77 Bluxome Apartments

Awesome management team. I just moved here from Canada with no credit or even a bank account in this country. The team was super helpful before I even came on-​site with prompt, helpful email replies. They went out of their way to make accommodations for me before I even moved in. I really felt cared for.

Regarding the other reviews here, now that the Equity changeover is past, things seem to have leveled out just fine. Rich, the leasing manager, has done an excellent job and has gone out of his way to help with any issues that come up, etc. He even helped me with some packages that were delivered prior to my move in-​date. Professional, reliable, friendly, and an all-​around great guy.
Apartments are new, clean, with modern furnishings. It’s generally very quiet.
The view of San Francisco from the upstairs balcony sold me on the place, and the new fitness equipment on the second floor is great to have. All in all, it’s a great place to live if you have a minimal lifestyle.

I made an appointment to view and I was kept waiting outside for 20 minutes. Service is already horrible even before signing an application.

I must agree with the above regarding Equity Residential. Their management is horrible and the tons of signs are just annoying. I was on a 6 month lease that was supposed to end in March. I’ve asked in December and January like 5 times for a quote regarding renewal. Noone gave me an answer. «You’ll receive an offer via e-​mail end of January»…Well thanks. What if I have to decide NOW?
Besides that it’s a nice building. It very minimal but all you need is there. Avoid the lower floors, they’re very dark. I’ve learned how to live with $ 500 worth of furniture in 240 sqft. Teaches you something about your real needs…
The rates are insane already and a neighbour told me they just raised his rate by 400.
It’s nice, mismanaged (but you can get along with that) but totally overpriced. Awesome area.

I’m sad to say that I have to unlike 77 Bluxome. It used to be owned by one guy with a small, personal staff that was always reachable on their cell phones when any problems arose. They were as close as friends to me. The rates were reasonable, the trash was taken out on time, and it wasn’t littered with signage promoting itself. A couple months ago, Equity Residential bought the propery, which owns hundreds of other properties across the country. The rates skyrocketed 30%, the personal touch disappeared, the trash suddenly became mismanaged, and signage advertising 77 Bluxome started popping up. I was locked out on the first (3-​day) weekend they owned the property and nobody returned my calls to get me a replacement key during any of the 3 days, even after I left a message at the «emergency» number. I had to find a friend to stay with. That would never have happened with the old management. Equity Residential said they wanted to do all these things to «improve» the complex, like adding a gym. That makes no sense to me, because a lot of people that live (d) at 77 Bluxome used to like the complex because it *didn’t* include things that inflated the price, like a built-​in gym. I guess a good thing can’t last forever, it’s time to find another place to live.

Modifying my review… things have definitely changed with the new ownership (as several others have mentioned). The new management seems to be trying to squeeze every dollar possible out of its residents. At my 1-​year renewal, my already-​too – high rent is now increasing 32%, so, unfortunately, I’m out.
SInce my original review, they’ve also removed the weekend security/​doorman and the trash situation continues to be a mess (walking through a cloud of fruit flies to put the trash in a large, open dumpster). I also had a lockout issue (due to the lock itself failing… I still had the key!) on a weeknight around 9pm that could not be resolved until the next day. (Under the old management, I also had a lockout issue that was resolved within an hour with no charge… and that time, it was my fault!)
The block also seems to be getting slightly dirtier/​sketchier (i.e. more rats, graffiti and the occasional crazy person), rather than any better.
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Original review (modified slightly):
If you’re willing to fork out the dough (SoMa is more expensive than ever these days), this is a good place to live if you’re a busy professional who doesn’t cook often. If you’re a homebody who likes to spend your nights in, the units may be a bit too small for your liking. Though some of my guests have compared my studio to a «dorm room,» the space is really all I need, though it’s pretty difficult to entertain b/​c the units are so small (no more dinner parties, at least for now).
PROS
— Convenient location (Caltrain and Safeway/​Walgreens down the block, easy 20min walk to Market St., tons of bus routes and MUNI-​Metro all nearby; even a winery on the block!)
— New and modern building
— Great rooftop
— Laundry on every floor + LaundryLocker service
— Bathrooms are surprisingly spacious
— Dishwasher
CONS
— SMALL! (we’re talking ~250 square feet here)
— Overpriced
— New management
— Limited kitchen amenities (no oven, just a hotplate; mini-​fridge only)
— Occasionally noisy (very close proximity to neighbors)
— Block can be a little bit dicey at night
— Expensive (it’s not only SF, it’s SoMa)
I definitely had to downsize my belongings prior to moving here, but if you want to live alone in a modern building with a good location, and shave time off your commute if you work in the Peninsula, this may be a good option.