I have been a resident of K Street Flats, previously called Library Gardens, since it first opened 14 years ago. I recently moved out as I no longer feel safe in the building. In April 2021 my daughter’s bed leg fell through the floor. Here is some pertinent history. I was living in the apartment right next door to Apartment 405, when in 2015, the balcony fell off the building sending 13 Irish students, who were standing on the balcony, four floors to the ground. Several students died and the rest were disabled for life.Now back to April 2021. I reported the collapse of my floor to the management who told me it would be safely repairedwithin 1 or 2 weeks. They then postponed things again by stating that they were waiting for a building permit. I called Brent Nielsen, the Berkeley City building code enforcer, who told me that the building owners had never applied for a building permit. I moved out in June after trying to live out of 2 apartments, 407 and a smaller substandard one they offered me in the same building complex, Apt 410. That apartment did not have heat, the kitchen sink would not drain, and the bathroom floor had what appeared to be large mold spots under the flooring. They required that I pay rent after the floor collapsed until I moved.
Place is fine I came here because of CIP(College Internship Program) but my buildings elevator broke one the door for p2 floor interlock failed to unlock and it was turned off 2 days ago and today they fixed it not that big of a deal when going down to ground floor from 1 but I had to take buildings 2 elevator down to parking floor 2 kinda inconvenient especially a lot of other CIP students were on the 3rd, 2nd, or even 4th floor inconvenient for them to take the stairs all the time so I wouldn’t recommend going to this place as the elevators are slow and not reliable they need to get replaced or modded to ether Thyssen Krupp(bought out dover stock), Mitsubishi, Otis, or even Schindler.
I am living here for almost 2 years. The quality of living is going down every single day. Today, I was sitting in my apartment. Someone was trying to open my door to come into my apartment. I did go to the door and realized that the janitor was trying to enter my apartment without my permission. He said it was mistake, but I doubt it. He was supposed to ring the bell or knock on my door. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could give ZERO to this building.
Had to call 911 TWICE ALREADY one week into school. Place is extremely dangerous, feels pretty dirty, and is really loud. Been a week since school started and there has already been serious screams and cries for help tonight and the berkeley high fire alarm going off the whole night a few days ago. Stairs smell like pee, tobacco, and old air refreshener. Flies are always outside the door. The apartment also needs some repairs. Not to mention it’s missing a lot of checkups on appliances that need to be checked up on, e.g. the elevator. Rent is also extremely high for what they offer. Also a lot of seemingly fake 5 star google reviews highlighting the management...
I have a family member who lives here and I have since then visited twice. Most recently I went (last weekend) I found that they are under new management. The Staff there is very friendly and informative with renovation plans and updates to the property. There are two gentleman in the office who have a polite and inviting personality. A notable difference in the level of service that they provide and comes with a good attitude is evident from past staff. The Court yard area is clean and property displays evident up kept. During these times it is very important to be able to walk around in a safe clean space. My overall visit went well and I would defiantly recommend this property to anyone looking.
Ive lived here since July 2020 and I think its a nice place. I just have to take off a star because the washers/dryers are unreliable and Ive had some issue with package theft, but overall the location is nice, the building is clean, and its nice to have an affordable place to live.
The balcony collapse in this building killed 6 young students, hurt 7 badly in 2015. Now its renamed as K Street Flats instead of the former name Library Garden. Im currently living here. Its so noisy in the night. You can hear every single word from the street. I heard 2 fire alarms within 20 days... The lift broken 2 times. No more words can describe the experience here.
Was given a tour by Quincey. He was very friendly and informative and the units were nice.
Hey I lived here for a few years. This place has there ups and downs but I love it here. Im a student at Berkeley. I would say the begining of the year with the new management staff hes been a big improvement. Before the management wasnt as effective or efficient as these new ladies. They are very intentive responds to my emails and maintenance issues within 24hrs. Had a few emergencies in the middle of the night even those got fixed in a few hours. They make this place run better. They are who you want to talk to. But the place has that nice home Berkeley vibe. The people in the area are nice. Only negetive is there are a few homeless but come on its Berkeley. Lol. California hippie laws. Did have a few issues with people messing with the mail room. But checking with my friends quite a few places have been having the same issue. Think the struggle with covid is the reason. I havent had any other issues. Also now there are cameras everywhere so I feel pretty safe. But for the most part this place is super convenient. Close to school, down town, bart. O! The restaurant down stairs is amazing. Its a new owner. But they are convenient and great. Plan on staying her until I finish getting my masters. Its worth Checking. out
I reached out to them multiple times trying to schedule a virtual tour and after a week, I finally was able to schedule one for 8 days later. Set aside time to have the virtual tour on facetime and they never called and ghosted me when I tried to reach out and ask what happened. Dont waste your time with this company, its not worth it.
ZERO STARS! Scam?! I applied online two weeks ago and put down a $500 deposit + $49 application fee. I called to check the status of the application two days later. I was notified by the front office that the BMR apartment I applied for wasnt actually available due to some technical error. They said theyd refund the deposit and call me back after lunch the same day... I have called and messaged them repeatedly since. Every time I call, their answering service answers. I call between 9am - 6pm, so definitely during their office hours. Even someone from the answering service said it was odd no one was answering. I am now trying to reverse the charge with my bank directly, as I cannot reach anyone from K Street Flats or Alliance Residential (their management co?). Very creepy...
Everything can be heard from all over the apartment. My neighbors are constantly screaming and playing TV/music extremely loud and the management doesn’t do a single thing about it. This place is not worth its price at all and is a huge rip off. Also their infrastructure is so bad it killed 6 international students before.
I have lived here for awhile now and I love it. Friendly leasing agent staff, and skilled maintenance team. K Streetis always going above and beyond with offering perks they do not have to. Apartments are very spacious, quiet hallways, and have Internet/Cable included. I love it here
Everything can be heard from all over the apartment. My neighbors are constantly screaming and playing TV/music extremely loud and the management doesn’t do a single thing about it. This place is not worth its price at all and is a huge rip off. Also their infrastructure is so bad it killed 6 international students before.
This management team is by far the best management team I have encountered. They take the well being of their residents into account and will do anything and everything to make sure they are satisfied in the comfort of their own homes. I have been blessed to meet such kind people as my last leasing company was terrible and very unprofessional. I didnt have the opportunity to view the apartment as I needed to move quickly to the area after accepting an offer and the leasing team were very accommodating and offered to give a virtual tour at my convenience. The maintenance staff has been prompt as well! The maintenance request is usually completed the same day the request is made. The management team also holds regular residential mixtures and are the only property in the Berkeley area to have a courtyard area to do so. It is a great friendly space with an attached garage and fair pricing on all their units. I am happy I had found this gem when I did as it made my move halfway across the country that much easier!
Absolutely love living here at K-Street.The management is such a pleasure to work with, especially the new team. Talia and her staff have been very helpful in my search to find a home!
A great apartment community within a short working distance to UCB and it is in the heart of the downtown Berkeley. The leasing team is very helpful and responsive to the needs. I reall like their common areas. The coffee shop on the ground floor is a good place to get sandwiches and coffee.
Love it here. Visited here a few months back, love the location. I will be relocating to Berkeley in two months and this is my #1 option for a new home. I love the location to my school. Knowledgeable staff, willing to help and assist when needed.
Great property! The location is very convenient, and the new management is making great strides in improving both the property and the atmosphere. Amazing job!
As a tenant for the past 7 months i cant say enough about how impressive this place is.The apartments are very clean and well maintained, the view is awesome.Maintenance team available 24/7 to assist you, great location very close to UCB and a lot of attractions on Shattuck. BARTis walking distance.The property management is very good at keeping up with all requests and concerns. Move-in and move out were very smooth and painless.Making payments was hassle free and their rates beat the entire market. Parking is available. Laundry rooms in every building. MOST IMPORTANTLY the gates are access controlled, never had any issues, everyone is so quiet and respectful. Neighbors are very friendly and welcoming.I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to live in an awesome place in Berkeley.
Gustavo is the maintenance technician in my building. Very friendly, hard worker, really made me feel welcomed in the building! Always fills the work orders quickly, and does an impeccable job!
Great location and staff. The current property manager seems to really care about the apartments. The management has hosted different events to cater to current and potential new residents.
The place is definitely a great place to stay if you are a Berkeley Student. Situated pretty close to campus and has a super close bus stop to go around when in a hurry. Additionally the location is great with many food options nearby and movie theaters, plus a target, cvs, and walgreens close. Only downside is that it is a bit pricey but overall worth it.
Generally, its great to live here, with convenience to all kinds of shopping malls and restaurants. Also, its quite near to UCB campus. Most people in the leasing office is great except for few.
Lived here for 2 years and it was awful. Management does not address your concerns seriously and they NEVER pick up the phone. The apartments themselves are nice but it could be much better with better management team.
K Street flats are very close and convenient for UC Berkeley students.The property is recently remodeled and in good condition.The management team specially Talia and Jaspal are THE BEST. They are very hard working and always very helpful to the tenants. They are always willing to go extra miles to help the tenants but as we know some tenants are hard to please.Sometimes the property gets bad reviews because of inconsiderate tenants.
Great location and good system for the laundry but thats it ! This place is awful. You can hear everything that goes on in other parts of the building from your flat. Ive had sleeping difficulties because of the level of noise. Its simple really ! Just make sure that there are proper windows with glass pannels you can open and close that are noise-proof. The walls are not thick enough either. The showers and the sinks are terrible. Sort out the plumbing folks! How hard can it be? This place has no warmth. It feels like an asylum. Seriously if youre a student dont come here !
Tldr: A little pricey, but overall a nice place to live.Cost: This place is definitely on the pricier end of Berkeley apartments. I have a 1 bedroom and, after utilities, it is around 3100$. However, I know I have one of the cheaper units. While this place is expensive, it has a lot of benefits I will mention in the following sections.Internet: Internet is free AND it is insanely fast. The download speed is 298.21 mbps, the upload speed is 12.02 mbps, and my ping is 12. I have my internet connected via Ethernet cable, not wireless, which is why it might faster. In addition, if you move in and your internet is really slow, then I suggest going to the local internet provider location and getting a new modem/router.Safety: In comparison to other Berkeley apartments in Southside/Downtown Berkeley, K Street Flats is probably a safer complex. There are gates that require key fobs to enter through the garage, the front door, and the back door. There has been no incidents to my knowledge for almost a year. I wish there was a way to prevent individuals from tagging with you into the structure without you seeming like youre a jerk. A sign that says you must enter with a designated resident or something, may be nice so you can point to the sign if someone tries tagging in with you.Maintenance staff: Theyre very respectful and prompt with their repairs. I have had only good experiences.Leasing office: The new leasing office and management is a huge improvement. The new manager, April, is extremely responsible and addresses resident concerns very well. I never feel dismissed by her and she always acknowledges resident concerns. In fact, the package situation is much better (the mail situation is still a little iffy sometimes). I think that the new management is taking the complex in a positive direction, I hope April and her staff stay here long term to ensure the improvement of the complex.Washing Machines: There are two washing machines and two dryers per wing of the apartment. Nothing to say here. You have to buy a special card you put money onto to use with the machines.
Worst experience of my life, this place is dirty because people leave their trash in the common areas because there is no where to throw away trash other than the trash chute that is always clogged. The leasing office is horrible, you wont ever get any help from them and thats if you get a response because they dont answer their phone ever, and its overpriced all the appliances break and are as cheap as possible so everything is crumbling under you, also the walls are paper thin so youll have an early wake up call from either the high schoolers across the street, the trash truck that sounds like its in your living room, or the screaming stomping toddler that lives above you by chance. Their package system isnt equipped for the amount of people who live there so during the holidays the mail room is a haven for thieves who will steal your packages. Also some sites have false estimates for how much you pay to live there, I saw one that said is was $2600 for a 2 Bed 1 Bath, and that’s NOT true, I lived in a 2 bed 1 Bath that we paid over $4000 for it do not be fooled it’s not worth it.
Hope u dont live here, the worst apt i have ever lived since i be here. if u want to know what is hell. welcome to library gardens
This is my last year attending UC Berkeley, and Ive been living at K Street the past 3 years. It was a really rough time. There were a NUMBER of events that made me hate it there, and I was thinking I wanted to spend my last year somewhere a little more peaceful. Around the time my lease was ending, I was informed that the management company was changing. (Cant remember the last companys name, thats how awful they were) Anyways, something told me to just stick it out & I did. Now that we have our new management company, (I think its Alliance) I can see that they are making a lot of changes and nipping the problems in the bud! I had a conversation with the man in the office named Jay, and the manager! They were so friendly and reassuring, and so far theyve helped me with every problem i have in such a timely manner! I think the bad rep this pace had before, will be fixed in no time with them in charge!! THANK YOU FOR CHANGING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES!!!!!!
I’ve been living at k street for over a year now and I have nothing but the nicest things to say about the apartment complex and the amazing staff.The courtyard, included internet/cable and the proximity to the Bart station, CAL and restaurants is such a plus for students like me.
The (old) front desk doesnt help with problems often and causes a delay between when packages arrive and go into the lockers downstairs (as they used to require all packages to go to the front office before being placed in the concierge boxes, which was dumb).However the new management in the front office have been great in the way theyve responded/kept me informed on the fixes to the problems that came about from the old management. They aso have been more proactive from the times i visited about getting the packages to you/in general have been really cooperative/helpful to me in fixing the problems i had. Most if not all of the problems I originally had were with the older front desk management, which the new management seems to be in the process of fixing.Also be sure to double check the spendings for the security deposit. Mine was incorrectly calculated and getting it resolved was a massive pain (exacerbated by the lack in consistency when they are available to contact and horrible response rate).
The apt facilities and environment are pretty good, and it is very convenient around. Only the reaction to residents requests are slow and not that patient can be negative point.
New management has really turned things around.Great location!
I am so thrilled to find this gem in Berkeley, great prices, love the location and location to UCB is absolutely perfect
I love living here, the management is very attentive and professional. Ive never had an issue where they werent prompt at resolving with a smile.
Good location next to a variety of bus stops that can take you anywhere from the UC Berkeley campus to the Marina or Oakland; only takes 15 minutes to get to class from Shattuck to the south side of the UC campus. Also near to Target and the BART Station if you love doing groceries or travel around the bay often. Recently renovated, so the complex is nice and halls smell and look clean (except for a few times here and there) and the hallway and rooms are fitted with hardwood. Staff is nice, especially Jay, and often respond to your needs if you go directly to the office. Small issues with wi-fi and cell signal in our room (since its towards the middle of the complex). Ventilation is a little poor, but easily solved by bringing room fans, and use of A/C. Laundry is through a re-loadable card system which is convenient if you dont have quarters. Sometimes the fire alarm is really sensitive so theres a lot of alarms that go off, but not enough for it to be annoying for me at least. Otherwise it is quiet a good 90% of the time. I live with four other roommates in a 2 bed 1 bath room, which makes the price lower significantly, and I can say that I am for the most part pleased to live here :)
New management is great! Love the location, modern apartments!
New management is terrible, rude, mean, petty. They put a sign up saying “only trash leaves trash”. We have had a clogged shower drain for 5 days and have yet to have someone come. Management at the office is mean and rude and judge mental. All your packages will get stolen, the elevator will smell like pee, your windows will be closed but you will still feel cold air come through.
Do not rent here. This place is horrendous you will want to kill yourself after living here it’s so bad.Horrible neighborhood was vandalism constantly.Clueless absent landlord.Any positive reviews you read were most likely paid off by the rental company.This year in addition to broken elevators, crime, violent homeless people, the mailroom was destroyed and the property management has not fixed it since it went out 3 months ago.SOS please do not rent here stay away. This place is also haunted from the Irish balcony collapse students who haunt building one.
Cannot give zero stars.Maintenance is not good or even at par with other rental properties.High rent without decent facilities or services.Elevator has been not working for a month. Neither leasing office nor maintenance office cares about inconvenience.
We signed a lease under old management, this new management is terrible! They never get back to us. We put in an EMERGENCY work order for a flood and no one has gotten back to us is 4 days!!! Terrible management!
Charged more than the rent we signed for on our lease every month with no response from manager at our requests for a correction. Several packages disappeared when tracking showed they were delivered to the leasing office. Residents place piles of garbage in the hallways. Used needles frequently found outside exits. No phone service while in building. Noisy neighbors with light pollution that effects our sleep even with blackout curtains. Cheap and fragile appliances and apt fixtures all for astronomically high rent. This is the worst management company and building I have ever interacted with.
The most awful leasing office I have ever seen. Wont help you at all but only tell you thats not our job, what do you want me to do.Plus, homeless will follow you inside the building constantly and K Street Flats wont do anything about this.
Obviously horribly constructed. I would not advise going out on the patio... you might end up falling a few stories to your death. another example of irresponsible landlords and housing management taking advantage of the housing shortage for students in Berkeley.
I wished I had read the comments before moving in. Such a horrible experience regarding cleanness, noice level, service and everything elses The leasing office rarely respond to any email and do nothing other than collecting rents.
Thankful for the new management and perfect location
Worst place ever, garbage at front door, noisy and bad smell. Manager there is in a very bad manner, they could charge you some fee three times.
No floor drain in the bathroom…
The management is super attentive to our concerns!
I was considering taking rental here, but after reading the reviews, for sure will stay away!
Everything about this place is terrible, probably one of the worst places Ive lived.
The leasing office does nothing and the manager is irresponsible
Shoddy construction led to a balcony collapse that took the lives of several people.
Great property and great location
Worst management in the universe
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This place is extremely dirty and the apartment needs heavy maintenance, rent prices are not that low either. The elevator has broken multiple times in the month Ive been here. There is also some maintenance dude in the courtyard that uses his leafblower at 7AM so no one can get any sleep. They also decided to do fire alarm inspections early this morning and kept the alarms going on and off for over 4 hours and now I have to take my midterm on very little sleep.