We have been living here for one year. I'll start with the pros, then the cons…read more
Pros
1. The building is not old and still looks fresh both inside and out.
2. The neighborhood is generally nice: there's a creek/river nearby, a bike trail, and parks. Overall it feels calm and relatively safe.
3. The local school is good--our child(ren) enjoy going there.
4. Convenient location with quick access to I-405.
5. The apartment has relatively new appliances, decent finishes and furniture, large windows, high ceilings, and large storage closets--you can fit a lot of things.
6. Amenities: a two-level parking garage, two bike storage areas, a solid conference room, and rooftop access with furniture and a barbecue area.
Cons
1. Poor sound insulation, even on the top floor. Impact noises through walls and floors carry very clearly. In the one-bedroom layouts (we live in Unit 612), the sliding doors are especially loud--when they move, the noise carries throughout the unit. I can only imagine how much worse it is for residents below the 6th floor.
You can also clearly hear the washer and dryer. The bathtub/shower surround is a hollow plastic installation, so dropping anything in the bathroom is extremely loud.
We specifically chose the top floor to avoid noise from upstairs neighbors, but that didn't work because rooftop access is open 24/7, and we regularly deal with noise from above. In strong wind, the rooftop furniture shifts and sometimes falls, creating very loud banging and impact noise.
2. The no-smoking policy is not enforced. We repeatedly notice tobacco and marijuana smoke odors and end up keeping windows and doors closed. We have not seen meaningful enforcement or accountability.
3. Being pet-friendly also creates issues: dogs bark and howl at night, and common areas can have dirt and pet hair. In addition, we have repeatedly encountered a dog in the hallways that behaved aggressively and lunged at people--this is a safety concern.
4. The unit gets very hot in spring and summer. You will likely need to install a portable A/C; the building's ventilation is not enough to keep the apartment comfortable.
5. The gym technically exists, but it is small and under-equipped--limited space, limited machines, and not enough equipment for consistent training.
6. Management (Emma) has been a major disappointment.
* Before we moved in, we were told rooftop access would be automatically locked after 10:00 PM. That turned out to be false, and despite repeated complaints from multiple residents, the issue has not been resolved.
* We were also told this is a strict non-smoking community, but in reality people smoke (including marijuana) and there is no effective enforcement.
* We were assured the community would be quiet and reasonable. Instead, we had a neighbor who repeatedly slammed his head into the wall (during the day and at night), causing sharp impact noise. Management only reacted after residents submitted a collective complaint, and even then it felt reluctant.
* We contacted management many times, both verbally and by email--not only us, but other residents as well. Instead of addressing the core problems, we received a direct threat: management could refuse to renew our lease, and Emma also told us to "move out voluntarily" because we continue to complain.
Bottom line: Over one year, we have seen recurring issues and a lack of effective management action. Key problems (noise/rooftop access/smoking) remain unresolved despite repeated resident complaints, and management's approach has shifted toward pressuring tenants who insist on basic enforcement of the rules.