The 88

Moved in about 6-​months ago
Pros:
— Pool
— Security is good and friendly
— Nice views
Cons:
— Lots of homeless
— Supermarket, I thought it would be good, but then realized food selection is targeted at lower-​income; Lots of homeless wandering in and around
— Lisa the «concierge» not very helpful and has a generally rude and disrespectful attitude.

Pardon this delayed review but I guess this was sitting in my queue for 3 years! haha, but this was my experience when I was condo shopping when prices were low and there was a sales office:
— — — — Originally published 01.2013 — — — — — -
Do NOT come here if you’re the type who despise rude and bougie sales reps. I came here in December of 2012 and was looking to get into the real estate market since prices were low and I had a price range of $ 300K-​$ 400K. The sales rep was a pregnant twat and was very rude. When my family and I came by, she asked what my price range was and when I through out the $ 350K number, she didn’t seem very interested to show us the remaining units from the 9^th floor and up.
I was looking for something simple for just myself. A one bedroom condo with a possible den or no den. When the lady took us around, she said that a one bedroom on the 9^th floor was going to run me about $ 415K. When my parents asked if a fridge or washer and dryer came with the unit, the lady rudely said «of course not! You’ll have to buy it yourself. You NEVER get those from the developers»…Funny since we had just come from Plant 51 and they threw in a Fridge and Washer and Dryer which saves a buyer at least $ 2-​$ 3K (wash and dryer and plant 51 was basic but nice… and the fridge was a french door with bottom freezer).
Overall, I think of all the downtown units I’ve gone to, I think I’ve decided to buy at Plant 51. I think it’s the smarter decision since whole foods will be opening and it’s right next to cal trains and the alameda is having a revamp. Plus despite the safeway downstairs at the 88, it’s near noisy bars and the homeless detract from the area. Trust me, I went to SJSU and lived near campus for years so I know. Plant 51 is farther away from the grossness. 1 star for location and the rude sales rep lady. Super turned off. Plant 51 however, solid 5 stars!

Great location, really nice people. Quite the oasis. Views are really nice. Floor to ceiling glass, high ceilings. Night lights are spectacular. The other night, opened the bedroom window and heard sounds of a really fantastic Mariachi band wafting in. Felt like we were back in Playa Del Carmen…
Great central location. Very nice Safeway conveniently next door. Lots of restaurants near by. Short walk to the Friday market in San Pedro Square. They’re putting up Christmas lights in the park across from the Fairmont, another short walk away.

Excellent security staff!
Secure parking separate from Safeway.
Modern, clean common areas, great clubhouse, exercise room with pool and jacuzzi.
Cons: high hoa, people yelling at all hours of night/​day.

When I moved to SJ a few years ago, I rented an apartment downtown so that I could not only decide I was happy living downtown, but also decide which building I wanted to make my forever home.
It didn’t take long to narrow my list down to just 2: the 88 and the Axis. Ultimately, the 88 won out, for the following reasons:
— Lisa G, the fantastic concierge
— Safeway’s ‘The Market’ right downstairs. It’s been a godsend. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come home from work, realized I needed milk and tea bags. Or friends will come over on a Friday night and I’ll send someone down to Safeway to get some cheese, proscuitto, and another bottle of wine.
— gorgeous, resort-​like pool/​spa deck (sorry, Axis, but I think ours has you beat!)
— location! Much more walkable than some of the other downtown buildings (Billy Berks, Nemea, MLK Library, PF Changs, Mortons, Grill on the Alley, Gordon Biersch, San Jose Rep, etc)
— lots of garages/​lots nearby for guest parking
— floor-​plans have very little wasted space, even the smaller one bedrooms and studios feel open, airy, and spacious.
— Bosch appliances!
— interior construction quality is excellent
— light rail proximity is great; when I have a dinner party, often my guests will take the light rail rather than driving.
— secure building (security in lobby/​patrol plus secure garage)
— sound proofing is terrific, I almost never hear my neighbors. Occasionally, I’ll hear a barking dog in the hallway when someone is going for a walk. Once or twice, I’ve heard someone hammering to hang a picture. But I don’t hear my neighbors TVs, appliances, or *cough* late night bedroom activities.
The general vibe in the building is pretty terrific, my neighbors are all friendly, or at least cordial. There hasn’t been any of that awkward «let’s pretend we are the only person in the elevator» nonsense that I’ve encountered in the past.
I’ve been really happy living here, and I’ve found that I’m walking a lot more and driving less. Many weekends, I garage my car after work on Friday and don’t drive again until Monday morning!

There’s some super shady blonde Real Estate Agent lady who works there in probably her late 40’s early fifties. She’s super shady. She won’t show you a condo unless you are prequalified, otherwise, she’s pretty much, «waisting her time.» She totally snobbed out my friend and I that were looking for a condo in downtown.

The white lady who works at the front desk is very rude and racists. They need to fire her.

Been looking at the down town condos, looking for a change of scenery. Out of the 3 high rises, we like 88 the most. Axis has a nice building, a much quieter, cleaner neighborhood, and San Pedro Square. But closeness to highway & airport is a negative for us.
The 88 surroundings have more characters loitering, so definitely doesn’t feel as nice as San Pedro area. Is the area going to get cleaned up in the future, or continue, or get worse?

We moved to the 88 in May of 2011, and I can’t say enough good things about this building! I don’t know the schematics of it, but did you know that in the event of a huge earthquake the building would still stand, and would sway and regain its balance? That’s good to know. since I have earthquake-​phobia. The pool is salt-​water, so you feel clean when you get out, plus saline is good for your skin and hair! The building is maintained so perfectly, you wouldn’t guess that anybody lives here!
Some positives about living at the 88 are: Safeway The Market downstairs, (and you don’t even have to go outside the building to get there.) fully secure building with 24 hour security guards (hey, in downtown san jose it is a HUGE plus!), we are a close walk to the Shark Tank, MLK Library, Billy Berks, Smile Sushi, Gordon Biersch, Fahrenheit lounge, PF Changs, Tanq Bar, Christmas in the Park/​Music in the Park, Tech Museum… the list goes on! SO much food, SO much entertainment, all right at your foot. The entertainment room and outdoor furniture, skyline terrace on the 21^st floor, massive bbq, state of the art gym, pool table. it never ends! The residents are respectful and no shenanigans (big plus!). But none of these positives add up to my favorite amenity at the 88 which has been named, «THE LISA G,» our FIVE STAR concierge. Seriously? Could this woman be any more on the ball? I know every event in the area, I get discounts on meals, tickets, you name it. She knows all the businesses around and can recommend you anything. The sweetest and most hilarious, and sometimes philosophical, person you’ll ever meet, Lisa is in the know and makes my life so much easier. Sometimes I just have to go hang out with her because she is too much fun. Although we had a flawless process purchasing and enjoyed all of the sales staff, don’t let that turn you off of the 88. Once you live here, (I’m assuming you will because, lets be serious, this is the BEST location, BEST building, and BEST value, BEST amenities downtown SJ has to offer) you will be dealing with our property manager, Stephanie and the always wonderful Lisa G.
Specifically, our unit has also been flawless, the windows are washed 2x a year, whenever something malfunctioned (rare) the building engineer came the next day to check it out. I wouldn’t live anywhere else :)
P.S-the sun is SOOOO nice from the 5^th floor !

My partner and I moved into the 88 in October of 2009, and we still love it. Its hands down the best high rise living in the area. Its luxurious, and has amazing amenities such as the W Hotel style pool deck, entertaining room, observation terrace, billiards room, 24 hour security, and of course the #1 Concierge! Unlike other high rises the builders of this tried to think of everything including a Safeway on your first floor accessible directly from within the building. The pool deck is perfectly planned and gets sun the entire day. Other buildings such as AXIS gets 2 hours a day. The 88 is in the heart everything for San Jose and is public transport accessible in 1 block and walk able to everything downtown. The location of the building is perfect cause you can casually watch the planes come in to SJC from your window or observation terrace, but you don’t get the noise of being right under the flight path like the other high rises in the area. The interiors are very well done and high quality construction. The fllor to ceiling units are spectacular with amazing views and windows throughout the whole unit that open. The 88 is true City living in San Jose and is in the heart of everything. Get the taste of real city living, but in luxury and being close to all the major jobs in the area.

I purchased a condo in Downtown San Jose last year and it was between the 88 and Axis, and I eventually chose Axis for a couple reasons. First, the location. It is true that you are at the heart of Downtown with 88; however, dealing with all the ghetto idiots and gang bangers that roam those areas (especially on Thursdays with Music in the Park) was a show stopper for me. The other thing, which another person already commented on, was the lame structural columns in the middle of some of the units. The amenities at 88 as opposed to AXIS are indeed a bit nicer and more luxurious, but overall, it just didn’t do it for me. Be careful letting your girlfriend walk around there at night by herself.

My husband and I purchased a two-​bedroom condo in the 88 in August 2009. We absolutely love it here, and the building keeps growing on us! We are friends with everyone who works here including the lovely concierge: Lisa, and our great security guards. The location is great: we regularly walk to dinner and a movie. Even though there are some elements around Downtown San Jose, it is an up and coming neighborhood– maybe like what Culver city in LA was 10 years ago… and you know, I bet in 10 years, this neighborhood will be the «it» place. I’d love to see more higher-​end retail shops– almost a better, more metropolitan and not as corporate version of Santana Row. Come visit and tour for yourself– we thought it was the best value out of all the high rises in the city!

I’ll agree that this place has the best location out the (total) 4 new highrise condos in DTSJ– the emenities seem posh as well. Though the architect– or whomever– did a less than favorable job positioning the support columns within the untis. You can have a great view, but how great is it when there is a 2 ft wide cement column abostructing the scenery? Dont take my word for it– instead go see this for yourself. Though remember the line i wrote? and you know the three things they say about realestate? location, location, location.

I moved at the 88 in September and I’m thoroughly enjoy living here. I am now walking to work at least twice a week. I’m hoping to lose 20 lbs by summer 2011 from this new commute! The views are gorgeous from all my rooms (facing the Fairmont & Capitol Club). The amenities are numerous. I feel like I’m on vacation here, and with the concierge I feel I’m on a cruise as she sends out special deals/​events happening downtown. I moved from a single family home in Milpitas to be here and it was well worth the move.

My wife and I looked at several condos in the San Jose area and we kept coming back to The 88. The combination of amenities (pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, workout room, party room, skyline terrace) and the location (location! location!) made this our number one choice over other options. We love our place with it’s western view and it’s an easy walk to just about anything we need. We’ve done rush tickets at a number of theaters (opera, broadway, musicals, plays) and don’t miss traffic at all. The 88 is a great vibrant locatoin.

My husband and I moved into the 88 in April. We are having a blast. It is great to have the Safeway Market on the ground floor. It takes us just a few minutes to go shopping and we never have to go outside.
Many great restaurants within walking distance. It is so nice having a few glasses of wine and walking home. No worries.
Plus the condo we bought fits our needs perfectly. It has been a GREAT purchases for us.
Barrie

OMG this place is awsome! Pleasant suprise for San Jose.