Muriel’s Landing

I almost didn’t tour this place because of the bad reviews. Now that I’ve lived here since November of 2015, I am glad I ignored them. I have a west-​facing apartment, and yes, there are multiple bars nearby. However, the music only gets a little too loud maybe once a week, and it is muffled and hasn’t kept me from sleeping at all. The walls are pretty thick, so I rarely hear my neighbors.
I haven’t lived here in the summer yet, so I can’t speak to the heat other reviewers mention, but I have found the temperature of the apartment to be very pleasant. I don’t agree that the building is dirty, and the management has been very kind to me. The apartment is absolutely beautiful, and I’ve really enjoyed decorating it. I like that the building is dog-​friendly and none of my packages has ever been lost.
Also, as a chemically sensitive person, I so appreciate that the building is green. It has NO odor of chemicals or mold. The units simply smell of wood.
I love having a washer and drier in the bathroom, a bathtub, and tons of closet space, more than enough for one person.
I really appreciate that the building offers parking. I wish the parking were cheaper (it’s $ 185 a month, which is kind of ridiculous), but I definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable parking on the street, because I’m female and there is car theft in this neighborhood.
I feel safe here. The security is good — a key card system is used to get into the building and the elevator.
I am a student at UW and appreciate how close to campus this building is.
In conclusion, I feel that the negative reviews are inaccurate. I love living here, and I’d recommend checking it out. A caveat — rent is high, but I have found that the pricing is comparable to other units in the neighborhood. When I was looking, I found two other places. One was cheaper but felt claustrophobic and had poor security. The other was built in the past couple of years and smelled extremely toxic.

Super noisy at night from the bar across the street. If you’re thinking about getting a west-​facing apartment, don’t. Also unbearably hot whenever it’s at all hot or sunny out.

tl;dr: Management sucks! Apartments are small but nice. Gym is lacking. Views are «meh». Location is decent.
I lived here from July 2013 — July 2014. Apartment was small but nice. After Muriel’s landing was purchased ~March 2014, the new management attempted to charge as much as they possibly could for any extra thing they could. In early May 2014, I spoke to the new leasing manager about possibly moving out of my studio apartment in the building into a 1 bedroom on another floor. She let me know that a 1 bedroom had opened up and would be available by the end of August.
In late May, I toured the apartment (which was quite filthy and needed some work) and was pressured by the leasing manager to put a hold on the apartment «before someone else snatched the last 1-​bedroom available». I, REGRETTABLY, put the $ 750 hold (check) down that day and was told to fill out an application online as soon as possible, because the new management didn’t have any of the current renters information due to the March 2014 management change. I agreed — although it didn’t really make sense as I told her I wanted to discuss the move more with my family/​bf, especially since the apartment wouldn’t be available until late August. The next day, I spoke with family and my significant other about the apartment and realized that it made more sense for me to live in my bf’s house in Kirkland instead. I filled out the application before I made this decision, however, but my assumption was that the $ 750 hold was more symbolic of my interest in the apartment than my agreement to sign a lease – which I hadn’t. The next day – LITERALLY 2 days after putting down the hold and less than 24 hours after filling out a preliminary application– I email the leasing manager this:
Dear [redacted],
Since I last talked to you, circumstances have changed in my life. I will be planning on moving out of Seattle – and therefore will no longer be able to move to the one-​bedroom, 612, at the end of summer nor will I be renewing my lease for 717.
I have a few questions:
1. Since my original lease expires June 28, what are my plans for move-​out? What are the steps for moving out of my place June 28?
2. Is it possible for me to be reimbursed the $ 750 hold (hold on apt. 612)?
Originally when I was discussing moving to 612, I was under the impression that I would be remaining in Seattle. Recently things have changed, and I am sorry if this is a bit of an inconvenience.
Thanks,
Caty
Here is the leasing manager’s reply:
Good Morning Caty,

I see that your lease ends the 30^th of June, so you will need to submit a written request (this email works fine) and turn in your keys on the 30^th. We can schedule a walk through before then to asses[sic] any move out charges.
I will cancel the application for the one bedroom apartment however unfortunately this does mean that your deposit is no longer refundable. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Warmest Regards,
[redacted]
Property Manager
Confused by the fact that the $ 750 hold that I just forked over has just vaporized into thin air, I reply:
Hey [redacted],
When you say that the application fee is unavailable OR the holding fee?
Below is a screenshot of my account history regarding this new apartment:
(1) What are the terms for the holding fee?
(2) I see the non-​refundable admin fee of $ 250, but what about the other $ 500?
Thanks,
Caty
Her reply:
Caty,
Paragraph 7 on our application states that should you be approved and you decided that you no longer want/​need the apartment then the entire deposit is forfeited.
[redacted]
Property Manager

All-​in-​all: I was pissed to say the least. I hadn’t received any notice that I had been approved for the apartment… which theoretically makes sense as it had been less than 24 hours since I submitted the online «preliminary» application – so I’m not even convinced I was even approved by then. Don’t know where she dug Paragraph 7 from – and never actually saw proof that paragraph 7 actually existed… but I cut my losses and retreated to Kirkland. Since this was my first apartment, I learned a valuable lesson about greasy management companies.
Stay away from Muriel’s Landing… Stay far away… Management sucks!

The amenities are wonderful here. However, the management is miserable. When they got the new manager, we no longer enjoyed the package-​receiving service simply because that was a fun thing to do for the previous manager. (their iPad which is used to scan packages are broken. Ironically, I saw the manager used iPad for my transfer fee. they did the service for fun. It was not in their must to do list.) There is a Tv screen hanging on lobby wall which was used for package information. Now it just dead there. When I talked to our current manager about my missing packages, she said she would find it out what happened but she never did unless I came to office to ask her again. The elevator is really dirty. No one seems to take care of it. However, despite the terrible management, I enjoyed the brand new unit. They have most amazing view on the 7^th. So, I think I would continue to live here because it is so hard to find another brand new apartment with such wonderful views.

Been living here for almost 2 years now. This building is one of the newer apartments sprouting up in the udistrict to accommodate spill over of Amazon folks. U-​District used to be affordable college neighborhood but prices have been spiking. It’s either live in a run down place for cheap or pay out of the wazzo for a new building.
Rent is not cheap here, and they tend to nickle and dime you for every extra thing including a $ 25 extra a month pet rent, for every pet. When asked what this fee is for since we pay a pet deposit ($ 200) and a pet fee (non refundable $ 250), I was told it was a «convenience fee» which is BS. You can pay rent and bills online and their is an online portal for the community. If for some reason, like you got double charged a big amount in your bank account and your rent doesn’t go through, its a $ 130 late fee, $ 25 notice fee and $ 50 NSF fee (no bank charges $ 50 for NSF).
However the apartment units have character. Floor to ceiling windows, some units with murphey beds, great appliances and beautiful cabinets and counter-​tops. There is a decent gym with tvs (although you get zero cell reception in it) and free internet service which is a decent speed (I stream at 480p with no problem but you might want to get your own internet service for faster speeds). Roof top deck is nice but for our growing community leaves much to be desired. There is just a small portion section off for seating. They need to expand the deck to the whole roof. You kind of feel like you are encroaching on someone else’s space and conversation if there is another group up there.
I live on the 3^rd floor facing the street. Summertime is crazy as if your window is open at night its like you have live concerts in your window. I don’t mind the Jazz music from Lucid (quiet nice in the summer listening without the crowds and a glass of wine) but the bad rock music coming from the bar across the street leaves much to be desired. Also below the third floor is the parking lot so you can run, stomp, play your bass without worrying about below you. Walls aren’t terribly thin but if someone is yelling you can hear them.
Not to mention these apartments are HOT! It is like a sauna most days, in the summertime it is unbearable if you don’t shell out for your own portable air conditioner. They can put air conditioning in the hallways but not the apartments!!!
Lately, its been getting dirtier and really not worth the rent. People leave their garbage in the hallways and staircases and on the elevators at times. Moving out when my lease is up. Building manager is really nice though, not her fault the corporation who runs the apartments are cheap money grubbers.
P. S. Used to have a big problem with people pulling the fire alarm at 2am. Happened 3+ times the whole building had to wait 2 hours for firefighters to search building only to say someone had intentionally pulled it.

Muriel’s Landing was purchased around March 2014 and the new management is unprofessional and a big disaster. The building is much dirtier than it used to be and the staff is really unfriendly. They will charge you with any extra bill they can and they will help you as less as possible.
One the other hand, it is located in front of some bars that have lousy music until 2am EVERYDAY.
In conclusion, unless there is no other place in the city, don´t move in here

Very friendly and helpful management and staff. Everything is brand new and really nice. It’s a great and convenient location. It’s also a very green building – so yes it can get hot in the summer, but on the flip side you rarely need to use your heater in the winter. And, personally I like it warm.
The apartments themselves are also quite spacious and have lots of natural light with huge ceiling to floor windows.