Met Tower

Don’t wait to learn this until *after* you move out. My initial review was kind, but things took a sharp turn fast. Here’s the rub: 6 months prior to moving out, we received a certified letter from Avenue5 stating that our renewal cost would rise. A minor amount, but it got to me. About 3 months prior to our lease’s end, I spoke to the *assistant* manager (didn’t know he wasn’t the manager), and he said they aren’t willing to negotiate. I follow the market and knew the cost would be less than what we were paying, even. He argued, saying things were on the upswing and we were basically getting a deal. Skeptical, I still dropped it and started looking at other options. About 2 months before our lease was up, we found a building that suits our family much better. Met Tower still wouldn’t budge on simply not *increasing* our rent when an identical unit on a higher floor was going for $800 less than what our renewal would cost monthly. So, we signed a lease with our current place and sent the official letter stating that we would not be renewing with Met Tower. Mind you, Met Tower is and was (2023-2024) remodeling the 8th floor amenities and terrace. No tenant had access to any of the spaces we all were paying for. I can’t tell you how many people complained about the smells and the sounds, “health issues” spawning from mold in apartments and the construction that weren’t being addressed by Met Tower. But that’s all hearsay from other tenants, although it paints a picture of how little they care about tenants in any way, shape, or form. Then, there's the absolute disorganized mess that is management…. We moved a month early. I shouldn’t have even stated what day we’d be moved out on (I was trying to be courteous) to Met Tower, because that seemed to throw them for a loop. They pestered us about turning in our keys... weeks earlier than our lease-end date. We paid the (initial) “final bill” with the prorated half-month of our last month. Well, that wasn’t the last…. One of our kids' top bunk tent left some black transfer marks on the ceiling. We couldn't see these marks until the movers were gone, and the furniture we'd use to climb up and Magic Eraser them on were too. Then, we just forgot about it with the moving. Because of this and “fingerprints on the walls” (I can’t make this stuff up), Met Tower is trying to charge us $2,300 ($1,800 + keeping our security deposit) to repaint the unit. Mind you, we lived in Met Tower for 4 years total, in 3 different units: 2 years in the last unit, and shifted units twice because it was less expensive to shift (with “6 to 8 weeks free” for new tenants, but jack-diggity for existing tenants) than to renew a lease that wasn’t being increased, even (during the pandemic). We take care of every space we’ve ever lived in as if we own the space and want the highest resale value for it. On both units in Met Tower prior, we received our security deposits back in full. What’s the difference now? Some transfer we forgot to tackle in the whirlwind of finding a new home and moving with a family? Some “fingerprints,” maybe in the dust from holes we spackled and thoughtfully sanded smooth on eggshell paint? There’s so much more, but I think this says more than enough. If you want to get jerked around and “nickeled and dimed” by an apartment building, rent from Avenue5/Met Tower. Congratulations, Met Tower and Avenue5, we absolutely won’t be back now, and I hope anyone who values their time, health, money, and energy steers clear of your malarkey. (Leaving the photos up as they attracted over 5,000 eyeballs prior to me writing this negative review. Hopefully it helps 5,000+ more people avoid this place now.) Oh, and our old unit rented for $250 less (with 6 weeks free) than what they were going to raise our rent to. I don’t understand you, Avenue5. Not one bit. Or, is the losses of us moving really what you’re trying to get us to pay for..? It’s just about the exact amount they lost on us not renewing. Hmm.

Living breathing construction zone. Jackhammering, sawing, demolition noises starting early in the morning, and going well past 7 pm. The jackhammering noises are consistently going past 7 pm which is in direct violation of the Seattle Noise Ordinance. The apartment complex is "remodeling", but could care less about what effect the "remodeling" has on its residents. If you enjoy have a good night of sleep, good luck getting it here. If you work from home, good luck getting any work done. The extent and the scope of the "remodeling" was never communicated before signing the lease. Typical false advertising and bait and switch tactics. If I knew that I would have a construction zone right outside my window I would have never signed the lease. edit: the contruction noise has continued and management has done nothing about it. They don't care how this construction is affecting residents. Amenities spaces which were advertised on move in have been closed for months. Toxic fumes from the tar/asphalt being placed on the patio/terrace consistently went into my apartment and management did absolutely nothing about it. The management could care less about the health of its residents.

Living in Met Tower has turned into a nightmare We have lived here for 7 years and have seen a lot of changes in quality. The 2023-2024 renovations have been very frustrating (mess, noise, stenches, closed amenities for a year, delays) but those aside, the building is not being maintained. The elevators and garage door break down every other week, and the hot water goes out once a month. The maintenance and office staff are doing what they can with what they are given but building management has become desensitized to inconveniencing residents. And on top of all of that, our rent just went up 30%. For the same price, you can live in brand-new buildings within a few blocks. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. Attached photo: A haphazard wall patching from a hot water outage over a month ago.