Solterra Apartments – Affirmed Housing

The Good:
This low-​income, senior (55+), section8-​accepting apartment complex provides decent apartments at a greatly-​reduced rental rate than the average for the area. It consists of two buildings, 131 Chambers and 151 Chambers. The one at 131 Chambers is smaller, with a few less tenants than at 151 Chambers. The recreation room, computer lab (a small, raised table with two computers and a printer), exercise room and the office are located in 151 Chambers, but are accessible by all tenants. The exercise room contains hand weights for aerobics classes, a new treadmill and a new recumbent bicycle. A weekly exercise class is available along with other hobbies and possibly other activities that you can suggest and possibly be in charge of.
The large patios have a high-​end grill and everyone can have a patch of soil in the elevated rows of garden to grow whatever they want — some tenants have grown tomatoes, strawberries and even a large grape vine. Lemon trees with good citrus fruit for the picking, and guava fruit bushes line the garden patio at 131 Chambers.
The apartments are mostly one-​bedroom, economy-​modern, with energy-​star appliances and decent fixtures, though not luxury, they’re just good-​enough. There are a couple of two-​bedrooms, but they probably don’t become available very often. Each building has a laundry room with better prices than a laundromat, but no laundry appliances are allowed in the apartments.
Tenant pays for the central air, but the hot water is included and happens to be supplemented with a solar panel system. Free very-​basic cable (several main broadcast channels and some Spanish-​language channels, solamente hablo un poco) and free internet, which is probably not the highest-​speed. Parking spot in the secured garage is also included — and digital-​security-​locked entry doors. The security system reads your wireless key to get into the front entry, but a standard key opens your door.
You can have a guest stay with you for a couple of nights, but any longer and you need to get an authorization for their stay because this is subsidized housing. There are also two inspections per year, plus one other possible inspection for the yearly subsidy-​qualifying process.
This complex is very close to downtown El Cajon, so there are nice shops and restaurants very close by, SDCCU, 24-​Hr Fitness, Ross, Starbucks, Hometown Buffet, Jack-​in-​the-​Box, Subway, Quiznos, and many Middle-​Eastern, Italian and Mexican eateries as well as El Cajon Grand, «El Cajon’s Oldest Known Bar» just a block away (which is also part of the «bad»).
The Bad:
Frequent traffic noise from motorcycles, cars and trucks on Chambers and other nearby streets, especially on weekends. The oldest known bar in El Cajon does karaōke and bands, and many of their patrons are Harley-​Davidson enthusiasts, so they contribute to the noise in the evening hours. Also, there are some transients in this part of town.
Conclusion:
This is as good as low-​income housing gets for this area. It’s a decent deal for those in need of quality housing, who may be older and who might not have the greatest income. There are some nice amenities, but sadly, no swimming pool. If you enjoy an urban lifestyle — convenience of stores and restaurants, and don’t mind some urban noise and transients, then this could be a great place for you.