Circa Green Lake

I loved living at Circa Greenlake and the only reason we left was because we purchased a house.
The apartment layouts were great and the location can’t be beat, but it’s easy to see that from visiting the place. What’s not so obvious is that the staff is absolutely top-​notch. I have never been happier in all my little interactions with the front office — picking up packages, putting in maintenance requests, and so forth. Everyone has been warm and helpful and I really can’t say enough good things about them. When building-​wide issues arise (for example, fire alarm testing or improper recycling or composting), the issue is dealt with quickly, competently, and politely. That alone makes this place worth it, even beyond the fantastic location and well-​designed apartment units.
Another non-​obvious note: the apartments seem to be very soundproof. I never really heard the pets or children, even though both are allowed.

Amazing apartments. Friendly and fun staff.
The best living location in the north Seattle and Greenlake area.
The rent is very reasonable and the apartments are very up today’s and classy perfect for a single business professional like me.
The surrounding area has tons of restaurants, bars, and Greenlake outdoor activities. Easy access to I-​5 and 99. It’s the crown jewel of the Greenlake area.

The location, staff, and service are great and I would recommend to others. Whether you are single, a couple, or a family with kids Circa is very accommodating.
I have used all the amenities from gym, media lounge, to the rooftop patio/​deck with BBQ overlooking Greenlake and have been impressed.
The location is amazing and with an active lifestyle it’s nice to be able to cross the street and go to Greenlake.
In the end, what kept me at Circa is the staff and service — very warm, welcoming, and responsive. It really feels like they care about their residents.

I am a the owner/​tenant of a restaurant in the Circa Building and since we have been here, I have been impressed with the patience and service of the Circa staff on both the residential and property management side. We have just finished our first year in business and the Circa crew were very helpful in supporting us through a lot of stressful issues we had as a new business. We love our resident customers who live in the building, of whom we know on a first name basis and many thanks to the property management office staff and maintenance crew for always looking after us. Johna and Jacob… you guys rock!

We have lived here for five months so far and have had only a positive experience. Cannot find a better location in the Greenlake area. The staff is very helpful and attentive, the property is clean, and the units are high quality. Very convenient parking and several good restaurants and shops just downstairs. We’ve never had a problem with noise or hearing our neighbors.

Definitely ignore old reviews. I just moved to Seattle a year ago and the best decision I made was moving here for a year. Management, GREAT. Repairs, painless and quick. Noise levels — very low. They use a web portal for payments and repairs and this is a amazing capability.
Having the washer and dryer in the apartment is a great convenience and the location is perfect for anyplace in Seattle, Bellevue, or Bothell.
I would highly recommend this place to live.

Ignore reviews before December 2013.
We moved-​in in December 2013. I saw the older reviews and was scared.
They have got their act together.
The building is beautiful and the staff is amazing. Seriously. Great folks. Very helpful. Requests for repairs are quick. The location is amazing.
My wife and I wish we could just buy our unit and stay here.

Extremely frequent false fire alarms that are the loudest things you’ve ever heard in life are big negatives here.

This would be a tale of two managements…
When Riverstone managed the building, I feel like the customer service level was so much better. There was a higher level of communication and you felt less like someone who just pays rent. A lof of this had to do with the staff. Nice, friendly and really genuine. The common areas were immaculate b/​c they cared.
Since management changed over, there is a real lack of communication and care for the building and its tenants. I dislike them so much i haven’t bothered to remember the name of the management company. Is it Paragon? The maintenance guys are still pretty great and try their hardest to help with any issues we have but to be honest, I couldn’t move out of there fast enough and am not surprised their occupancy isn’t full.
New management: unfriendly and terrible.
Building: Pretty nice finishes and proximity to the lake can’t be beat
So I say save a couple hundred dollars and live in a different building. There are better buildings and townhouses for rent a few blocks off the lake.

If I could give ZERO stars, I would. We have had MAJOR issues with the apartment manager here.
During our first lease, we had minor issues: (1) the lounge was free to reserve, then it was $ 50; (2) the fee for parking was increased; (3) they attempted to raise our rent more than 10%, which we worked out after a conversation.
HOWEVER, since signing our second lease and the apartment manager being replaced, we have had some serious issues. First, in our lease there is a clause stating that Circa provides an after-​hours lockout service for $ 50. So, when we got locked out at 7pm one night, we called the 24-​hour maintenance number expecting to be told we’d have to wait a while for someone to come. That was NOT the case. They told us that they offered no such service, basically calling me a liar when I said that I had read the lease and it specifically stated that lock-​out service would be offered for a fee (I am a law student… I read everything.). They told me to get a locksmith. So, after a few choice words, I call a locksmith. The locksmith comes and cannot pick the lock. We are on the outside of the building and our doors are equipped with a non-​pickable, high security lock. Again, I call the maintenance number and explain the situation and they tell me that they are not going to call the apartment manager because this issue was «not on the list of things to call her for.» At this, I was instantly enraged. They basically told me to sleep outside for the night because they would not call her and would not be able to reach her until 9am the next morning. Upon this, I instructed the locksmith to break us in – which he did, causing damage to the door.
The next morning, I go to talk to the apartment manager, about the situation and she tells me that the clause is «not supposed to be in my lease!» WOW. IT IS IN MY LEASE. YOU BREACHED MY LEASE. The only thing she did for me was agree to make another key – which still has not happened 3 months later. I also told her that the damage to the door was not a something that I was going to pay for.
The last debaucle was the most heinous. My husband referred his friend and co-​worker to move here because he was looking for somewhere convenient for the short term, as his condo sold. I emailed Chris to confirm that our referral moved in. She replied that he in fact did, thanked us for our referral, and told us that due to the 30-​day policy (tenant has to live there for 30 days before the referral bonus is released), the bonus for the referral would be applied in October. First of all, this 30-​day policy was never outlined on the referral flyer (which is a contract). Second of all, 30 days would have been in September, which would have been our last month at Circa. She was clearly trying to manipulate us into staying. I emailed her letting her know that it should be applied to September and she obliged. Then, out of the blue, she tells me that we are not eligible for the referral bonus because our referred tenant did not list us as his referral source. This requirement was also not on the flyer. Under contract theory, her arguments do not stand and we are entitled to our money.
I went in to talk to her about it. From the get go, she had an attitude. I was upset – which she did not understand. Who wouldn’t be upset about $ 750 being stolen from them?! COME ON. So I explain the contract theories behind why we are entitled to the money. Then, I explain that if it was required to be verified by being in the documentation, she should have verified it before telling me the bonus was to be applied to our rent for September. She told me that she needed to «cover herself» by having in the documentation. THE NERVE! If you wanted to cover yourself, you should get your contracts in order.
i will NEVER, EVER recommend that anyone move to Circa Greenlake EVER again.