4.5 stars. My wife and I have lived in the Adams Building a relatively short time, only since early…read more2017. Nevertheless, I've been largely pleased with our decision to make our home here. After having lived in many apartment buildings across the country, the Adams Building easily ranks among our favorites.* Here are some of the pros and cons:
Pros:
Price. Based on our survey of apartment buildings in the neighborhood, the Adams Building is several hundred dollars cheaper than its counterparts. This was the single most important factor for us, and is a major reason we would choose to stay here.
Location. All the benefits of urban dwelling: a plethora of restaurants, coffee ships, and Pike Place Market are all within walking distance, as is downtown. Also sits next to some major bus routes.
Style. My wife and I eschew the minimalist, sterile aesthetic that plagues so many Belltown buildings these days (despite the proximity of the Space Needle, not everything needs to look like the set of the "Jetsons.") The Adams building is an oasis of vintage design: dark wood floors, claw-foot bathtubs, exposed brick walls - all delightful.
Management. The staff has been, with only minor exception, terrific. All of our questions and requests have been addressed in a timely manner. And I have to give a special shout-out to the maintenance staff, who swiftly respond to problems (to wit, I once submitted a non-urgent request online that was fulfilled within 30 minutes).
Cons:
Lack of Communal Facilities. The Adams Building lacks many of the communal areas - such as conference or media rooms - that some neighboring buildings have. This wasn't a problem for me - I wouldn't use those facilities anyway and prefer not paying extra for them. That said, a rooftop lounge would be nice. The Adams does have a modest back patio, though it's been too cold and rainy to use this so far.
Lacks a Gym. Similar to the note above. Again, this wasn't a concern for us - most apartment building gyms tend to be lackluster anyway. However, if you prefer a "free" apartment building gym, the Adams will not be ideal. Also the building is not very close to any "standard" commercial gyms (with the exception of a few with astronomical membership fees). It is close to several alternatives, however, such as yoga studios, CrossFits, etc. It's also a quick jaunt over to the waterfront running trail.
Grocery Stores. There are basically only two nearby grocery store options: a bodega-style store that has limited options, and Whole Foods, which is comically overpriced. We've taken to using an online grocery delivery service almost exclusively.
The Location. With the benefits of urban dwelling come the drawbacks. While noise levels within the building are generally minor, we are located less than a block from a fire station and its attendant clamor. There is also a back alleyway next to the building that garbage trucks will loudly drive through at odd hours of the night. There is also a significant population of homeless individuals in the immediate neighborhood; loud arguments in the middle of the night are commonplace, as is aggressive panhandling. My wife has also been accosted on the bus. Nothing unusual for living in the middle of a large city, but something that residents should be aware of.
Billing Issues. Although the management company's online billing system normally works well, its ledger has few peculiarities that have proven to be a minor inconvenience.
* Full disclosure: tenants of the Adams Building, including myself, are being offered a credit towards their rent in exchange for leaving reviews on Yelp. The credit does not affect the substance of my review, however.
