SOL@Campbell...I've been living here for about 6 months. While I don't feel this way anymore, during the first month I started joking that SOL stood for "sh*t outta luck". For newly renovated units next to nothing worked from the first day I moved in. They do have new windows and hardwood laminate, which is a plus. But no dishwasher and only one closet, boo! I'll make sure to cover both my likes and dislikes. The apartment complex was sold a few weeks ago and new off-site management called Archie Winthol Management Inc has taken over. They seem super nice and helpful.
So, I chose an upstairs unit because I was offered one of the only ones with AC installed (in the bedroom, not living room) and I'd read that the upstairs units get very very hot. They definitely do! The 1 bedrooms (650 sq feet) go for $1950 and I opted to pay $75 more a month for the unit with AC. Water and garbage are not included so that is an extra $75 per month. Renters insurance is also required which adds roughly another $12 per month. So for this particular unit my rent comes to $2112 per month not including the gas & electric bill. There is also the cost of the mailbox key that you must pick up at the post office, which is $50 and non refundable. I am not sure if the new management/owners will be covering this cost, but the old management didn't. They offer free Wifi but it is very slow and not fast enough for streaming Netflix, etc. I got my own installed and Comcast had to wire the apt as it wasn't cable ready. You are provided with one covered parking spot behind the building. Street parking is fine during the day, ok at night and terrible on weekends as there are many Campbell Community Center events across the street. This turns out to be pretty pricey for this particular area of Campbell as it is probably the worst part of Campbell and only a street away from the notorious Cadillac Drive area, known for drugs and crime since as long as I can remember. I have felt fairly safe here though, even with people "tagging" the building at night, so I'll give it that. There are 2 bedroom renovated apartments currently listed for $1995 at the end of the street that include water and garbage, just for price reference.
I was told my unit was brand new and hadn't been occupied yet, so that may account for some of the below. The fridge was found to not be working the day I signed the lease, it was replaced 3 days later. My 2nd night there I stepped on a few sharp staples sticking up from where my carpet lined the hardwood floor in the dining room. Maintenance tried to fix it with some sort of padding underneath the carpet but it's still painful with bare feet so I just try to step over it when moving from the dining room to living room, because there are still a few dozen that poke through. During my first 2 months here I had maintenance in my apartment 6 times to fix the new stove, the new garbage disposal, the heater, the 2 inch gap under the front door, the AC and electrical outlets that were installed crookedly, which they couldn't really fix. Maintenance has been quick and nice, hopefully they are kept around by the new management.
The water pressure in the shower isn't great and sometimes it takes a few minutes for hot water to come out. The new windows keep the sound of cars and loud neighbors across the street out, but neighbors in building? You can hear entire conversations! No one near my unit is particularly loud though so it doesn't bother me too much. What bothers me more, is that from the bedroom which is in the back of the building, you can hear when someone is walking on the balcony walkway past your front door. The walkway is like, hollow or something! You can hear people walking halfway across the building and it DOES NOT feel safe to walk on. It is slippery when wet and feels like it's going to crumble beneath your feet. :(
I was shopping for new light bulbs at Walmart and found that a lot of the renovated apartment was purchased there, haha. Then, as soon as renovation was completed the building was sold. It had only been purchased 2 years earlier, so it confirmed my suspicion that it was bought to renovate and flip for a higher cost. Honestly, the building is just really old and renovated cheaply and poorly.
New management is adding access to the community center gym and pool as an amenity. They are also starting construction to add patios to some downstairs units. This will be nice as the only other amenity is a nice laundry room.
Overall I'd say 3 stars. It's not the greatest area to live for the price (there is definitely better for the price with more amenities) and the renovation is shoddy, but they've been quick to address my needs and I feel safe. I have faith in the new management as they seem to genuinely care. read more