Mesa Village

The property manager, Joe, is awesome! He is always on top of things that need to be done and easy to get ahold of with anything I may need or questions I’ve had! The negative comments on here are misleading — I love this place! No problems!

This place isn’t as bad as people say it is. Never experienced any of it, and for those that have just talk to Amy, she is the best and so are the maintenance guys. Hey, I have AC and so do all the other attendants. If you Don’t Know How to turn it on just ASK some one, don’t lie because you couldn’t pay your rent on time then rant about them. I live here and will not tolerate lairs. like its there fault you didn’t talk to Amy. I live here and feel safe here. Compared to other places that jack up their rates much higher each year it not funny, this place cant be beaten in price to size ratio.
I am not a robot, don’t work here, and I am happy living here. One last thing its close to every thing so yea… take it as you will but don’t be lied to by these people.

I’ve been living at Mesa Village for about three months now and I’d like to tell you why this community is awesome.
Mesa Village is a small and quiet kept little secret in Clairemont Mesa consisting of only studio units. Management keeps this place in check and that’s why we love it here. The grounds stay clean. There are no college like loud parties ever. I never see the police around for trouble. rest of us are college aged, business focused young adults on up to elderly adults. We all respect each other & everyone here obeys the rules!
I am thankful that everything that needs to go through management in this community is ran electronically. Applications got through online. Payments go through online. Maintenance requests go through online. I know I can send Joe (our amazing manager by the way) if there is an emergency and he will get back to me that same day!
The grounds are kept neat and clean so I am happy to invite guests over. The gardening is kept up and the pool area is always clean.
There is usually a waiting list to get in so move fast. They are very flexible with move in dates and what lease term you are wanting. If you are looking for a clean, classy, cozy home like feeling quiet place, Mesa Village is worth a look.

«You got Screwed.»
…Such was the common response I received upon telling people where I lived and how much I paid…
After signing the lease on this place, I discovered that just a block down the street, at California Suites Hotel, I could have gotten a FULLY FURNISHED room, for the same price!!! And of course you can’t get out for less than $ 1500 because you’re locked into a lease. This seems to be an outrageous early termination fee for such a low-​class establishment. Believe me, I learned many valuable lessons from the year that I spent here…
In the unit next to me, I often heard what sounded like a stun gun (very distinct sound), and laughing. This in and of itself is creepy, and scary, and downright weird! But that is just the beginning…
COCKROACHES! In my opinion, this place must have an underlying infestation. Management is quick to call in treatment, but it doesn’t last. They always come back. And they only treat a unit or two at a time, so all that does is chase the roaches into neighboring units. No good when YOU are in the neighboring unit.
The structure is extremely thin, from the walls to the doors to the windows. You hear EVERYTHING! Neighbors having sex, watching tv, talking on the phone, and of course, the traffic never ceases. Every 10 mins or so, a motorcycle goes by and sets off about 5 car alarms. Construction/​Lawn Maintenance starts as early as 7am. The worst thing is to be woken up by drilling and sawing in the apartment right below or next to yours at 7 in the morning. For $ 1000/​mo, you ought to be able to sleep in your own home!!! You complain about the noise to the management, and they nod and smile and agree with you, but do NOTHING! Then tell you that they have no record of your prior complaints. In addition to the noise, the walls and windows are so thin that when the neighbor is outside smoking, you get that nasty stench, even though your windows and doors are closed.
The apartment is a hotbox, so you can’t keep things like fresh produce, because they rot in no time! No A/​C in the apartments, and yet, the management office has one, and it’s nice and comfortable in there. If you want to get your own, you can’t use just any A/​C unit, it has to be one specifically designed for side-​open windows, or a portable, which will cost you huge bucks, and take up much needed space in the already limited floor plan. There is a washer and dryer and A/​C in the Employee unit, but I was told they’re dedicated to one single apartment, for Essex employees only. So while the rest of us have to swelter in the heat of our apartments, or trudge down the street to the local dive of a Laundromat, the Employees are living comfortably and conveniently. In my opinion, this seems a bit selfish on the part of Essex Property Trust, Inc. How easy would it be for them to convert that one unit into a community laundry?
Parking is no good. They have over-​sold the permits, so there is no chance of getting a space any time after 8pm. The spaces that are allotted for the complex are incredibly narrow. I picked up roughly 30 – 40 new door dings since moving here. You are encouraged to not park along the side of the alley, but many people do, which makes it very difficult for you to get out of the designated spaces. I was made late for work on more than one occasion due to parking issues here. A few spaces are available on the streets behind the complex, but if you have a lot to carry, you don’t want to have to walk that distance.
The windows don’t lock, so you have no hope of any real security. Also, you will find that at least 4 times a day, there are people digging through the dumpster out back going through your trash, so you have to be very careful about throwing away any mail with sensitive info. Other issues with the place include no dishwasher, very limited counter-​space, no exhaust fan in bathroom, so it becomes a breeding ground for mold. There is, however, an exhaust fan in the kitchen, which I never used once.
The only good thing was that I got in great shape, because I spent so much time at the gym just to avoid going home to this place! Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t pay more than $ 600/​mo for this place. It’s like a bad night in a cheap motel, except you’re stuck with 365 bad nights!
This was my first time in San Diego, and, unfortunately, living in this unit gave me a terrible first impression of the city, and it made me regret moving out here. Luckily, once I moved to a better complex, I’m finding that it truly is a beautiful city. I just became a product of my surroundings.
This may seem like a rather harsh review, but if it spares just one person the trouble and disgust I suffered, then I will consider it a success.

This place kind of sucks. It has a good location in Northern San Diego, and is very close to freeways and every type of supermarket you can think of. However, it’s a bit too close to the freeway and is on a major road, which means if you’re a light sleeper and you live here, you need ear plugs.
But unfortunately, that’s not the only source of noise here. There are fighting couples who fight LITERALLY all day every day, banging on walls and whatnot, and management won’t evict. At my old apartments, they would for something like that… Also, you will live with a lot of tweakers, and super young party kids, or a whole family living in a studio… so it’s never quiet. Oh, and we live across from an old folks home so But the good thing is you get used to it!
The area is definitely safe, but theft is high. All of the bikes in my building got stolen except mine because I was the only one who had a U-​lock. People come around every month and steal all the bikes they can from this complex. Also, the unit next to me is vacant right now, and all of their screens are almost completely torn off, I think people have been trying to break into it.
You get one parking spot, but there are more apartments than spaces. You can always find a spot before 10pm, but if you work late… sorry.
There is no on site laundry but there’s a laundromat across the street.
They have a pool that is well kept, and a nice barbeque. That’s the only reason that they got more than one star, aside from the fact that there are good restaurants near by ;P

First the Positives:
I was only sold on moving in because of one reason, you can rent a studio apartment fully furnished,
—for me that is a benefit because I just graduated from college and didn’t want to buy new couches and tables
Negatives:
Manager Kristy
is very condescending, and in my opinion very bad at her job. She will ask you for an employer so she can verify that you are working. I get that, but she kept on asking me and my employer to fax or email her «something saying how much I will be making…» she asked me repeatedly for this. So me being a hard worker and wanting to people please I asked my Boss and annoyed him with the entire situation all this before moving in. … btw I have never been late or missed a payment! What is the point of a background check if you dont really look into payment history?
She has very poor people skill. I stay away from her unless I want to put myself into a bad mood. I have called in for a simply question and get off the phone annoyed for no reason other than her poor people skills.
I can go on for days about the apartment manager! really bothered by her
Neighbors
Creepy and annoying neighbors. one guy always has his door or windows open so he can creep on any and everyone walking by.
Lack of parking
everyone gets one parking pass number to park in the back and if you loose that you will have to buy another one for 50 $.
getting stuck in a lease
I figured out after day one of my lease that this place was not for me! but since of course the lease was signed there would be an early termination few that I would be charged to leave! its about 1600 $ to end the lease :(Stuck until March unless I pay

You get what you pay for. I want to start from the good things about this place and I can only think of two. The staff and maintenance I like very much they are very professional and great people. The location is good as it is close to stores and getting to the freeway. Aside from this I wish I can add more good things but for the space the lease is decent price.
There are so many things I don’t like. First, I think a bedroom is a little more roomier that a studio, if you stretch, your legs and arms would reach the kitchen, livingroom, restroom and closet. The floor squeaks pretty bad and honestly I feel like the pink panther trying to not walk much to make noise of how loud it can get to take each step. Privacy is minimal as if you are lucky enough, you wont have a neighbor that complains just for having a family to visit JUST ONE DAY for talking at «peak times», excuse me person single midage that doesnt have a life and only is watching over everyones backs. I don’t complain when I hear neighbors talk or smoke because I get a funky smell coming at times. You pretty much can listen through the walls unfortunately even how quiet you try to be. There is no AC or ceiling fans which after opening the windows for air to circulate there isnt any peace since it is located at a common street where you can hear buses, cars, trucks, loud motorcycles, you name it, almost everything from the street can be heard. There is no air to turn on in the restroom which makes you open the small window before it gets foggy or too warm to let air circulate. And, parking good luck! no asigned parking and there is no laundry facility on-site:/
I like the location but I am reconsidering somewhere else. If you plan to live temporarily its a good place. I give 5 stars to management and maintenance courteous and on time but aside from that its alright for temprary living. It gives me a feeling of renting a room not living at a own apartment that’s why I just stay here and run away whenever I can as it feels like a furnished studio jail.

DON’T DO IT!!!
I REALLY wish I would have seen Julia’s review before I moved in here!!! I’ve been here since February 2010. I’m stuck in this terrible place till August and all of the same things that Julia complains of are STILL going on a YEAR later!!!
1. NO safe parking after 8pm. When I moved in I was told the back lot was ours and within the first week I lived here my car was towed from it! ($ 400 down the drain!) Now, if I come home after 8pm I walk with ‘911’ dialed into my cell phone while I trek it to my apartment!
2. I have a TERRIBLE spider problem that they do NOTHING about! (Thank god I can stay at my boyfriends place as much as humanly possible)
3. These idiots STILL cannot figure out how to hook gas/​electric meters up to individual apartments!!! In the past two months I have had to pay $ 90 in «gas recovery fees» to a company called AUM because nothing can be put into my name!!! I receive no usage information whatsoever and I have told them SEVERAL times that I have not received a single electricity bill since I’ve moved in! Can’t wait to see what THAT bill is going to look like moving out day!!!
6. Just so you can get a better idea of how irresponsible the apartment manger Heather is, I gave her all of my AUM statements so that she could make copies of them and have the company refund my «gas recovery fees». Not only did she do NONE of that, she never returned my calls and LOST my statements!!!
5. There are families in these TINY apartments (around 270sq. ft) with up to SIX FREAKING CHILDREN. All of whom are in the pool (directly outside my apartment) SCREAMING at the top of their lungs ALL DAY.
6. Quite possibly the worst part of living here is the fact that in the past FIVE MONTHS I have not been able to enjoy a decent shower in my apartment ONCE. Throughout the duration of every single shower I have to endure blasts of SCALDING hot water followed by FREEZING cold water. I have gotten out of my shower with red welts on my skin from this on several occasions!!! I have been told that this problem cannot be fixed.
PLEASE do yourself a favor and DO NOT move in to these apartments. I WISH I NEVER HAD!!!

I lived in Mesa Village a little less than a year. I hated every minute of it… Beware. Here were all my problems
1. The studios are very tiny, ranging from less than 300 square feet. If you have alot of furniture or even clothes, you wont have any space to relax. The studios are made for one, but some of my neighbors have 5 people living in a bedroom… they just come and go whenever they please
2. There is no air conditioning, and the apartment retains heat. It is sweltering during the summer months. Some residents put fans in there window, but the screen ends up falling out or remains significantly open to let bugs in. It is not safe to keep your door open as anyone can walk in.
3. The walls are thin and I can hear neighbors partying or having sex at all hours. Instead of intruding on the actual neighbor, I called my management company and they did nothing. Sometimes I have to sleep with earplugs in my own apartment just to get some sound sleep
4. There is no assigned parking, and the spaces fill very quick after about 8pm. Parking on side streets is dangerous and near impossible. You’ll never know if you will wake up to find your car in the morning
5. There is no laundry on site, another inconvenience. The closest laundry is across the street by a transient bar.
6. The water meter is for the WHOLE building and not your individual room. At month end, they take the water bill and just divide it by how many residents are living in the building. Some residents don’t pay there bill and my overall monthly payments are very high.
7. There are transients, drunks, and homeless people always digging in the rear dumpsters. I always shred any paperwork. Luckily my car hasnt been broken into. There also has been instances of random strangers banging on the door thinking it is THEIR apartment, when in fact it’s the wrong building.
8. Every couple of months an exterminator comes to kill roaches or bedbugs in the complex.
9. The neighbors range from college age to senile seniors with disabilities. Everyone seems shady.
10. The studios are overpriced… I could find another apartment closer to downtown with more amenities for the price I pay. No utilities are included
11. The traffic noise is loud from Clairemont Mesa Blvd. I also hear planes from the Miramar air base. They need to install soundproof windows or anything.
I only recommend this apartment if your never at home. Living here was unbearable and I am glad I have left.
***UPDATE***
They take a huge chunk out of the security deposit.
–They took out 100 dollars for repainting, even though the walls were bare. Nowhere in my move out checklist did it say they will be deducting for painting.
–They took out 100 dollars for professional cleaning. I was told by the management that if you attempted to clean yourself, they would not charge. Well apparently this is total BS. I spent 5 hours cleaning, and I wouldn’t of done a thing if I knew someone was coming in anyway.
–They charged me twice for utilities, after I had already paid them. When I asked for my money to be returned (with all proof in hand), they said I had to go through the utility company. Scammers.
If you get any deposit back, the check will come very late