Ocean House on Prospect

Another review I had to write for people seeking quality, but not achieving it. A couple things I must say as I am not mad, I’m am frustrated living currently in this so called «Luxury Apartments» complex, in La Jolla. I searched for a long time to find my new home in La Jolla. Ocean House looked amazing as I was here since they were still completing the building awaiting my move in.
I talked with the agents «who were marvelous in the beginning.» Attentive, professional, literally some of the best I have dealt with in any complex. I talked with the architect and many others who were delighted of this building. I was rejoicing as I felt that this was the right choice I made. I was paying two rents to make sure I was able to move into Ocean House. I thought that this was going to be perfect, but as always, sometimes things are too good to be true.
Ever since I have lived here, issues have come up. They used to be dealt with professionally, but things keep getting poorer with no compromise. The noise has been such a disappointing factor. The doors are see through, literally because my door hasn’t stayed fixed since I moved in here. Even after they «re-​installed» new doors, they did so in a manner that they were the same doors but new paint. Wow right? After dealing with that, all of the doors to the stairway SLAM shut every time. Nothing has transpired changed after many many attempts to say something.
You can also hear walking, talking, apartment doors slamming with 0 filters, it feels like you are sitting in your apartment with the door open 100%. A startling sound when you are paying for a rental that deems itself to have high standards when they are not there. Makes you realize that yes it’s an apartment, and you are going to hear people. But when you can hear people walking in heels, socks, bare feet, along with every other noise, such as hangers in the closet, people moving in their bedrooms, talking down the hallway «when you are in bed» I mean, come on. That is not luxury living, and it’s basically like living in a house.
The past six months since the new management has been a horror. No one has been taking care of what needs addressing, and everything I have brought to attention has received an empty (no change) email back… You get a letter from them saying «We’re sorry but» and then the issue. Like no elevators (granted I live on the 1^st floor) but when helping other residents with packages, or carrying their dog up the stairs. That is just not satisfactory from a company that states we will have someone there to help. What about security so people will stop breaking into cars and individuals stealing bikes from the bike port? No, but we have cameras everywhere.
Every other grievance I’ve emailed remains, like fixing my apartment closet so I can fit my dry cleaning in the closet, seems sensible right? Or Is that an unacceptable request? I don’t think so for luxury, and I should be able to have my clothes fit. What about the front door, so it feels like home? We will see if this changes after many efforts to have this taken care of.
Now to the fun part. First off this place is stunning. Don’t get me wrong, the vision they had for this place was impressive, hence why I moved in here. Vision doesn’t aways get executed into a reality, but. I must also say it should not be as expensive as it is for the quality. The costs to live here. Again I am not passionate about this as speaking with other residents I have talked with here was taken back on what everyone’s rent was and what I and others were paying. Almost everyone I have met here at Ocean House has elected to go elsewhere because of the 25%+ increase in everyone’s rent. Wait what? Yes, it is true, now it’s more economical to own than it is to rent in La Jolla at Ocean House.
If everything remained taken care of as it should be for «Luxury Apartments» I would still be looking at living here. But after expressing my affairs to management, and talking with others within the company, I sound like a broken record in my head. I tried to explain all of my concerns for the property, rent, and things that I believe are in need of discussion. After meetings, phone calls, inquiries of «what they can do for me» after many months of asking if and when these issues are going to be taken care of, NOTHING! I eventually got the news back from one of the managers who are apparently working with the decision makers, and I received zero compassion, help, or difference to my living situation, I could have obtained this info off the internet, just inadequate. They are not trying to help anyone but their pocketbooks. It’s a tragic thing when you are just a number in companies eyes, and they don’t recognize the people living there as long as they can overflow it up again with whomever.
If I knew this was going to be a year of disapproval around every turn, I would have looked someplace else.

I am not an avid Unilocaler, but our horrendous experience has to be shared at this point. My boyfriend and I currently live at Ocean House and have since September of 2015. The location and the amenities had us sold; not to mention our balcony overlooks the pool and the ocean which is an absolute joy to wake up too. We moved here from downtown San Diego and were so excited to have a fresh new start in a beautiful place like La Jolla.
Fast forward four months. The elevator starts to break down frequently. No harm no foul, it happens, we don’t mind taking the stairs. Then the weeks get longer and longer with no sign of the elevator being fixed whatsoever. We were supposed to have furniture delivered and had to hold off on having our oversized couch in our home for THREE WEEKS. Eating dinner on the floor was really fun because Ocean House couldn’t get it together. Ocean House said they would have «help» for people who needed to carry their groceries up four flights of stairs, but seemingly whenever someone would need help, there was no one to be found.
Fast forward two months. Our garbage disposal breaks and it took six… SIX days for someone to come fix it. I couldn’t do the dishes because I couldn’t run the water, which meant we couldn’t cook at home, which meant we had to spend money eating out for a week. Not to mention the water build up in the sink that would not drain, reeked to high heaven.
At this point, we are understanding people. Sometimes people just don’t have it together. Right? WRONG. This next situation just takes the absolute CAKE for us and is currently still going on to this day. Three weeks ago, we were on a run and lost one of our fobs as well as our mail key. We didn’t think much of it, seeing as we would contact management and pay the fee to receive a new fob. We did so and management told us they didn’t have the up to date software to give us a new fob at that time. One week goes by, nothing. Two weeks goes by and now we are pretty upset that this still hasn’t been taken care of. We are on week three and not only can we not park one of our cars in the parking garage that we pay $ 400 a month for, we can’t get into our own home!!! Coming home late at night and rummaging around in the bushes is NOT my idea of fun after a long day at work. We have contacted the new manager Cassandra more than four times and she has not gotten back to us, not one single word. The one and only time I have ever seen her on the property, she told me other tenants want fob’s for their dog walkers and she is trying to get it taken care of. Dog walkers… I am sorry but your residents immediate needs should come before any additional pet sitters. When Angela was the managing this property, she was on site almost everyday and was highly responsive to all of our needs.
Reason number 77 why you should RETHINK LIVING HERE. I have had to leave my car outside parked in the two hour parking because I cannot get access into the parking garage these last three weeks. I have had to wait for someone to go into the building and hope to GOD they have access to the fourth floor (it’s a slim to none chance). This being said, I couldn’t move my car out of two hour parking while working from home, because who knows how long it would take for a resident to come to open the front door, as well as live on my floor. Three $ 52 parking tickets have been issued because I can’t make it down there and back up, sometimes for hours.
Of course we love the building, the location and our unit is beautiful. If you’re willing to cross your fingers that nothing will go wrong and you won’t need any assistance with problems or questions your entire lease term, then this place is for you. If you want peace of mind that your building takes care of you the second something goes awry and is onsite at least three days a week, then we suggest you keep looking because Ocean House is absolutely NOT the one.

I have never written a Unilocal review, but it has gotten to the point where I am so aggravated, I need my thoughts to be out there. And, it seems like management responds to Unilocal reviews; clearly not emails or phone messages. We have been trying to speak to someone on the phone or in person for the past few weeks, and have gotten no response.
When my husband and I first moved in last August, it was amazing. A brand new community with gorgeous finishes and views that some only get when on vacation. We especially loved the fact that is was completely dog friendly, with a whole backyard for the dogs to play in! In fact, we were told on our tour that the grassy area was even self cleaning so they could do their business on it! It felt like a home instantly. With great neighbors, we all bonded so fast and created a little village. This is what every apartment complex strives for, right?
It all went downhill when we received a notice of new complex ground rules, which included NO DOGS in the back yard! So what does this mean? We all would still hang out by the pool, BBQ, socialize, and our dogs would be left inside, barking up a storm because they knew we were outside without them. I apologize to the few neighbors without dogs that have to listen to non stop barking dogs. The truth is, they kept to themselves, we ALWAYS picked up after them, and they brought so much happiness to everyone outside.
A few months ago the first round of tenants who moved in received their rent renewal letters. Odd to be getting them so early, right? Well, the reason they received their notices so early was because the Ocean House was raising rents by, on average, 20−25%!!! And that requires a 60 day notice period. That kind of rent increase is absolutely ludicrous. This created a lot of bitterness amongst our little village. When you are already paying $ 4,000 a month for a one bedroom, a 25% increase is just bat sh*t crazy. And I lived in San Francisco; the land of the most expensive rent in the country. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in August, when our lease is up, and were absolutely considering just moving into a 2 bedroom in the building. But now, considering what they are now asking for rent, that is out of the question. Thank you Ocean House for ripping apart the amazing little community we had created for you.
And lastly, amongst the non stop broken appliances, bugs in the bathroom, and horrendous quality of construction, which I won’t even get into, the elevator has been out of commission for 75% of the time, over the past 2 months. Granted, we only have 4 floors, 5 including the parking garage, but a working elevator was part of the deal. There are a few very elderly individuals who have, for the past 2 weeks straight, been forced to hike up 4 – 5 flights of stairs daily, sometimes multiple times a day. A close friend recently had severe surgery and had to hike up flights of stairs, when he was supposed to be off his feet. Personally, I am 7 months pregnant, and although I like to keep in shape, should absolutely not be hiking up the stairs more than 2 times a day, at times with several bags of groceries. Another close friend is a new mom with baby, stroller and 2 huge dogs. I don’t envy her at all! And I can’t even offer to help her, being pregnant.
When tenants are paying top top dollar to live in this «luxury community» you would expect so much more. A door man? Nope, don’t have one of those. Valet? Ha, yea right. Pleasant smells throughout the hallway? Don’t count on it. This property needs a lot of work. I am so sad to have had to write this, because I really was so excited when we first moved in. Proud, even. Now I’m pretty embarrassed when I have out of town visitors. Again, the only saving grace is the view.
Good luck getting this place where it should be.

Ocean House on Prospect is an extremely pleasing and pleasant place to live. The staff and residents all seem to be happy working and living at this apartment complex.

Yes! This place is «as good as it gets». The units are beautiful with all new, top of the line appliances, beautiful wood flooring and high end finishes. The location of Ocean House is the best. A few steps down and you are at the ocean and a few blocks over and you’re wandering around the lovely shops, galleries and restaurants in the Village. The staff is knowledgeable and on top of your concerns. The amenities are great. Check out their website for photos. We hope to stay here for a long time.

Don’t move here. At least 11 of the first 25 or so tenants up for renewal have chose to leave. It’s not because of price hikes, it’s because:
1. the building is both poorly constructed and uses faux materials throughout — pretend hardwood that’s more like linoleum, pretend marble, pretend ceilings that seem like they’re made of cardboard, and doors that feel the same (you can hear a baby crying or dog barking clearly through your ceiling or front door; more on that below)
2. the neighborhood is noisy: weed wackers, air conditioners, garbage trucks, dogs barking, wood chippers, sirens, jack hammers, leaf blowers… there’s always at least one very loud noise going on throughout the day that even travels through closed windows
3. Management is nonexistent unless they’re trying to sell. Many have commented on it below. Very phony in conversation and useless in management. Constantly swap in new off site managers. Now they’re trying to fill all the vacancies so sales is here for a while. Please see other reviews of Aimco buildings to see their track record on move out deposits etc…
P.s I wouldn’t recommend 302. Tenants above have two dogs and leave them barking for up to 10 hours straight on weekdays and weekends. Took 6 months of complaining and an attorney to get them to get a sitter for the large one. It’s only part time so you’ll get still two days a week of incessant large dog barking. Also a baby is on the way so you will be the lucky recipient of that noise straight through your ceiling at any given hour.
More on the floors: You Hear every movement and footstep as a very loud pounding sound from the people above you. Unlivable and a big problem among tenants. I’ve spoken with several neighbors who are experiencing the same problem.
Stay away from this building. A $ 25 a night hostel is quieter and more considerate. It’s so bad you can hear a dogs footsteps. Ask the agents about it and they will just play clueless. What are they going to do? Admit that all the floors in the building need to be replaced in order to make it livable?
Some people have newborns and have to get up for work early in the morning. A company doing this to tenants who are paying a premium is pretty awful.
Of course you won’t have this problem on the top floor, but then again the ceilings on the top floor are extra low.

I’ve lived here for a month already and I love it. Everything is kept clean and the renovations seem to be going swimmingly. Angela and Nichole are extremely helpful and any issues (sometimes caused by me) are fixed immediately. The workers are extremely nice, especially the one who looks like Everybody Loves Raymond. Everyone seems to be incredibly busy so I appreciate the attention. I find a new piece of useful technology everyday and the apartment is incredibly modernized. The view is awesome. It is also in the perfect location and I don’t even know if I am going to need a car, even though the underground parking garage looks like it would be fun to use. The daily renovations are not concerning. My only issue is the minor issue with the front door access but I was informed it is being fixed soon. That’s not bad. Great place to live!

My husband and I are new residents in this property and we are new to the area. First of all the neighborhood is just perfect– everything that I could possibly want, restaurants, shopping, activities, beach, is all within walking distance. There is ongoing construction above us, which starts and stops at reasonable times and does not affect our sleep. The crews are incredibly respectful and I’ve noticed no trash or mess when they leave for the day. The facilities are beautiful and well kept. The customer service that we have received from Nicchole, one of Aimco’s sales associates, has been phenomenal. She called me on a regular basis prior to the move-​in just to ensure that all my questions were answered and she has updated me on new events and news post move– in. The property is also technologically advanced– smart appliances and water controls– which may be something that all Californians have seen before– this was new for me.