I want to give a huge shoutout to Dominic on the maintenance team. This review is specifically for…read morehim and the great work he does, not the complex itself. I had an electrical issue in my unit and Dominic responded quickly, handled everything professionally, and fixed it right the first time. He was friendly, efficient, and genuinely went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of. It's rare to deal with someone who takes that much pride in their work. Dominic is the kind of maintenance tech that makes a real difference for residents. Highly recommend reaching out to him if you ever need anything. You're in good hands!

I have lived at Emme Apartments since 2015, and my experience has completely changed for the worse…read moresince being relocated due to mold in my previous unit. Management and Essex Property Trust clearly value minor "community complaints" over serious safety concerns. To give some perspective: * A maintenance supervisor violated my privacy and personal space by putting his hand on the back of my head in a manner suggestive of a sexual act while I was dealing with a flood caused by his failure to respond to my maintenance requests for a whole year -- no accountability. * Another maintenance technician literally climbed to the second floor and broke into my apartment -- no accountability. * Another resident ran into my home when running from the police -- again, no accountability. * When I asked for a simple 5 ft safety gate to protect my children and me from further intrusions, management demanded I fill out a "reasonable accommodation" request, treating my safety like an inconvenience. Harassment by Will During Emergency Flood Response (June 22, 2025) On June 22, 2025, I experienced a major flood in my apartment. I submitted an emergency work order at around 4 AM. Jennifer arrived first, but she was unprepared -- her mop didn't work, and she had to use mine. This was unacceptable for an emergency situation to not have the proper equipment to respond to such emergency where I was already overwhelmed, cleaning dirty water from the toilet, to my kitchen, closet, and bedroom alone. Eventually, Will, the maintenance supervisor, arrived. Instead of addressing the urgency of my home flooding, he told me, "It's fine, just relax -- go to bed." Meanwhile, I was trying to save my belongings and keep my home from being destroyed. At one point, while I was crouched down in my closet moving furniture, Will stood behind me, placed his hand on the back of my head, and pushed it downward -- in a way that was clearly suggestive of a sexual act. Whether he thought it was a "joke" or not, I was exhausted, vulnerable, and in distress. That contact was humiliating, violating, and deeply inappropriate. I did not ask for comfort or contact -- I asked for help. What I got instead was dismissal and harassment during one of the lowest moments I've experienced in my home. I have endured severe financial hardship because of this flood and I am still trying to recover. My couch is ruined -- a couch I had just finished paying off. Has Essex done anything to compensate me for the damage to my belongings? No. And this wasn't just one leak -- it was six. Each time, instead of fixing the problem, all they ever did was hand me a fan to 'remediate' the water. Pattern of Neglect and Harassment This was not the first violation I've endured at Emme. In 2017, a different Essex technician broke into my unit at 2:00 AM by climbing my second-story balcony door while my children and I were asleep. The incident was captured on Essex cameras and reported (Police Report #1709-0370). Instead of termination, the employee was quietly transferred to another property. When I reported it, I was asked whether I had "suggested myself" to him -- a victim-blaming question that left me silenced and traumatized. The fear from that night has never left me. Ignored Safety vs. Harassment Over a Catio Despite these serious violations, my requests for a basic safety measure -- a 5 ft gate -- were dismissed and turned into paperwork. Yet management has no problem sending me constant emails demanding I remove my catio. The catio is a freestanding, Amazon-style structure not attached to the building. They call it an "eyesore" and claim it violates community guidelines, even though other residents' pets enjoy their balconies without issue. The harassment has escalated to the point of relentless emails, demanding I deprive my cats and my daughter of the outdoor space that brings them joy, while ignoring actual threats to our safety. Conclusion After nearly a decade here, it is clear: Essex and Emme Apartments minimize sexual misconduct, ignore break-ins and floods that cause financial devastation, and retaliate against tenants over harmless matters. Safety and dignity are not valued here. I can't upload the video showing how much water there was, but the only response I received from Will, the maintenance supervisor, was a single fan to 'remediate' what you can clearly see in the photos.

I have been a tenant of Charles and Cindy since May of 2007 and I have never had such a positive…read morerenting experience. When I first went to rent the apartments I was a student at the University of Illinois and I moved out here due to graduate school at Cal. Cindy and Chuck were the only people who were friendly enough to do all of the renting and showing of the apartments by email and phone. If things would have been different my moving experience would have been much less fantastic. Additionally, they let me ship all of my things to their home before I moved to California -- this saved me so much trouble. Even beyond my initial experience, Cindy and Chuck have constantly proved to be amazing both as landlords and people. They are constantly working on the apartment and surrounding yard and garden to make the place look immaculate. They are friendly, honest and genuine -- hard to find in people, let alone in landlords. The apartments themselves are furnished and well taken care of. ANECDOTE ALERT! In the past, they have made me cookies and pie and dropped them off freshly baked. In fact, one evening, I got a call from Cindy saying she just baked a peach pie for me and she wanted to drop it off while still warm. Much to my chagrin, I was unable to return to my apartment that evening. So, what did she do? She said, "no big deal, we'll bake you another pie tomorrow because we want you to have it hot". Awesome! Needless to say, that pie was eaten in one sitting. Beyond the food, and hard work ethic, I genuinely love living in my apartment and it feels like Cindy and Chuck genuinely care for their tenants and their well being. Sometimes I think about the fact that someday I will move from this apartment and it saddens me a bit -- I know that as far as landlords go, this is absolutely as good as it gets, everything else will pale in comparison.

Hands-down the nicest owners/landlords in the world. Chuck and Cindy have not only been great as…read morelandlords but they have also become friends. On many occasions we have received fresh cookies, pies, cakes, and anything else Cindy has made a bunch of. I will review the different aspects of the Channing-Milvia Apartments experience. Apartment itself: The apartments are around 600sq. ft. This may seem small but we, my wife and I and soon to arrive daughter, have found it to be the perfect size. The kitchen is large enough for anyone who cooks a few days a week to every night. While they aren't huge they have allowed me to cook quite a bit of food at a time. The living room is large with a desk, bookshelf, futon, and two windows. Apart from the kitchen and bathroom, the apartment has hardwood floors which help to brighten even the 1st floor apartments(we have lived downstairs and upstairs). The bedroom is perfect for a couple, two roommates or a single person. There is a nice closet and a walk in storage room with shelves. The bathroom is small but it really is big enough. Outdoor scene: The backyard is fantastic! Not only is there a grass area capable of holding 15-30 people for a BBQ, but there is a large garden that residents are allowed to use to grow food. There is a peach tree in the garden and a lemon tree along the driveway, each of which produce an abundance of fruit in season. There is a large charcoal grill and a smaller charcoal grill, which residents are free to use at their leisure. Furnishings: Wow, these apartments come with everything you could need. I love to cook, always have(my dad owns a restaurant) and these apartments are supplied with more than enough stuff to prepare holiday feasts. The linens are great and the rest of the furnishings are in great shape. We have just about everything we could need/want here. What if a problem arises? Chuck and Cindy are skilled handy-people. They can fix anything from a leaky faucet to problems with your stove, light fixtures or plumbing. If you report a problem, any problem, they are extremely quick to fix it. We could not wish for better landlords or friends, we will be sad to move in May. We HIGHLY recommend renting here, you will not regret it!

(Disclosure: I've owned my 1BR unit since 2021, and have no plans on selling. I am currently…read moreserving on the HOA board.) If you're looking to buy or rent, Bridgewater is an excellent place to consider. The amenities are great, the secure courtyard is beautiful, and the residential parking is the best in the area. I also love the city of Emeryville. I don't own a car and can do almost anything within walking distance. We have multiple excellent grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, bars, and a full movie theater within a 30 minute walk. We have bus stops right across the street for the always free Emery-Go-Round, the transbay bus into SF, and almost anywhere else in the Bay Area via a BART transfer. The city is also always improving our bike lanes if you like to get around that way. If you have a dog, you'll meet lots of other friendly ones and their humans here regularly. You can soak in the hot tub, swim, or workout in our full gym. I've made friends with dozens of my neighbors in the few years I've been here, and I'm fairly introverted. There are certainly downsides. Living with lots of neighbors who all have different priorities, hours, and habits is always a challenge. But if you enjoy city life like I do and don't mind sharing hallways with neighbors then it's quite enjoyable. We had a recent issue with our main lobby elevator caused by an ex-contractor that put it out of commission for about a year. We did our best to get it fixed as quickly as possible, but ran into delays from insurance approvals, materials sourcing, and state inspection schedules. I'm happy to say it's working again and its repairs won't cost residents a dime. We also had a big emergency project due to faulty siding that cost owners a substantial amount a few years ago. Many complained about that, but it would've cost us much more if we didn't make those repairs and let the catastrophic water damage continue to worsen. I don't know of anyplace where these things don't happen from time to time, but I'm glad I live someplace where the owners take action to fix things before they become much bigger problems. We also have the same crime problems every other apartment complex has in the Bay Area, but we keep regular contact with city officials to keep police patrols watching our streets and our security is well-suited for managing things on the property itself. I may be biased (it's a review site after all), but I love it here and hope I never need to move.

I lived in Building 4 (the one facing the railroad) for a year, and unfortunately, it was the most…read morestressful living experience I've had. The biggest issue is the constant noise. The trains run extremely close to the building, and the horns go off almost every night -it regularly woke us up. On top of that, there is frequent noise from the parking lot of the opposite building. It's not unusual for someone to blast music at 5 a.m. or for a car alarm to go off for hours overnight. There is also a persistent marijuana smell under the windows, which often drifts into the apartment. Many residents in Building 4 have one or even two dogs. Barking is common -either through the walls or from balconies where dogs are left alone. Some larger dogs have behaved aggressively near the building entrance, which can feel unsafe. Maintenance is another issue. Things break often, and repairs can take months to be resolved. There is no 24-hour security, and enforcing quiet hours feels nearly impossible. Complaints about repeated nighttime disturbances did not lead to any real solution. During this year, I had a baby, and the constant lack of sleep made the situation especially difficult. Even when there was a chance to rest, it was often disrupted by noise. Overall, I did not feel that this community prioritizes peaceful living or respect for neighbors. I would not recommend this complex to anyone looking for a quiet environment, especially families with young children.

I've been living at the Blake at Berkeley for a couple of months now, and it already feels like…read morehome. Nila, César, and Ruby have all been incredible. Thanks to Nila the paperwork and move-in process was seamless, and she's always available in the office and ready to help if I have questions about anything. César is a superstar. He made it easy to learn how to park in the garage, helps bring up large packages to my apartment, and is always going above and beyond for residents. I'm so grateful to be living here!

Clean, safe, and super warm cozy apartment neighborhood. Management really takes care of the…read moreresidents from all parts of the company! Moved here from the Lark (part of the company in San Mateo) and it still feels like home here in Berkeley!

Public market has been standing since before I was born…read more The restaurants change frequently so if you see one you might like, TRY IT before it's no longer there. There is street parking, a parking lot across the street and parking in the back. There is also a small park in the back with a big whale

The staff here especially Julius is wonderful. He is a major help in moving to a new city. This…read moreapartment has been a good experience. Amenities are modern, it is clean, and it is organized. If you work in Oakland or Berkeley or SF this is the place for you! Maintenance team is great. They fix everything in a timely fashion. Top notch place. Kudos to Julius and Maintenace Team! Thank you for making me feel safe and protected.

The Emery is an amazing community! I absolutely love living here. The leasing office staff and…read moreManager Dartise are very welcoming, and always helpful with any questions I may have. Beautiful views, and the amenities are awesome! Shoutout to The Emery Leasing Office Team, Maintenance staff and janitorial team. You all are awesome!

I am absolutely appalled by the experience I had during my self guided tour at The Emery today…read more This community is a complete disaster and frankly a joke considering the price point they are asking for these units. I am coming from Vespr in Oakland and the drop in quality is staggering. This place does not even come close to matching that standard of living. The entire property is dirty and cramped, and the unit entry door frames are all beat up and missing paint which gives a terrible first impression. The elevators are ancient, painfully slow, and way too small with hideous tile that looks like it hasnt been updated in years. I was shocked to see residents actually posting flyers in the elevators soliciting their own businesses like it is a cheap motel and not a luxury apartment complex. The tour process itself was a nightmare. The app is completely useless and I could not even get into the three bedroom apartment on the top floor that I specifically came to see. While wandering around I noticed that packages are just left out and not secured at all which is a massive red flag for anyone paying this kind of rent. To top it all off I was told I could park in the future resident parking for free but when I tried to leave the machine forced me to pay four dollars. I called the office multiple times while I was on the property to get help with the app and the parking but nobody bothered to answer the phone. I want a response from management immediately because this was an insulting waste of my time and a total embarrassment compared to other buildings in the area.

The leasing and management team has been nothing short of phenomenal. They are always professional,…read morequick to respond to emails, and genuinely care, I tour twice and the second time i came back they remember my name and greeted me with a smile.

Would not recommend living here ever if you can help it. No one responds to emails. Leasing agent…read moretold me today that he didnt have time to "babysit" me after not responding to my emails for weeks about why I hadn't received my lease renawal. Pretty rude and condescending considering the source of the issue was a mistake on the application itself, not my error. He lied about sending me requests for more info for the application. Getting sick of this place. Parts of my apartment were absolutely filthy when I moved in, had to clean it myself. Jacuzzi has been shut down for disease risk by the county at least once since I've been here. I'd say the rest of the facilities are just as clean as that jacuzzi. Maitenance left my apartment unlocked for 4 days while I was out of town once. Buildings aren't very secure and don't have many cameras don't believe the positive reviews.

Because of my mixed experience here, I am giving this apartment building an average rating…read more There are some positive things about the Addison. The building is relatively new (opened in 2020), the fitness center has nice equipment, and it is convenient to campus. However, I also experienced problems. The rent is pretty expensive. The air filters don't seem to work very well; I felt like I was constantly wiping up the particulate matter that got into my apartment through the ventilation system. The car stacker damaged my car twice because initially they didn't assign me to an appropriate space and then they didn't maintain the plastic stop that lets you know how far to pull forward. The elevators have a tendency to break down. They did not comply with California law regarding return of security deposits. Well before I moved out, I gave them my new address (twice, once in an email and once on management's own move-out form) and instead of mailing the check to that address they sent it to the apartment that they knew I had moved out of, where it sat in the mailbox until I called to find out what had happened. (I learned from the leasing agent that other tenants had the same experience.) When they redirected the check to me, there was no explanation or itemization of the substantial dollar amount that they had withheld. I got back $230.90 of a $700 deposit, despite doing a pre-move-out walk-through with the manager, who told me that there was no damage, that I had maintained it to such a level that they would only need to do the minimum amount of cleaning, and that I would not be charged for any painting because I lived there for 5 years.

Very helpful, friendly, and attentive staff. I felt well supported during the touring, leasing, and…read moremove-in processes.

The folks in the office as well as the folks who keep the premises clean, do an amazing job. They…read morealways make you feel welcomed and greet you with the outmost respect. At times, some tenants who have pets, allow their dogs to make a mess and Gabriel and his team always work hard to clean up. They all are an asset to the apartments. Without them, the apartments wouldn't feel like home.

We've been living at The Courtyards at 65th for less than a month, and we're already extremely…read moredisappointed with the management here. Our biggest issue is that management does not seem to care when residents have problems. We've already had multiple issues with the apartment, including a leak and problems with our washer/appliances, and getting anything actually fixed has been incredibly difficult. We report the problems, follow up, and continue asking for updates, but nothing seems to get resolved. We shouldn't have to constantly chase management to get basic things in our apartment working properly, especially when we just moved in. The communication is also terrible. They rarely keep us updated, don't follow through, and we're constantly the ones having to reach out again to find out what is happening. Even when something is scheduled or we're told someone will take care of an issue, we can't rely on it actually happening. We understand that maintenance issues can happen in any apartment, but what matters is how management responds to them. Here, the experience has been that they either don't communicate, don't follow through, or simply don't do anything until you repeatedly push them. We haven't even lived here for a full month, and dealing with management has already been exhausting. For what residents pay to live here, this level of service and lack of care is unacceptable.