Isa F.
Yelp
After living here for 2 years, I can offer some insight into some of the joys and un-obvious foibles of this apartment building. Let's start with the dirty laundry:
- Over the 2 years there were 6+ building managers. It's impossible to build a relationship with management when its cycling so rapidly. And its even more impossible for that management to do a decent job. Residents aren't informed when management changes. Building managers aren't given access to the systems they inherit-- then being unable to check the buildings' voicemail box or change the callbox. This makes laughably rudimentary tasks impossible. When a new manager takes up the cause, they're also in charge of several other buildings under the premise that a 35+ unit building is "too small" to warrant a singularly dedicated employee. This un-obvious deficit has a dramatic impact on all aspects of life at Craft. From resolving disputes between residents, to getting repairs completed, to muster a response to car break-ins, stolen packages, keeping the garbage collection folks from blocking the fire exits with the dumpsters, etc. Be wary of moving into the ADA unit, there were stints of over a week, waiting for the offsite management to repair the elevator-- which for a wheel-chaired resident would have meant not being able to access their unit.. absolutely unacceptable! That's how I knew they had yet to rent the ADA unit.
- Although the building is new-ish, it's of lower-than-expected quality: obvious in the appliances, noise from neighboring units on the 3rd and 4th floors, and parking space sizes. From the "bedroom" (alcove) in my 1-bedroom unit, you could hear water passing through the plumbing as neighbors flushed toilets or got ready for bed. Not exactly peaceful. Be wary of 4th floor units near the vestibule, I witnessed residents complaining about "stomping" or "stampeding" noises when residents would bring their dogs or host guests on the roof. The second floor sits directly on the concrete "deck" that separates the residential units from L'Oursin and Machine House, the commercial units. Even in the context of LEED certification, having a single-opening-window (as my 1-bedroom did) makes any amount of airflow impossible.
- Speaking of the commercial units and poor airflow, both commercial units attract casual smokers (the same way any bar would). So if living on the 2nd floor, expect to have cigarette smoke waft into your single opening window on weekends and evenings. Be wary of the 2nd floor units if you have an allergy to cigarette smoke. Come to think of it, first with 7 Beef and now with the advent of Central Smokehouse, expect to have near-constant wood smoke pouring past/in your unit.
- Since Machine House opening, it's worth noting that the once abundant steel parking has all but evaporated. If parking along Jefferson is unavailable, check the south side Remington Ct. for more unregulated parking.
- Despite the door-less construction and near 2,000$/month rent, the majority of the residents seemed to be 20-something student-aged kids. This manifested as immaturity in the forms of un-picked-up animal feces on the roof (outside the designated pee-patch), owners not using leashes for their pets in common areas, garbage piled **where the dumpster usually is** on the one day a week its placed at the curb, folks spraying perfume/axe in the elevator, cigarette butts and roaches left on the roof, the roof grill's propane constantly being empty, etc.
- Speaking of students, something else un-obvious you may miss on a tour of the building are the SU RedHawk soccer games (complete with booming MC, obnoxious music, and gawking crowd) that are held every weekend across the street during the summer months. In a northern-facing unit, don't expect to have any privacy during the summer.
Now for the not-that-terrible things:
- With the first building manager, Blanton-Turner sponsored rooftop events or negotiated discounts for Wag and the like were not uncommon. That type of interest in the residents has since evaporated.
- Utilities are cheap, although Seattle City Light took about 5-moths to finally send my first bill to me. Wave (Cascade Link) is still the better Internet option to go with, although they are on their own billing system at time of writing and don't actually offer customers any benefits of now being Wave.
- Renters insurance wasn't required when I moved in, but successive building managers announced that every resident must have it about 1 1/2 years into my occupancy.
A couple suggestions for Management (Blanton Turner at time of writing):
- Add the water filter to lobby water bottle faucet that everyone assumes is there already.
- Remodel the entryway so that space to the right of the door can also be opened for easier move ins and outs.
- Build an office to facilitate onsite management.
- Ban smoking in front of the commercial units; sue Central Smokehouse and the owner of 7 Beef/Ba Bar for the heal
