Bayside Commons COA

I’ve lived here for over 2 years now, first as a renter and now as an owner. It is a pleasure to live here. The staff are always pleasant, helpful and friendly. They know most people by name and unit number. The manager Brandon is doing a great job, making things efficient, saving money for the Hoa, and helping to create a sense of community. As far as the bad reviews go, most are directed to the management. Note that the management changed over a year ago so previous complaints about management really aren’t relevant anymore. The units are large for what you get in Albany for the money currently. Everyone who comes to visit always compliments the resort style atmosphere of the place. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend living here!

I have lived at Bayside Commons since 1998 or so. I’ve been holding off reviewing the complex until the effects of last years management shakeout become clear, but at this point I have confidence in the new manager, Brandon. He’s a level headed, hardworking and intelligent guy, with much experience, who’s already done much good work. The current board, also, has recently become more active and progressive, to good effect. Past boards have put off necessary repairs (the complex is from the 80s and becoming more difficult to maintain, hence the high HOA dues). But it’s a lovely place, with a lovely pool and Jacuzzi, and it huddles up against Albany Hill, which is a lovely tree-​covered park. It’s safe, and well placed for those who work In the East Bay and downtown SF.

I have rent an apartment here in bayside already for 4 years. Here is what I can say :
1) the only one reason why I am still here it is because of school district .
2) rent price is incredibly hight .
3) here is huge issues with management.
4) swimming pool are open just 6 months in the year .
5) staff sometimes acts like I am the one who they hire to hang out around .
6) right now they close all the doors inside of the building, and it is just incredibly annoying. They told as it is just for few days but it almost 2 months already .
7) past 3 month people running from building like rat from the boat.
8) Something all the time is wrong with elevators and with garage gates. Can you imagine how it can be in the morning when you have to go to work and you can’t leave your garage ??? I had it few times .
9) after bayside changed management here is all the time issue with garbage in the walking areas .
10) gym is really small …
11) and funny thing 4 years later … They still didn’t add me to address book. Every time when I have visitors I have to go all the way to gate to open doors for my guest. And I stopped asking them to fix it after 7 or 8’th time I tried .
The good thing about that community is they have laundry in the units. Well … I definitely am going to move out once my baby will be done with school next year. Just really don’t want to be involved it moving action right now.

We just finished up six months there, using it as a transition place between moves. It was very comfortable, clean and felt secure — which is nice when you’re new to an area. The pool and exercise room were well maintained. The buildings generally quiet. My only gripe would be the bike rack in the garage, which was just a pile of old dusty bikes. Clearly people keep the nice ones in their unit or on their deck. The units are huge — good size rooms, bathrooms and closets. Easy walk to Pacific East Mall. Also walking to El Cerrito Plaza and the BART station is nice through Creekside Park.

Full Disclaimer — I own property here and have lived at Bayside for over 7 years.
It makes me sad to see the low reviews — although in some cases, I can definitely see where folks are coming from.
The good:
— I purchased this condo as a single woman and it was a great stepping stone into home ownership. [I now own a house in Oakland and a house is a LOT more work.] Bayside always made me feel safe … multiple layers of security (locked doors, gates etc) and that peace of mind is priceless.
— Great location (convenient to the freeway) and residents are eligible for the Albany school district (which I hear is very good). Casual carpool is right outside and for many years I commuted to San Francisco via carpool, the AC transit or walked to BART.
— Lots of other good things to say — which were important to me as a home buyer, but then this would start to sound like my Craigslist ad!
The bad:
— The HOA fees are definitely high ($ 485 a month) — although it does include water, garbage and cable. That’s money you can’t write off.
— Freeway noise — depending on which direction you face, although many of the units closer to the freeway have double pane windows.
— Strict HOA rules around number of dogs, weight limit of your pets, and although this never impacted me — I always say posts about pool and hot tub usage. Probably less of an exercise lap pool and more of a pool for kids.
The current office manager Paul is the best one I’ve seen since I’ve been there (I think that’s been 3 different ones). He’s certainly the most friendly and helpful. Or maybe he’s just nicer to me b/​c one time the trash bin got away and crushed my fiancé’s truck (srsly!)
I am renting out my condo now b/​c I intend to either move back one day or let my parents move in when they get a bit older — the Pacific East Mall is within walking distance.

The complex itself is awesome, which is really why I gave this place three stars at all. I’m surprised that most of the other reviews fail to mention how nice the complex is; it’s way better than the other two right next to it at 545 and 555 Pierce.
The good: there’s a pool, tennis courts, jacuzzi, sauna, small exercise room, the works. My apartment is very well lit, and I have a nice view of the bay and the city from my balcony. It’s relatively quiet, and it’s in a great location, within walking distance of Solano Avenue and El Cerrito Plaza.
The bad: This is pretty well reflected in other reviews — the HOA management really needs an attitude adjustment. I’ve only interacted with them twice, during move in and for a question about cable, but they had a very strong «somebody else’s problem» attitude towards me which left a really sour taste in my mouth. Not cool at all.
I really hope I’ll be able to update my review in a couple months to say that I’ve had a good experience with the homeowners association. It would be to their benefit to realize that their attitude contributes to housing value in a complex like this as much as cleanliness, safety, and quality. People are the center of any organization.
I hate to end on a bad note, so I’d like to mention one fantastic woman who sits in the same office directly across from the homeowners association: my leasing agent (who has politely asked to be left anonymous). She has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help us out. Hopefully it rubs off on the other half of the office.

Stay away from this condominium complex. The biggest problem is that the HOA Management COLLUDED with the real estate company that have the right to sell or rent (some) of the units. This real estate company even have an office inside the complex.
What’s the problem, you say? Well, here it is:
The HOA Management does NOT do ANYTHING to enforce the well being of the tenant or owner. If a tenant is causing a problem (like play loud music) and that tenant happen to be a renter who rent from the real estate company, the real estate company will pressure the HOA Management to NOT DO ANYTHING because the company does not want to lose the tenant and hence, lose the money.
There has been changes to the HOA Manager THREE (3) times from 2003 — 2008, so you know what does that means. HOA Fee has gone up almost every year and the last one stands at almost $ 500 /​month, just for the HOA FEE!
All in all, do NOT buy or rent in this place. Rent at 555 Pierce St. instead, they have 24×7 security guards (plural) with a security control room. Note that I do NOT live in 555 Pierce St., but have friends that do and I’ve seen it myself.