All 34 tenant reviews.

“A few inconsiderate neighbors make living here a very unpleasant experience. The walls are thin and if you live on the first floor you will hear your neighbors upstairs too. Management is indifferent and neighborhood is bad. 1/10, strongly not recommended.”

“I have lived here for two years, and the first year was fine. However, since then the property was bought by a different company we have had three (possibly four) different property managers in seven months. The washing machines were always broken, and since being replaced they are not up and running. Maintenance issues in the apartments take forever to resolve, homeless people often find their way in to our gated parking facility, and our rent invoices arrive a week after rent is due (which makes no sense). Additionally, there are noisy neighbors (not just loud on weekends, but blasting music and drinking in the courtyard until 2am on weekdays) and neighbors who get drunk and decided to climb the maintenance ladder to the roof. Since being acquired by this new multi-state corporation the property has greatly declined, and many tenants who were around prior to the acquisition have left. Thankfully I will soon be one of them.”

“Horrible management. I have been living here for almost a year, and they never return any phone calls, the rent bill is always late and incorrect, if you want to pay with a check you have to go to their other property one block away and if you call them and they see you standing outside, they don't care, especially the new manager ------------------- He is horrible, never returns phone calls. He has told me that he will send me more details for me to pay online, it's been four months, still waiting. And i have follow up but he never answers. There are two drug dealers living in here, and one crazy person that gets beaten by his boyfriend or someone, I have called the police on her four times already, nothing. Ready to move out!”

“Terrible management through and through- I've been here for about two years and I cannot WAIT until my lease is up. Despite the gated parking, my car has been broken into twice and nobody did anything about it. The current management waits until its convenient for them to process your rent payments. This property has bounced around at least three different management companies, and none of them are any better than the last. The apartments keep getting more expensive. Don't be fooled into moving here. You can find a much better deal elsewhere.”

“This apartment has undergone a series of inept managers, maybe six or seven. The latest incarnation is now called 301 The Park; previously: 301 N Alvarado, The Villas on Alvarado, etc. The result is a disjointed confused relationship between tenants and maintenance and management. There are chronic break-ins in the underground garages. Bikes constantly stolen. The building itself is ok, but right next to shabby run down apartments. The rent is also very high for what you get. Also there are roaches everywhere. so gross.”

“My adorable little yorkie & I reside in the lofts. I have just abasic studio but it is HUGE. I may have a shoe hoarding problem so the 2 walk in closets come in handy. I have major allergys so as a smoke free building that helps and the manager is always on it. I get a letter every month just going over current events on the property or in la. I havent lived here long but I have really enjoyed my stay here. Total bonus brownie points..... I dont pay extra for parking and my next door neighbor is awesome!”

“clean place, great neighbors, stays quiet for the most park and i dont pay extra for parking. maintenance helps me anytime i need anything and the office always gets back to me right away if I have a question. i have a dog so it is more money each month for him but its worth it”

“I have lived here for 7 years with my HUGE dog. I just moved from the regular one bedroom to the larger bedroom for more space. I really like my neighbors around me and the staff is helpful. My favorite prt is that I have my own parking spot in a gated patrolled garage. I am near downtown and it is not downtown pricing.”

“I just renewed my lease and I couldn't be happier. my loft is huge, has like super high ceilings, an balcony, lots of windows, hardwood floors, granite in my kitchen and the best part a designated parking spot . I used to have a loft downtown and I pay half the price and live 8 minutes away. I don't have any pets but I do think they accept pets here. the people in the office are nice,”

“I have a large dog and he is allowed (not normal for LA). Manager and maintenance guy are very polite & helpful. I find parking when I come home after bartending (3-4 am) to a MY own spot (no extra fees). My neighbors are quiet. Please is always kept clean. I have lived here 2 years and I would not have always said these above things. I like it MUCH better now with new company.”

“I have lived here 7 years and just moved to a bigger apartment across the hall. I think that says enough. My cat and I LOVE it here.”

“Parking is good & my neighbors are nice. Managers are cool & any time something needs fixing it gets done asap. my kitchen has a fridge and microwave, i have hardwood and lots of closets. i like living here alot.”

“Don't listen to the reviews from the past because the new manager is AMAZING. She actually is in the office when she's supposed to be, she actually DOES HER JOB!!!!! Anything you need or have an issue with, she will take care of it or help you figure it out. The rest of the staff is amazing. Maintenance is always around and always willing to help out. SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO GLAD they got rid of that lazy team from before and brought us Alia! And our lobby looks so posh & so LA now. LOVE IT. AND PARKING IS INCLUDED IN RENT!!! And it's a gated/covered garage on the 1st floor, under all the units. AND there's level 2 underneath the 1st parking garage. AMAZING.”

“1 year resident. i have my own parking spot. i like my neighbors. i am happy here and i like the new look of the lobby. i love my holly wood view & looks like they have been doing upgrades recently.”

“I have a parking spot Manager and maintenance ARE WAY better than 7 months ago. The new management is MUCH MUCH better! I am happy here and lived her for 3 years now. I got a view and I am allowed to have my dog. I have never seen pet feces so that picture grosses me out. We have a dog run in the back with a doggy bin and maintenance literally is out every morning cleaning. I will renew again.”

“I really enjoyed living in these apartments, the rent was fair, and if anything need fixed it was taken care of in a timely manner =) =)”

“Apartment Manager - Jackie Assistant - Janina They are both unprofessional and very rude. When service needs to be done in the apartment because of broken appliances, it is hard to even get a hold of them to begin with. Email - no reply until 2 days later Phone - answering machine When you are very very lucky when they actually pick up the phone, they will say they will have someone come fix your broken appliance within the same day. But they forget about you. It will take more than a week in order for them to get a service done. Do not consider this place based on bad service and management. Even though the parking sucks, the walls are very thin, you can hear your upstairs neighbors footsteps every step of the way, this does not compare to how bad their management is. Please be professional.”

“We've lived here a little over a year and it's awesome. Echo Park is a really trendy neighborhood for young people, but to live here you almost always have to settle for a very old apartment/duplex with no parking. This building is newer, has a covered parking garage, and an elevator. My unit is HUGE, and was completely renovated with new floors, bathrooms, and appliances before we moved in. Everyone who stops by compliments us on our unit. Manager is cool, she lives on site. Plus she's younger so you aren't dealing with a disconnected 67 year old with no sense of urgency. She's available via cell and email when not in the office. I notices some of my other fellow tennants complaining about really random things on here. I'm not sure where they live, but this place seems fine to me. We have a great time, our neighbors are very nice people, the deposit is low, the building is pet friendly, and it has an ELEVATOR. Apartment reviews are a dangerous thing because I think when people get upset, they want to thrash the place online. Alas, I hope I can provide some credibility when I say that if you want to live in Echo Park, this is a great, afordable place and you'll have a nice unit and a manager that is easy to work with and will answer any questions you have.”

“I am so glad I waited to respond to the management's explicit request to submit a glowing review of this place in light of some of the things that I have experienced in the last several weeks. First of all, I am a long term tenant. I have lived here since 2007 and have stayed primarily for economic conditions, but partly because many of the building's drawbacks were tolerable measured against the manageable rent. But, you get what you pay for. What are most disappointing are the management's condescending responses to many issues in the building. For one, I requested that the mountain of dog feces accumulating on the side walkway of the building be addressed. The management's response was to assert that their main priority is filling vacancies and that dog owners are now their bread and butter. I have no problem with dogs. I like dogs. I do however think that pet guardians need to curb their dogs. Management makes the false equation that pet friendly means feces friendly. And indeed, this place has become just that, feces friendly. Crime is rampant in this neighborhood. There have been numerous reports of burglaries here, some of which I have personally filed. In three years, I have filed three burglary reports. Two bikes have been stolen, and my vehicle was burglarized resulting in a stolen stereo. This has happened to many tenants in this building. Please see the other reviews. Since I have been here I have talked to many of these other tenants (at least four) who have had their vehicles burglarized, resulting in vehicle damage and stolen property. Security is lax, and very much an afterthought. And management's response: get renter's insurance. They have the same "suck it up" attitude about crime as they do about cleaning up dog waste: that's just how it is. And here's how it is: Alvarado street separates two notorious criminal street gangs, Temple Street and Big Top Locos. They are constantly vying for the very turf this apartment occupies. Graffitti permeates the neighborhood, transients and drunks often sleep on the front lawn, and the building is surrounded by tenament housing (Section 8). The last time we were burglarized, the suspect walked right through the front door (did he have a key?, was it an inside job?) Assaults, homicides, property crimes, and thefts are not uncommon along the Temple Street/Alvarado Street corridors (Please see LA Times Homicide/Crime Blog, Westlake/Echo Park). I have read the grievances in other reviews about the condition of the apartment. I have to agree with the characterization of the carpets: horrible. Management told me as a policy they do not replace carpets. Result: carpets that are well below standard. They have countless stains, rough patches, divots, tears, etc. But yet when I moved from one unit to another, they were prepared to take nearly three hundred dollars out of my deposit to "clean" the carpets. Only after complaining did they relent and offer half off the cost of "restoring" the carpets. The final straw came today when I requested that the cleaning ladies not turn off the elevator in the morning at the time that many of us are going to work. I simply requested that they delay the shut off time until after 9 am when many of us have already left for work. The response was lame: deal with it. Much like the dog feces, the constant crime, the substandard carpet conditions, the attitude of management seems to be that nothing can or will be done. Concerning the turnover here, I'll have to agree with other reviews that very few people stay here more than six months, which gives this place an unfamiliar and transient feeling. As I said, I have been here several years, but have no intention of staying beyond the termination of our current lease. Management has informed me that they have just acquired a new building and that will be their priority for now. I can only imagine how little attention will be devoted to the tenants here now that their priority has shifted to other matters. UPDATE 06/07/11: The situation with management has deteriorated. When I communicated to the management a trivial request regarding a toilet seat, she stated that she would consider addressing the request only if I removed this review of the apartment complex. We were stunned that management would be so unprofessional and, frankly, so inept as to leave a recorded voice mail message with this threat of retaliation. When I called the manager s boss at Fountain Management, he agreed that the manager s response was inadequate and inappropriate. He suggested that the manager call to smooth things over, a solution I agreed would be productive. To date, we have not heard from her, making a recent call to report dog feces in the lobby somewhat awkward. An interesting bit of information emerged, however, as I called to see if there was any remedy for this situation with the Housing Authority. They advised me that nothing could be done because, technically, these aren't apartments. Rather, each unit here is classified and parceled as a separate CONDOMINIUM, and as such, does not fall under oversight by any renters' regulatory agency. So essentially, management can at any time raise your rent or give you a sixty-day notice to vacate WITHOUT CAUSE. If you are interested in living here, be forewarned: You do not enjoy the rights of renters who DO live in traditional apartment complexes.”

“Having owned property in the past, I know what it takes to keep things running smoothly - a lot of work and thought. I have been made to feel very welcome by many of the people in this building including, firstly, the manager Julia. Problems get dealt with and information updates flow freely; I also feel that I'm getting good value for my money, an important thing, especially these days. I feel safe and happy here and will recommend the building when the opportunity arises.”

“Moved in about 8 months ago. Love the parking, love the laundry room. Manager is nice, never experienced any issues. She is efficient and friendly. I love that my dog is allowed here. The neighborhood is what you can expect living in LA, downtown LA area. However, I think there is a patrol company that comes to the building every night, which is nice. Echo Park is cool, so it is nice to be near all the restauraunts, shops, thrift/vintage stores, etc. I recommend staying here if you are going to FIDM, like me, lots of cool people and close to everything. Freeway is super easy to hop on a get anywhere. No bugs, no noise issues, no problems.”

“Beware of promises made by the female leasing manager (who also lives there). I visited on several occasions and offered to put in application on 2 available apartments, but was told there were more coming up which would be available as well; so I left with an application to fill out and think over my decision. After several days I decided to go with the bldg and apply. I made an appointment with her and went back to secure one of the two with application completed. At the meeting, I was told both had been rented within those 3 days and none were available. I asked to put in my application so I'd be approved when something else opened up; which I did. The next day I got a call from the manager and was told someone had pulled out of the hold process and I could have the apartment as I was already approved. I offered to bring over a deposit that same day, but was told she was busy. I offered to come over the weekend and was told she wouldn't be working and the office would be closed. We set up an appointment for 11am Monday to sign lease and take care of the finances. Come early Saturday morning, I received a call from the agent telling me someone just happened to come by that morning for a tour (remember she said the office would be closed) and placed a hold on the apartment that was offered to me. I was in shock and felt completely disregarded. Our conversation meant nothing, her word meant nothing and that's "just how things work". She denied any commitment and hung up on me. I feel there is clearly some type of bias or personal preference going on and I plan on pursuing the matter with the property management company to get my application funds back and report her unprofessional and discriminating system of choosing tenants.”

“Vista Alvarado has been a great experience for me. I've been living here for a little over a year now. My neighbors are nice and the apartments are spacious and very clean. I haven't had any problems in my apartment thus far. The manager has always been helpful and informative whenever I've asked questions regarding the common areas. It's quiet at night and having garage parking is a plus. If you're looking for a reasonable price apartment that has spacious bedrooms and great management I would recommend this place. Don't plan on moving anytime soon.”

“There is a reason why the deposit is ridiculously cheap compared to any other lease you can sign. This place is like a revolving door. Moved in during the summer and I must have seen at least 5 - 10 units being vacated and then rented out again. I've been told by other tenants that no one usually stays here longer than 5 months. If you are the type of person who feels more secure with getting to know your neightbors, this is NOT the place for you. A stranger could walk right in and rob your apartment and it would be difficult for your neighbors to know that person didn't belong in the building because no one lives here long enough to get to know each other. Doesn't it say a lot about an apartment that no one ever lives in long enough to finish even a 12 month lease? The place also used to be a seniors home and they never changed out the carpet when they switched it over. Another tenant told me when she asked for the past records on her carpet, the manager had no record of that. That's pretty disturbing knowing it used to be a seniors home. Also, I've seen how the manager "turns over " each apt. She gets guys that don't speak english to buff the carpet, not even bothers to shampoo it, never actually changes the carpet which would obviously be the most sanitary thing to do. The manager is only interested in getting people in here so she can make her commission, that's why she will say whatever she needs to so that people will sign the lease. She will rent you a place that still has stains in the carpet with an old air filter so save your time and don't bother checking out the units! Total waste of time. It always seems to only be at 65% capacity because people leave so frequently. It's a renter's market out there and you don't have to settle for this place. Oh yeh, check out meganslaw to see how much reported rape and assault that happens within 1 mile radius of this place. This is especially for you single women!”

“I have lived at Vista Alvarado for almost two years and truly enjoy it. The building is kept very clean, including the laundry room. It is a quiet building, and the tenants I have met are very friendly. It is a smaller complex, so no difficulty getting the elevator or using the laundry room. It is a non-smoking building which is GREAT. It is an older refurbished building, so a couple of times in the two years the hot water was gone for a day and one time the elevator needed to be fixed. Management is quick to apologize and get things back to working order. The young woman who manages the building is very friendly and has always responded to any apartment issues that might arise. The neighborhood is lower income, but I feel very safe and there are security cameras and a security service. The apartments are very modern with new appliances.”

“I have lived all over Los angeles... After relocating back from San Francisco last year, I looked at about 20 places and choose Vista Alvarado because of its cleanliness and respectful community. It may not be in the most amazing neighborhood, but all the tenents are respectful professional adults. Managment has responded swiftly to any concerns I have had (Which has been very few). One the hot water heater went out, which was not only swiftly dealt with but I recieved a pesonal call from the managment company to apologize... Wow. VERY professional!!! I was origanally planning on a move back to downtown, but have decided to extend my lease!!!”

“I formerly lived in a studio in downtown and I am so happy to have moved into Vista Alvarado. It's a great value for the rent price. The units are clean and newly refurbished, there is on-site maintenance regularly, I've never had any issues with parking or break-ins (this was an issue at my previous apartment building). The manager is always quick to reply by email to any questions or concerns, and any maintenance problems are addressed within a day. I've lived here for less than a year but so far the experience has been outstanding!”

“I have lived in many cities in the U.S. throughout the past 6 years and this is by far, the worst renting experience I have ever had! It started with the passive aggressive and slow management and just got worse from there. They charge you an additional fee to park in the "secure" garage and there have been TWO car break-ins since I moved in only 3 months ago (one break-in was to my car). And the management respondes to break-ins by stating "It is LA or It is Echo Park, unfortunately this happens." Other tenants have been broken into as well and it almost seems like it is an inside job! My unit was not properly cleaned or repaired before I moved in either. I also experienced a gas leak with my stove that I called the gas company to fix (which they did immediately) as I knew management would be useless in such a situation. The manager prefers to correspond with you via email rather than actually talking to you on the phone and addressing your problems and is never in the office. Overall, this apartment is overpriced, poorly managed, not secure for your car even though you pay extra for a space in the garage, and if you live on the first floor, the second floor tenants can easily be heard stomping around above you (lucky for me, I live below people who seem to be nocturnal - only making noise from 1 AM - 4 AM including the sounds of their dogs running around). DEFINITELY LOOK ELSEWHERE!”

“Edit: Over the past couple months this apartment complex has returned to its original well-kept and well-managed status. Security was never an issue as there is surveillance in every corner. I am glad to see the landscaping more 'lively' and finally some real fixes have been made to the leaking pipes in the garage. Unfortunately the hot water situation had been a recurring nag, but it was resolved very courteously and promptly, hopefully never to happen again. Original post: Not sure why I put up with this place for so long but save yourself the headache. Very slow, almost useless, management system with the most incompetent service person. Water lines in the building are probably a hazard and against city code - always leaking in the garage somewhere, on someone's car - and at least twice a year the water heaters need to be repaired because they're too cheap to put new ones. Complete waste of money and unhealthy living.”

“Good building, very clean, nice staff. I love my granite countertop, the central air, and convenience of my parking space here. My neighbors are really cool, no problems, not loud at all. The area is fine, lots of stuff do on Sunset, coffee shops, shopping, etc. My one bedroom apartment is bright, has a nice balcony facing the Hollywood sign, and I liked having elevator to move in. I recommend my friends to call the manager all the time.”

“if you want to see gang members with tattoos running around your neighborhood, live here. if you want to deal with regular broken elevators, live here. if you want to deal with regular hot water outages, live here. if want to be afraid of walking down the street, live here. if you want to hear police and fire sirens throughout the day and night, live here. if you want to wake up to police doing warrants on your neighbors, live here. if you want to hear neighbors through the thin walls, live here.”

“Good place to live if you are a student or quiet professional person. I lived here for 2 years and enjoyed it. The parking is not expensive and my apartment had a nice view of Downtown LA. The building was very clean, and I felt safe. Good luck@!”

“We have not had hot water for three days. I just moved here so I don't know if this is the first of many problems. Otherwise, it is a nice apartment.”

“Well this complex is not the best place to move too ! The rude manager that was formerly there has been replaced with somebody that is very nice. Is the complex safe ? NO. Is the complex clean ? So So. Is there a sence of community in the complex ? Yes . depending on who you run in too ! There are a small number of tenants that look real bitter and makes it real akward , almost as if there is racial tension in the air. I have a neighbor that parks next to me that looks at me as if she is looking at hell or somethen. Thats the only real issue that makes me uncomfortable. I have had my car broken into also but I dont think its someone in the complex the tenants are the best part about the complex even the grumpy ones that "point fingures" like the person that mention that in their review "Thats just plain stupid" so pls get over it I mean look at the neighborhood around you its ------ !”