These are the best apartments for the money in Ballard. Walkable to everything you would want (bars, restaurants, movie theater, Golden Gardens, Locks, etc.). Great management! The apartments are cozy and well kept, beautiful wood floors and lot's of light. A+++ read more

No sound proofing: You hear every noise, conversation, dog and fight that happens in your building. Bad electrical: Circuits break every morning around 5 am. Living room can't hold modern electrical devices without throwing the circuit. Multiple Thefts: Laundry gets stolen often. Homeless people pry the outside doors open and break in. Online payment: We are always being charged late fees and getting 3 day eviction notices even though we are set up to withdraw automatically. read more

Lock Vista has a few tenants with serious mental health issues. I cannot recommend moving there as some of these tenants proved to be very disruptive. Management was extremely hands off in solving the problems, in my opinion. I finally moved to get away from one such tenant who just could not manage his delusions and scary behavior. My move happened quickly and at great expense to me. Thankfully the police took the man's behavior seriously and he was jailed for a month. He has since been released and lives back at Lock Vista. The management chose not to evict him for his threatening behavior even though his actions were in direct violation of the lease. If you are a woman, I definitely can't recommend living here as my experience proved to be a very unsafe, disruptive, and a costly one. As well, Riverstone management will gouge you if you decide to stay month-to-month once your lease is up. After your initial lease is up, they will charge a $100 rent increase plus an additional month-to-month fee of ($100), if you don't sign on for at lest 6 more months. Seriously!? I imagine the owners are intentionally unaware of the safety issues and the business practices at Lock Visa. I hope so. If they are aware of what is going on and just don't care, that would be quite disappointing. The owners are highly involved in local social causes and they are philanthropists especially for social and environmental causes, education, and the arts. The owners are part of a very well-off Seattle family that made it's money founding a Forbes 100 company. I admire the owner's giving spirit and wish their good intentions would carry over to properly managing their apartment building. Ironically, a number of their tenants work in the arts, education, and in social causes. read more

in 2010 I gave this place a great rating and review, and some of my friends even came to live here after visiting. Alas.this update: Rare moments I'm cherishing more than ever, like this one: Running into longtime neighbor/friend/clients this spring evening without umbrellas with pooches outside our newfangled "garden" plots that look like a cemetery (as ex-hubs put it) discussing replanting cherished plants we've owned for years, not sure how long we will even be here for the next planting season, and reminiscing when this community was made up of long-term residents, older couples, families, and management/maintenance that all grooved to make this old place home. Remembering countless grill parties at the pool, getting together with neighbors for group pot lucks while the kiddos splashed in the pool full of floaties, spring planting with many neighbors who had been nurturing our old, organic, glorious pea patches for years, if not decades, making FRIENDS, and all the positive camaraderie and genuine sense of community here. #greystar #bots #ballard #sunsethill #seattle #seattleisdying #mycityisdying #lockvista #lockistaapartmenthomes What will year eight in my home bring??? What will the future bring? I know: cold grey tile instead of midcentury charm, rent increases, "improvements" such as my elevator taking five months rather than weeks to update, terse, rude management individuals, and another piece of the neighborhood killed, years of memories completely discarded. Way to go. I must, however, give kudos to our current property manager, Erinne, being an great listener and strong despite all our disappointment in Greystar. read more

This place used to be lovely. Reasonable rent for a one bedroom in Ballard was hard to pass up and it was fantastic for my first couple of years here. Over the past year or so, it's gone to crap. All the familiar faces in the office and maintenance have changed and the incompetence is immeasurable. A few things that I'm excited to be leaving behind: - maintenance requests don't get addressed in a timely manner. - rent increase for some was over 15% - increase in parking cost was over 66%. It's now $100/month for uncovered parking in a neighborhood with free parking with no permits. - valet trash service at $15/month was added without telling anyone and nobody uses it or it results in trash cans being left in the hallway because the people who work for the company are rarely thorough enough to get all the trash or people are too lazy to bring the trash cans in. - empty promises of updating laundry machines, adding community space, adding a gym, etc. - the morons who don't obey leash laws or poop scooping laws. I have a dog who doesn't like other dogs and the number of times I've had to tell people to leash their dogs is ridiculous. There are also a few people with barky dogs that are not appropriate for apartment living without some serious training. And they apparently require a dog DNA test so they can identify and fine Pele who don't clean up after their dogs, but they're behind in registering all the dogs on site and don't bother with cleanup anyway. There was even a time I reported dog vomit in the main entry of my building that someone didn't clean up, I left town for a few days, and it was still there when I returned. First, that was a horrible dog owner's move, and second, wtf Lock Vista?! - packages all have to be delivered to the office because we can't trust anyone not to steal them. The office is never open when I'm actually home during the week and when I've asked for packages to be delivered to my door, important things are sometimes left behind. - the codes to the call box to unlock the building have been given out and are never changed. I'm sure this is what has led to some of the theft problems. - the "24 hour" emergency line wasn't working last time I tried to use it. It had a recording saying that my call couldn't be taken and it hung up on me. - loud walkers. The floors in every apartment are hardwood, which is great, but some people still opt to wear shoes inside when they live upstairs from others and don't have rugs. What kind of adult thinks that's okay?! And then the heavy footed stompers who are apparently trying to cause the big earthquake... Have you heard of basement apartments? Because that's where you belong. - the "updates" to the apartment, like new sink faucets and shower rods, all look super out of place in the "vintage" apartment. My kitchen sink was so awkward because of the giant new faucet that I couldn't use it without having it splash all over. Basically, it isn't worth the amount of money they charge for a mediocre apartment. Save yourself the trouble of having to move again soon when the rent exceeds your budget next lease cycle and the apartment mold isn't removed and your broken drawers and vent fans aren't fixed and your stompy neighbors with barky dogs keep you up at night because your package of ear plugs is locked in the office for an eternity. read more

I love living here. I have lived here since December 2010. I moved from the east coast. At first I was really nervous after reading some of the reviews, but in all honestly I have been nothing but happy. Noise: I'm on the 3rd floor so no one above me. I only hear my neighbor below every once in awhile. I gave her my cell phone number incase I ever got too loud myself... and she's only told me once! My neighbors pretty much keep to themselves and are extremely friendly when we do talk. I haven't had any problem with noise and as far as an apartment goes, I think this one is fairly quiet. The living room is set up so the kitchen and bedroom act as buffers. I suggest, for anyone living in any apartment, is to exchange cell phone numbers so in the event that you are really trying to sleep, you can simply send a quick text. People on the whole are good and do not want to bother you... sometimes you just don't realize your stomping around or your music is too high and a quick text solves it. Management: The management... A+++++++++... they are wonderful. When they came to fix items in my apartment, they did so very quickly. Anytime I couldn't make it to the office to pick up a package before closing hours, they would drop it off at my apartment. The management hosts many community activities that really enhance the living expereince. They host a brown bag breakfast which they hand out on your way to work. They also have happy hours at local pubs in Ballard and BBQ's at the pool. They also created space for a community garden... which is awesome. I'm not a green thumb, but the garden is truly amazing. In summary, the managment team is very responsive, organized, friendly, and proactive. They make you feel like you are living in a community, not just a building. People: The folks that live at Lock Vista are AWESOME. The nicest folks around. People talk to you... but not too much. It is a very warm and inviting place. Facilities: The laundry room was just upgraded... the washers and dryers are great, nice size and clean and dry well. The pool is cleaned regularly... and people use it! It isn't a fashion show either!! You can be a normal person, sit in the sun, take a dip in the pool without feeling akward. They just purchased a new BBQ grill which is wonderful. Almost every night folks are grilling outside. The storage lockers (about $35) are a nice size. Location: Best ever! Ballard is in walking distance. The Locks are accross the street. Golden Gardens (beach) is right down the road... downtown... 5 miles. You simply cannot do better than this. I've never written a Yelp review and I hope this is helpful. I have been truly happy living here and I wanted to share that with those folks who are debating where to live. Apartments are not single family homes... you will have to interact with people. How you act is often how people will respond. In my experience the people that live at Lock Vista are very kind and I have enjoyed living here. read more

There are a lot of nice things about this place. It's well maintained. My apt. is pretty cool. The management is somewhat responsive to issues that come up . HOWEVER, there is NO privacy: the floors/ceilings lack ANY sound insulation. When I moved in I asked about this and was told 'you know, you can hear things once in a while, but there's good insulation.' WRONG. My first night through my third month I slept on the floor in the living room because my downstairs neighbor snored sooo loud. Management told me 'Well, that's apartment living.' Finally that guy moved out, and it was cool. But then I got new upstairs neighbors; I can hear their every footstep and word all day and night. I can also hear their every sexual act every night and morning. It's like living in a frat house here or something! One nice thing is that you can have a six month lease. The problem is that at the end of the lease, they ALWAYS raise your rent by $50. If you do the six month thing for four years, your $825 apt. is going to cost you $1225 (plus $50 for garbage/water), which it is not worth! The place looks very nice, but living here SUCKS. I just gave my notice after 1 year. Also, if you want to park your car, it's $50 a month. If you want a crappy storage space in the basement, it's $35 a month. I'm sad I lived here. read more

Lock Vista has failed to meet many if not all of my expectations. For starters, you'd expect a friendly, at the absolute least HELPFUL management but every encounter has been unpleasant and frankly rude considering one of their minimum responsibilities would I imagine to be to service their tenants. Additionally, regarding the outdated buildings itself--The elevator in the bldg I had toured was "finished" being renovated before I moved in and yet, 4-5months later, here we are and it is still out of service, making simple trips to take out trash, do laundry in the SHARED space in the BASEMENT *that was never shown upon tour of facilities, nor cost mentioned at any time* , carrying groceries, bags, anything completely inconvenient and an absolute unprecedented hassle that continues to be unhandled or communicated. read more

I have lived in Lock Vista for the past two years now and feel that it is a good deal for the location and nice condition of the apartments. It is within walking distance of downtown Ballard and right across the street from the park at the Chittenden Locks. The units are well-maintained, with beautiful wood floors, double-pane windows, and continued updates in the kitchens and bathrooms. I have found the current maintenance company, Riverstone Residential Group, to be attentive and friendly. During the holidays they were accepting all sorts of boxes and packages for residents in their office who weren't at home to receive them. In addition, you have 24 hour on-call maintenance from workers who are friendly and helpful. I moved out here while looking for an affordable and spacious studio and have been happy with that decision. read more

I have lived here for 3 years now and the staff is nice except for the young maintenance guy. He lives here so the people here have to see him walk around messy and intoxicated when he works and when he does not. He is rowdy and always has people around that you would not want near your things. As his neighbor I wish I could move because it is miserable. If you ask the staff why he works here you get blank looks. The buildings are always dirty and if you ask about it being cleaned they say he will do it but that's a joke. He does nothing. I feel bad that anyone has to deal with him at all. I have had it with him as have most of the people who live here. We used to have a great team here and would now but this guy is a brown spot on the whole show. Lock vista is a great place to live but between the construction never being completed and this I am looking for a new place to live. read more

I really enjoy living at Lock Vista. I have lived here for a month and a half and the staff are so helpful. Above and beyond customer service. The office staff is great, as well as the maintenance crew. A clean, heated swimming pool. Extra large windows with ocean breezes. Adorable pea patch. Pets are welcome and most owner's are very considerate. If not, the staff handles problems in a community friendly way. Great location and there is a botanical garden and The Locks across the street. QFC is a 10 minute walk away. Aveda Habitude Salon is a 5 minute walk away. 7 Eleven is across the street. Great senior center on the corner and if you are 50 and older you can join for $30 a year. Ray's and Anthony's are around the corner. Wood floors in all of the apartments and there can be a bit of high heel noise and most tenants are aware and quiet. Walls between the apartments are very thick with no noise. Fun events monthly. I do not work here, I live here and it is really lovely. A strong sense of community is encouraged, due to the staff. They have a win/win attitude for all tenants. There is new ownership and management. Old reviews are due to the old owner's and management. I asked around and that seems to be the consensus . read more

I have meant to write a review about Lock Vista for 5 months and I am finally getting to it. I lived there for almost 3 years in bldg C. I loved my apartment. If you like older apartments with character, you will like Lock Vista. Hardwood floors, pedestal sink, all important for me. The walls are thin, so if you are sensitive to noise, you should think long and hard before moving in. If you are interested in problems being solved quickly and the staff creating a real community, this is the place for you. Jenette & Jessica are awesome in the leasing office and Quentin & Hector were awesome at fixing issues in a timely manner. I bought a house, but would have stayed forever If I hadn't:-) read more

I lived at Lock Vista Apartments for over 7 years. The property had the same ownership for many years until it was bought in early 2004 by DOMINION REAL ESTATE. This is when most of the property went REALLY DOWNHILL. The number one problem is "the management." The onsite manager Kari Bohag, has both her sister Tanya and her father working there as well. THIS ESPECIALLY ENABLES KARI AND TANYA TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK TOGETHER. Some of their dirty work consists of teaming up together to force a mentally and physically disabled woman of 60 yrs out of the apartment she had lived in for over 23 years. At first they befriended her, then used that avenue to set her up for eviction. She was so upset, AND SHE HAD A GUN IN HER APT., and threatened to kill herself the day they evicted her. Observing their dirty work in progress over the several months they plotted against her was the most revealing of all of how cowardly and lowly they are. Then there are the never-ending problems with the hot water going down; the water being turned off completely, and the elevator being out of service. It's either every week or every month when one, or all of these is occuring. Of course never with any explanation, or rent reduction. There is also an ongoing problem with lack of property upkeep. The laundry and common areas are constantly underkept and laden with trash, as well as the dumpster areas are either overflowing or on the ground because the pick up is unreliable. There is so much more to say, however, the final issue is the SECURITY DEPOSIT. The property manager, Chris McCarty is a coward who hides behind Kari and her clan. I have been a property manager myself, and am also a very clean person. However, because I moved out of state to California two months ago, they decided they could deduct $250 from my deposit with NO ITEMIZATION or EXPLANATION. I left Chris and Kari several voicemails; sent Chris a demand letter and a letter from my lawyer's office, and he NEVER RESPONDS. I called him today which is THE ONLY TIME HE ANSWERED HIS PHONE, and warned him I would write this review and others, as well as complain to the Better Business Bureau. I advised him he had little respect for our business arrangement to which he replied that "we don't have a business arrangement, we only provide housing." Be warned, no matter how pleasant this property may seem, it's the losers running the show that make it somewhere you definitely don't want to live. read more

Moved into Lock Vista recently. Big thank you to Josh in management for taking care of me during move in and the super friendly welcome to the neighborhood. The building is older but in good shape and I'm excited to be in such a dog friendly community! read more

It's a FABULOUS LOCATION. It's an easy walk to old Ballard or Golden Gardens and the locks, of course, across the street. The office staff is really helpful, considerate and extremely nice! Someone is always available either within minutes of walking in or by phone/message. Viewing/signing the lease was a pretty easy/efficient process. The grounds and units are obviously cared for and in great shape. The halls are always lighted and clean. The clean, spacious laundry rooms have new front loading, energy efficient and affordable machines that actually clean and dry your clothes! My apartment is surprisingly spacious for such small sq footage. Simple, but cute & the kitchen is small, but workable. Closet is fantastic. The units have great hardwood floors, but that also means you sometimes hear your neighbors.(I moved here from a house and am not used to apt living) I have a med size dog above me and he can pound a bit. :/ Many of the residents do have dogs, so I would ask about your neighbors if you might have issue. It's usually the smaller dogs that are the yappers. However, most residents pick up after their dogs and are friendly. Overall a great experience. Jenette is amazing! But, really I like & appreciate everyone who currently manage/maintain/lease here at Lock Vista. I always get greeted with a friendly hello when I see them around the buildings. I Highly recommend Lock Vista for apartment living! read more

Our experience here for over a year has been wonderful! The management and maintenance crew always take care of your needs in a timely manner and always go the extra mile to make sure you are comfortable. Living in an apartment you will hear your neighbors and it may get annoying sometimes but that is what you get when you choose to live in an apartment and honestly I have had fewer than 5 of those annoying moments and when it was intolerable, the issue was addressed immediately . The hardwood floors and big windows make the apartment feel more open and desirable and the building itself has a retro feel to it and very well taken care of considering how old it is. Paying for amenities such as parking and storage is what comes with living in the city and honestly was not a problem at all! I have never had any other "Luxury" apartment handle themselves in a professional and friendly manner like I have here at Lock Vista! read more