. I cannot thank the friendly and helpful staff . After working with Stephen and Yulia, I cannot express my gratitude for their professional and caring nature. I never felt rushed or uncomfortable when deciding on what worked best for me and my service animal. I highly recommend working with them!!! Also, the location is Devine! Not to mention Little Brother is right at my front door. Thank you again Stephen and Yulia. You made my experience a much enjoyable one. read more

Tread carefully. While the accommodation seems OK, the senior leasing associate is a real snake oil salesman. He was very intent on steering the conversation during my visit. When I asked to see the bylaws which came with the apartment, he said that he would send them to me, then informed me via e-mail that he required an application fee first. Putting aside the obvious problem with forcing prospective tenants to buy-in in order to see the rules they are expected to abide by, rules that are not easily available are bound to be inconsistently enforced. I think you can see some of this problem in the split between one and five-star reviews. That said, it is cheap and centrally located. If you must live here, be sure you are on management's good side, so any unfairness will be in your favor! read more

I lived in one of the eco flats here for six months during an internship in Redmond. I was attracted to the place because of its location, proximity to public transit, and price, and signed my lease sight unseen after speaking to the property manager on the phone a couple of times. I have no leasing history and my credit score is about as good as any student-loan-beleaguered 20 year old's credit score, so I was mostly just relieved to find a place that would take me in. This property earns two stars because it did deliver on what I expected; downtown Kirkland is lovely, walkable, and largely affordable. The building is located directly across the street from a QFC and is a block away from the Kirkland Transit Center. The downtown beach is a ten minute walk at most. I didn't ship my car from NY, so the free unlimited transit pass was a huge help. There weren't any surprise fees. The people who work here are very nice. However, I cannot endorse this complex as "A-OK". The buildings themselves are absolute garbage. There's no ventilation anywhere, including kitchens, which means a lot of sweating and accidentally setting off fire alarms. I had my window open from February to June and not once did my apartment dip below 75 degrees. Walls are thin. Water never gets cold, no matter how long you run the faucet or shower for. The furniture that comes in the furnished eco flats is low quality and uncomfortable - I haven't managed a full night of sleep without back pain (or uncomfortable heat, or 6 AM construction across the street) awakening me. My apartment has a "finished" (shiny) concrete floor, undisclosed to me before my move in day. The fridges provided in eco flats are little beer fridges like a college freshman might have in a dorm room, meaning they work on an ineffective bang-bang cooling controller and the contents are constantly freezing and thawing. I threw out an absurd amount of food not meant to expire until 2019 and managed to get food poisoning from two-day-old homemade curry. LEED Platinum status aside, the sheer amount of waste generated by forcing tenants to use inadequate refrigeration invalidates the vague greenwashing this place depends upon to market itself. These buildings are barely livable. I'm sure they were cheap to construct, considering apparently the contractor didn't employ anyone with an engineering degree. I'm very rarely home and the shoddy workmanship of this complex has impacted my quality of life. I feel some guilt in leaving this review since the management and workers here do their best, but you shouldn't live here. UPDATE: just got my "security deposit" back and I was charged for a bedbug cover that they handed to me on my move in day (I wouldn't have accepted it if I knew it was $40) and for cleaning my apartment for the next tenant. Got back a paltry $150. Just call it a charge up front. read more

Started out rough. Certainly expensive for the footage, but very convenient to Microsoft. Move in dates were pushed back, inconveniences due to construction, I mean everything that could go wrong went wrong. So why five stars? The staff. That's it. You know folks, life is always going to have problems and set backs, but the staff recognized that instead of screaming and yelling, some of us were gentlemen and ladies and we were patient, and they accommodated us. They helped us out when we needed it. The tenants are friendly as well. I'm always getting invited to do things and I'm fairly anti social. I've stayed in more expensive, fancier places that were established that still had problems, ants, construction noise, crime, etc. But this place makes you feel like we're going through it together, trying to make it through instead of me paying all my money to them and them not caring about me at all. read more

Great place to live in downtown Kirkland, I highly recommend working with Stephen Hodgens, Leasing Associate, he was great to work with in finding me a great apartment but he is always there to help out. Arete is a very unique property. read more

I have lived here for almost 2 years now. Out of all the places I've lived so far, Arete is the best. The location is perfect for walking almost everywhere. QFC across the street which is all remodeled and super nice looking and just a 10 minute walk to the beach and downtown. The management team is great as well, everyone is super nice and welcoming. Sadly, I am moving next month because my lease is up and I'm moving closer to my school. But I definitely recommend Arete to anyone who loves living in downtown Kirkland where you can walk almost anywhere. read more

This place leaves much to be desired!! The design and layout of the apartments is bad, the price too high, the walls are thin, the management can be rude and unhelpful, the underground parking isn't designed well and is too expensive. It was a great disappointment and I regret living there. Mr Robert Pantley, the owner, is/was on the city council and is no doubt laughing all the way to the bank. Good luck and look for a different place to live. read more

The reason for this rating is Jazmin. She is the consummate professional. My internet had not worked for 3 weeks, since I had moved in. I had numerous contacts with Comcast and other office workers for the apartment complex who gave the attitude of "not my problem" or lip service, "I told maintenance to do it." When I told Jazmin, she immediately resolved the issue and sent me flowers to make up for the inconvenience. She was also the person who rented me the apartment. Hire more people like Jazmin and the ratings will go up substantially!!!! I cannot thank her enough :) read more

Very quiet calm place, have any issues talk to the staff and they will assist. The Staff is super friendly and will assist with any issues you are having. Larry,Lisa, Joel, and the Rest are extremely friendly and good workers. read more

Going to miss living in the heart of the city - especially now that the new Urban is being built, this is the place to be. I love everyone in the leasing office and they've always been so nice and accommodating to me over the three years that I've been with this management company that owns Arete. I've made quite a few friends while living here and am sad to go. Overall the management has made living here a great experience. read more

I have been a resident here for almost a year and have enjoyed it the whole time. It is very clean and quiet in my building which is nice. Being walking distance to the downtown shops and restaurants is great as well. Larry helped me find my apartment and has stayed in touch with me the entire time I've lived here. It is very refreshing to see people who actually take the time to know you after the ink had dried. Keep up the good work! read more

I have lived here barely two weeks and it has definitely been a struggle. The apartment itself is nice, but I didn't notice until I moved in that there's no ice machines anywhere, nor are there sinks in the mini kitchens for the eco flats. The Staff The person I originally leased the apartment with was nice, but my experiences with the rest of the staff have been very difficult. The day I moved in, I found out their office closes at 5PM, which is the time I get off work. I asked if someone could stay a few minutes so I could get my keys, but was told in no uncertain terms that no one could stay even 15 minutes late. I rearranged my schedule and got there early and the guy I checked in with seemed very put out, even though I was there during normal hours. I had the impression there was already a story going on about me asking for someone to stay a few minutes late before I ever showed up. Parking I have also had enormous difficulty with parking. BE AWARE!!! They did tell me up front that I would have a parking buddy and that I would need to coordinate my schedule with them. I thought this would possibly work for me, but I realized I did not want to coordinate my every day schedule with a complete stranger. You literally have to live your life by this parking schedule. I asked if I could pay more for my own parking space, but was told that since I have an eco flat, this cannot be done. I have recently asked for them to just cancel my parking completely and I would coordinate my parking elsewhere. They are saying I need to provide them with a signed piece of paper from the person I am coordinating my parking with in order for them to take this off of my lease! This is $75/month for parking that I will not even be using. The staff seem to be very controlling, very clique-ish and very unreasonable. They have provided very poor customer service with me and it has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I would recommend thinking long and hard before moving in, asking TONS of questions, pour over the lease agreement to see all of the things you are signing for and especially consider this parking situation before hand. read more

I would avoid this place if you can. The employees in the office are extremely rude and unprofessional. The eco-flats are extremely warm even with a fan. The lobby is nice but the units are not great quality. I literally had a book resting against the wall and the paint has come off the wall. Also: -Cigarette smoke through my window every single day -Parking is extremely cramped and way too expensive ($150/month for your own spot) -I guarantee the elevator is one of the slowest you've ever used -The fridges in the eco-flats are not really meant to be used in this capacity and can't store much perishable food. -It's a huge pain to get packages as they are mostly open when people have work and even then sometimes the employees have left the office to take people on tours. The only pro is the location. read more

Management is very kind and helpful, Jazmin especially rocks. Joel and Larry are really wonderful as well, all three make a good team. Maintenance staff is hard working, kind, courteous and gets the job done. 290+ units is not easy to maintain, however at Arete they do an outstanding job, everyone puts in 101%. read more

I just love this place! Let me tell you why. 1. Applying is easy: Larry made the applying process really simple for us. He is professional, kind and efficient. He is super awesome! 2. The unit design is great: It is beautiful and modern. I love the kitchen setup, the pretty wood floor and the open floor design. We have a one bedroom with a huge balcony. I feel so blessed. 3. The apartment amenities: There is a music room ( it has guitars and piano), a painting room, a gym, a meeting space and many other cool spaces that my old more expensive apartment does not have. They use solar panels too, so my winter electricity bill is fixed rate $25 only. That is crazy good compared to my old $130 winter bill at other places. The indoor parking keeps our cars warm and safe. 4.The management: They are always super friendly and kind. They probably received at least 60 Amazon orders of mine in 4 months( I am sorry ), it is so easy to pick it up at the office. And don't judge, I just love Amazon Prime and shopping. lol. The cleaning crew do a great job. I appreciate the clean space. Staff here are just special, and we are lucky to have them. 5. The location is unbeatable: My life gets more interesting after moving here. We walk to my favorite Chinese restaurant all the time. We pick which restaurant to go to every week. Downtown with water view is just blocks away. Here are grocery stores, parks and a library in walking distance. The bus station next to us is so awesome. One bus takes us to Seattle downtown, so I don't need to mess with the parking there. The bus is here every 30 min. The management has discount on bus passes, it is $40 a year ( What a deal! ). 6.Lots of privacy: With so many units, you would think that you have to meet strangers all the time. Nope, I barely meet anybody in the elevator or anywhere around the building. Everyone is discreet here. It is really safe with all the locks downstairs. 7.Pets friendly: We got a cute kitty from Meow shelter which is nearby. Moving her in is so easy. And she loves here too. 8. The price is unbeatable: A sad-looking apartment in Kenmore cost more than this. I guess we are just lucky. The internet, electricity and water bill are cheap and fixed rate. The list of why I love here goes on and on. I have nothing but good to say about my home. Thank you so much Larry! We really appreciate you. This home makes my relationship, my mood, my life so great! I thought the only thing I can do to thank the management is to give some review online. Thanks again. -Claire L. read more

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

After living here a few months, in a 337 sf studio, I can report my experiences with the good, the bad and the ugly. YMMY. The good: location, cost (I pay $1,217/month for space, "amenities," all utilities and a speedtest.net verified high-speed (just got 119 mb/s) internet connection. Friendly, helpful on-site management/sales, nice, tho' pricey, cafe on site, Little Brother. No raucous parties. Mix of ages, about average for the area in ethnic diversity. Construction across the street hasn't awakened me, but then, I'm pretty deaf. The bad: assigned parking is scarce, and most of it is tandem, meaning, practically, you have to trust your space-mate with your keys. If you don't have parking, a clause in the lease (required by the zoning permit) requires you to park outside a 1-mile radius. If you can find a space meeting that constraint that is less than a 1.5 mile walk, you're a better network graph jockey than I am. Heat is floor radiant, but not a problem because the heating load (at least on the 4th floor) is low. For cooling, you'll want a fan. Some tenants have room airconditioning outlets through the screens. The downside is that the porous concrete floors are unsealed and soak up everything. Get yourself some carpets. The environmentally friendly flow restricting faucets are admirable, in theory, but be prepared to run them a long time to get the soap out of your hair or to keep the bathroom sink from clogging with black slime. The full size (i.e., overnight guests beware) is sort of ok; the provided desk is laughable. The ugly: You can save time by eating out for all your meals. The studio units have a bar sink, a microwave and a dorm refrigerator that has difficulty freezing ice. (It wouldn't kill them to have a motel-grade ice machine.) The common kitchens have a full sink, another microwave, and a four burner electric stove/oven, but no prep space. If you cook, you'll want a folding plastic prep table and maybe an InstantPot. There's a gas fired outdoor grill that I haven't tried. Washer/dryers are down the hall. When they are available, you'll find them undersized and redolent of various unidentifiable odors. Be sure to check the lint filter on the dryer. If you have a delicate palate, you may find the taste of the water off-putting. Elevators and hot water have both been know to be out of service. If you are a clothes horse, you need a hanging wardrobe to supplement the 4-foot rod. Undersink cabinets in bathroom and kitchen, together with two small kitchen cabinets and a 4-shelf open cabinet provide the storage. No medicine cabinet. The Trumpesque: You can set up autopay, which I did before a long road trip and came home to a pre-eviction notice. Seems the system forget to initiate the charge against my credit card. All-in-all, it's a dorm room with superior production values compared to the 100 sf double from my freshman year in 1965. (Mystery: I don't know why it says I'm from "San Francisco," where I haven't lived since the 80s.) read more