ClockTower Apartment Homes

I have lived here for almost 3 months.
First, for the bad, I’ll be guided by David M.‘s review.
1) Rent is rent; Seattle is expensive. This place might be on the upper end of average, especially considering the surrounding neighborhood. It just looks soooo depressing around here. Having rent go up over 10% per year does seem a little steep; I’ve not been here that long yet.
2) Parking does suck; the «fully covered» spaces are under the buildings and are limited by the support pillars for the building. The space is very tight.
3) While I do not have a pet, I understand the idea behind «pet rent.» Pets add to the wear and tear of an apartment («accidents,» smells, embedded hair and dirt, smells, etc.).
4) The garbage/​recycling: the trash compactor is located in an area where its sound could be very disturbing. I would ask the management to try and schedule that differently.
It is surprising how quickly recycling piles up!!!
5) Apartment residents run the spectrum. I have noticed people entering the parking lot late at night with their radio blaring. Being considerate, unfortunately, is not something management can ascertain from an application.
In my case, my next-​door neighbor played his TV very loudly. I left a polite note on his/​her door and I have not heard it since. (I checked my own normal TV settings from outside my apartment door just to be sure I wasn’t being offensive.) The neighbor upstairs would go out onto his deck after 10PM, smoke and yell into his phone in loud speaker-​phone mode or run his wash machine or vacuum at 11PM. The smoke would come wafting into my apartment. This went on for several nights until I decided to leave a note on his door. He has never done these things again.
It would be nice if the management would send out an etiquette note — don’t blare your radio, etc. — and put some teeth behind it (three complaints and you are evicted or fined). I may suggest that.
6) Security. The building’s security keeps some riff-​raff out I’m sure. But, it is so easily circumvented by tailgating in. It seems to be well lit and seems to be safe. But, it will not prevent somebody who wants to get in from getting in. The call box on the building works (though is less than flexible and won’t support numbers outside of 206 area code). I understand the front walk-​in gate box might be non-​working.
7) NOISE! my issue. My apartment is located near the front and away from the trash compactor noise. The gate to the parking lot closes after 6PM and opens around 6AM. It was serviced recently but it is still REALLY NOISY! And, it operates often and continuously through the night. Between the gate and inconsiderate people blaring their radios, I will need something to manage noise. I may get a room AC.
On top of that, this is commercially zoned; there is a tow-​truck company across the way that has trucks coming in and out at ALL hours. For a while, at all and any hours, trucks would come in and sit for 30 or 40 minutes just idling those diesel motors making a disturbing racket. One day, I walked over to let them know; never happened again.
Now, the Good:
1) The rental office (and management) have been VERY VERY accommodating. They overlooked my special situation and really came through. There were some initial SNAFUs to be sure but they were quickly corrected. I can not say enough good about the building management staff.
2) The apartment was amazingly clean and in good shape when I moved in. The place is under new management and it is clear from the repairs that were made that their policy is to take care of things.
When I got to see the specific apartment into which I was moving in, I noticed the cable wall plate was cracked and had a TCI label on it — a company long since having sold out. One of their maintenance crew was painting and being careful about it! The carpet was a little run down. Upon asking the staff if the carpet was to be replaced, they looked up the records and said it was not due (they have a 5-​year life). A day later, she called me back and said she went up to look and that it did, indeed, need replacing and they were going to do that. The cracked cable wall plate was replaced when I moved in.
The appliances had recently been updated and were all really clean. The dishwasher was a little small (I can not fit tall glasses in the upper rack) but it works well.
3) Repairs. I have reported three issues (the thermostat did not work at all — it was alway on or always off, wash machine stopped working, and the double-​pain windows seal broke and were foggy. Each time, their staff was timely in checking things out. They reset the washer and replaced the thermostat — both now work. To my surprise, after the check of my windows, they told me that they were getting the window company to come and check them out. They were replaced yesterday.
4) Water pressure is great! Each unit has its own water heater. Hot! :)
I’m happy.

So it’s been over 6 months since I moved out so it’s about time to give a review of this whole. To break it down bullet point style:
1) Rent. Every, and I mean EVERY time your lease is up, they jack up your rent alittle under $ 100. When I moved in initially to a one bedroom apartment (~680 sq feet), it was a bit under $ 900/​mo. Fast forward 2.5 years when I moved out, I was paying $ 1,300+ in rent. For the same rent, I now live in a 1000+ sq foot apartment, 2 bedroom, with an awesome view of Lake Washington. And I’m literally less than a mile away. They’re owned by a Corporation in Texas which I assume has no idea what’s going on in Seattle.
2) Parking. It is what it is. Spots are tiny, and you get what you pay for.
3) Pets. They charge «pet rent». Seriously. Rent for pets. ‘Nuff said.
4) Garbage/​recycling. Their trash compactor is located in the middle of the parking lot, so when they’re setting that thing off (especially early in the morning and late at night), the sound echos in a such a manner, I’m pretty sure every apartment can hear it. Recycling is more of an issue for the residents. I constantly saw people literally just throwing their bags of recycling AT the containers.
5) The Residents. Not held accountable for being what I can only define of as sub-​human.
6) Security. The buildings are secure both through a gate as well as the buildings are locked. This is okay EXCEPT, if you say, order a pizza, you usually have to meet the guy at the gate because 1) no call box to get the guy through the gate and 2) you’re probably not going to have your apartment set up in the call system. I lived there a total of almost 5 years, and in that entire time, my apartment number was NEVER set up in the call box system. So literally everytime I had visitors, if they weren’t able to ninja into the parking lot/​building, I would have to walk down and meet them.
I initially lived here for a year and moved only to come back. The first time I lived there, it was (I believe) locally owned and was run by a couple of nice old ladies. Now it’s just a sh*tty place to live that is run by a company that will jack up your rent the instant they can legally do so.
If you’re thinking of living here, I would SERIOUSLY recommending looking elsewhere. You can literally rent a small house further out for the same amount of rent you can get a 1 bedroom matchbox with these people.