Staff helpful, kindness goes a long way in dealing with them. The mix of residents is peculiar here, and they must deal with a lot of BS, so naturally they have their guard up. A lot of the concerns mentioned in other reviews are valid, some less so, but three major things have not been brought up.
Electric bills are extremely high here due to the gigantic refrigerators they supply and make you keep - a tenant is prohibited from buying and using their own. The new building one block south, Oro, has awesome medium-sized ones, and honestly a dorm-sized one would be sufficient in these studios based on the square footage. They cost a fortune to run, as do the inefficient built-in heaters that they went with.
Second major concern is that of air quality. Not only is the property right under I-405, its at a busy interchange with Hwy 30 and Everett/Glisan. This building is constructed in such a way that none of the doors are square or seal properly, so even with the doors or windows closed you will be dusting daily and breathing what I would say is the worst quality air in the city. There are infirmed and elderly folk here on disability, and I honestly wonder who advised them that this would be a safe environment for them. The gaps under/around the Juliette doors let in highway soot and the gaps under/around let in whatever stinks in the hallways, and it's always something.
Third is the door handles with integrated locks on the door to each studio. They cannot be locked from the outside with a key - you must press a button from inside on your way out. This absolutely guarantees lockouts and they are extremely insecure and easily broken into (Assurant Rental Insurance please make them address this ASAP.)
The kitchen sinks and faucets are so tiny they are basically unusable, think RV-bathroom sized. You can wash a coffee cup but not put water in a Brita pitcher or wash a dinner plate. Very frustrating given the waste of space and energy that the previously-mentioned refrigerators are. The property while sort of charming does stink and I would say prepare to do a minimum of laundry here, the machines are filthy. I signed a 6 month lease that somehow became 7 months, I have no idea how but I'm not sweating it. This place is not meant to be permanent. Come in for 6/12/18 months and enjoy it, we need some good energy around here. It is absolutely the least expensive place in the ZIP code, so just be reasonable with your expectations and you'll find it tolerable. I signed for another year here after relinquishing my deposit at Oro - I was ready to move, but decided I won't pay their rates in an area with such toxic air quality.