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January 2024 by Kshitij Bhardwaj
I recently self-toured the historical lofts/apt for a 1b1b. It's a beautiful loft with exposed brick walls and nice appliances. The community has great amenities and is walking distance to some amazing places in Japantown.But this 5 star review is for Maricela and the leasing office. Maricela was really helpful and answered all the questions I had, and I had a lot!I didn't submit an application this time but I'll definitely consider the property in future.
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December 2023 by Justin Perez
We're sad to be moving out of the Esplanade's but enjoyed the 4 years we lived here. It was our first apartment, and the staff had been and continues to be welcoming and helpful. Stephen was our leasing agent and lived across from our unit. Super friendly, ask for him when you decide to check the place out. My emails never went unanswered for more than a day.Maintenance is always around, always super friendly and respectful. It was reassuring to see that help would be there if something went wrong in the unit. The couple of times we needed our sink unclogged, they were there promptly.Annual fire alarm inspections, garage cleaning, and facility/landscape improvements were communicated to us with ample time to prepare. In the past year or so, they upgraded units to smart locks and thermostats. The convenience of being able to check on my locks and AC thru an app was something I didn't know I needed. 24 hr gym, locked mailroom and mailboxes, office area, event space, and large pool areas. Our dumpster area was also maintained pretty well. Front doors have an external building door with a keypad, so our Amazon packages weren't left outside and easily stolen by porch pirates.Our 1 bedroom unit had a surprising amount of space. Washer dryer in house, up to date kitchen appliances, fenced patio area. Windows and walls are sufficiently sound proof that the train passing by never bother our sleep and we couldn't hear neighbors unless they were really banging on the wall. Japantown is literally right around the corner. Bernal park is down the street. Just close enough to downtown San Jose if you decide to enjoy some nightlife, but far enough away that you don't get all the noise or craziness that comes with it.Rent increases were very reasonable. If our household wasn't getting bigger, I definitely would still be staying here. I highly suggest coming out to see the units for yourself.
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December 2023 by Kayla Mesina
My fiancé and I have lived here for a couple of years now and we’ve had nothing but great experiences - especially with the maintenance crew! They are always so quick to come and help AND with the friendliest attitude. We absolutely love living here!
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November 2023 by Jockus T.
Do not live here. Management that took over has shut down the front office. It's less safe, security is not around as often. Budget cuts just to save a little money as the ownership group makes billions. Some B.S. going on over here.
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October 2023 by Danny Yang
My wife and I lived here since 2019 and the staff here have been nothing short of amazing. The maintenance crew, in particular, Jose, has always taken care of us- from a faulty garbage disposal to replacing light fixtures, he is as professional as they come and quick to complete any maintenance requests.Stephen Watkins, as others have mentioned, has always been very helpful and is our go-to person for any inquiries related to the residence. His kind and friendly demeanor make us feel as if he's an extended family member.We all know the housing market in the Bay Area is brutal- we're forever grateful and blessed to be able to call this place our home.
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September 2023 by Liz Hyde
Nice grounds, good area (for being close to downtown), good amenities. Steven in the leasing office is a great asset when things go awry, it would just be great if there could be help on site again. Maintenance responds in reasonable fashion. There’s always some weird things (grass > mulch!) but overall very pleased.
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September 2023 by Bia P
UPDATE: @Raquel R - You're lying and gaslighting. You don't have the decency to apologize and take accountability. I lived there for an agonizing year. I inspect and disinfect everything that comes into my living space, so I know for damn sure your roaches didn't come from me. You have roaches running all around the property, moving through the drains, cracks in the baseboards, and vents. You have been negligent with responding to the problem. It took FOUR MONTHS to get a response from YOUR maintenance team only to have them walk through the apartment for five minutes and say there's no issue. As for the move out - Christopher J LIED about the charges. You ignored my request for another inspection. I messaged you personally, Raquel, many times. This post is the first I've ever heard any response. SAD.ZERO STARS. Esplanade and Essex Properties are SCAMMERS & these reviews are RIGGED.1) Move-out charges are unwarranted. Esplanade and Essex currently under several suits with former tenants. (google it) - poor living conditions and withholding deposits unlawfully.2) This property is HEAVILY infested with insects - predominantly ROACHES and SPIDERS.3) Appliances break down at least once a month and the maintenance stalls on providing replacements.4) The staff LIES chronically and ignores calls/emails when confronted. Notably, Christopher J, the staff maintenance lead, proved to be particularly deceptive. They also have SO many different people working there that it makes it hard to know who to contact.Had I known all of this, I would have NEVER lived here - even in the most desperate of situations.
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September 2023 by Shane B.
Amber was extremely helpful, made applying for the unit and dealing with the entire process very smooth and present.
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September 2023 by Jose Diaz
The Esplanade Apartments offer a charming little community that my partner and I were eager to become a part of. The only reason I'm not giving a lower rating is because of our experience with the leasing agent. While the agent was very professional, that's where the positives end. We were unable to qualify for an apartment due to confusing reasons. Despite having a great credit score and both of us earning more than the required amount, we still needed a guarantor who earned 4 times the rent to be able to qualify.Regrettably, they didn't present us with any alternative options, unlike many other apartment complexes. We would have been willing to provide a larger deposit, but it seemed like they were unwilling to work with us. This situation is disheartening, and it makes us hesitant to ever consider applying here again. I'm offering this feedback constructively, as there isn't anyone onsite to address these concerns.Edit: Upon reading my review again, I realized that it was an unfair rating. I updated my rating to better reflect my experience. But Esplanade does need to make some improvements in their process.
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September 2023 by Teddo Takes A Break
I moved to San Jose after living overseas for a decade, and viewed multiple properties throughout San Jose and the South Bay. I had expressed interest in a tour online, but The Esplanade was not one that I originally intended to view. After leaving a pretty dismal tour at a different property, I received a call from Stephen Watkins asking if I was still interested in a tour. Having not found other housing that I was excited about, I agreed and headed over for an in-person tour. Boy, was I glad I did.While my preference was not to live in a managed complex, Stephen quickly showed me around and answered all questions I had. He gave me information on the surrounding area (Japantown), and presented a warm and caring demeanor. The location along with the competitive pricing and his character really sold me on the place.Unlike other reviewers, I did not experience any “stolen deposits,” “price gouging,” or “large rent increases.” Everything seemed fair, in-line with the negotiated rate, competitive to the market, and following the leasing contract that I signed at time of move-in. I think most people seem to feel slighted without understanding these things.The property isn’t new, but has been renovated. Whether or not you appreciate that renovation is a matter of taste. Is this living in a classic Bay Area Spanish style bungalow, or Victorian? No. But it is still comfortable, and if you make the effort you can develop a sense of community with the neighbors surrounding you, and find charm in this part of San Jose. There are plenty of parks and amenities close by. I would go on daily morning/afternoon walks with my dog, grab a bite to eat in Japantown, or in the Hispanic neighborhoods towards 10th St, have a drink at Jack’s or less than a mile to downtown San Jose, go grocery shopping on Coleman Ave.At some point, Essex — the property ownership company — decided that the amount of on-site staff should be reduced. I don’t think that is necessarily the best thing for the property, but any time I needed maintenance or had questions, I was still able to get service rather promptly — including a broken and gushing water pipe in the shower that was fixed within an hour.It’s easy to be outraged. It’s harder to feel content. In over five years of living at the Esplanade, I still look fondly at the years that I spent there.
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September 2023 by Adam Joseph Nazaroff
Amazing place and great location, but the staff are what make it home! Lived here for 5 years solely because of the service and support Steve Watkins gave. He helped on hours, off hours, and went above and beyond year over year to make it an amazing place to live! Having such a friendly and supportive person made it feel like a true home. He also helped to actively build a community which is something so rare in larger complexes. Highly recommend!!!
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September 2023 by Ida Know
Pretty solid place. We lived there for two years (we left when I got a job out of the area). We liked the convenience of the location (smack in Japantown!) and the little market with a decent beer selection right there on the property. We also appreciated the on-site management (Steve Watkins and Jags were standouts here, though everyone was professional and helpful). Not the cheapest digs in town, but you get what you pay for.
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September 2023 by Lindsay Warren
I lived at The Esplanade for a year. The property is amazing! The location and amenities are great. Maintenance is very responsive to any requests. Stephen Watkins is kind, funny and great with residents. I highly recommend The Esplanade!
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September 2023 by Mona Gonzalez
The Esplanade Apartments has been a great experience for me. The staff members here are great, particularly Stephen Watkins, in management. If there is a problem here, Stephen is always extremely helpful and knowledgeable to whatever my needs are. It's always great when you go to a staff member like Stephen, who makes it so easy to talk to. He is always willing and happy to help! Which makes it less stress free!Thank you Stephen!
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August 2023 by tod kim
I've been living at the Esplanade for almost 10 years now and that alone should say it all.Still, while the apartments are nicely designed and maintained, and the amenities like the gym, hot tub and 2 pools are great, the real gems here are the staff, especially Stephen W. our Leasing Agent.It was through his personal, above and beyond help and attention to our needs that we chose the Esplanade to begin with while his always friendly and helpful demeanor, even under the most difficult of circumstances (yes, I can be "difficult") has been a Pleasure.Thank You, Stephen!... t.
