Orchard Ridge Apartments

These apartments are the worst I’ve ever lived in by far.
The location is terrible, the people are terrible. I feel incredibly unsafe here.
I have lived here for a year, and I am drastically overpaying for my apartment. I wouldn’t rent this place even if it was $ 500/​month.
First, I would like to address the area.
–The parking lot and areas surrounding the apartment complex are not well lit.
–We hear sirens every night. I have witnessed 6 different incidents where the police were patrolling 164^th, obviously looking for somebody.
–My very expensive bicycle got stolen off of my deck.
–A homeless man comes around every 2 weeks or so, and fills up water jugs from a valve right outside our apartment.
–I am a small woman. And I smoke cigarettes. Because of the apartments policy on no smoking, I must walk through the apartment complex and stand on the side of 164^th. I have been stared at, catcalled, I’ve had men make obscene gestures towards me, and I have had multiple men come up and start talking to me. I have to risk my well being every day and every night just to have a cigarette.
–There are men that rummage through the dumpsters at all hours. Recently a car and a truck have been pulling in and taking full bags of garbage from the dumpsters.
–These same men also ride bicycles around and prowl through the apartments parking lot. They shine their flash lights into the cars parked there, and I have even witnessed one of them try to open a car door.
— Recently, I found a used syringe on the ground. With the needle still in it.
— We also just got a notice saying that there have been car break ins in Orchard Ridge and surrounding apartments. This makes me feel very unsafe, especially since the parking lot is not well lit.
Second, I would like to address the apartment itself.
–Our heater broke almost immediately.
–Our washer broke soon after that.
–The shower head leaks water onto our bathroom floor, causing a build up of mold.
–Our windows leak, causing water to drip onto the floor and grow mold in two corners of our bedroom.
–The plumbing is terrible. The toilets don’t flush properly.
–The doorway between the hallway and the bedroom has exposed nails.
–The overall construction of the building is awful. I live on the bottom floor. I can hear everything my neighbors do. I can hear them walking, talking, when the open a dresser drawer, I can hear their TV, I can hear when they use the bathroom, I’ve heard every single one of their fights, and I have even heard them having sex. Every time someone walks down the stairs, I hear it. Every time someone slams their door, I hear it. Every time someone starts their car in the morning, I can hear it.
I recently met one of my neighbors that has been having the same issues as I. She has lived here 4 years and has reported everything that I have said above. The new apartment manager supposedly «lost» my neighbors file and had no idea what she was talking about. This caused my neighbor to move out. She broke her lease and moved out as quickly as she could.
My advice: This apartment complex is a waste of time and money. You will be extremely unhappy living here.

I am giving this apartment a four star essentially because it has been the management has been the most accommodating amongst all the others that I have been in touch with. I moved here from South Korea and unfortunately had to set up everything by distance. One can only imagine how difficult it is to find an apartment without being physically present, but Barbara the property manager has made everything so easy. She took into consideration my situation and made an arrangement that suited my needs at that time. And since I’m new to a Lynnwood, she gave me a general overview of living in the city and a list of establishments (eg. Furniture stores, groceries) that I would find very useful for my move. All in all, she has made my transition very very smooth. I could not thank her enough.
Regarding the apartment in itself, I think that the place has everything that I need. It definitely doesn’t have the latest stainless steel appliances in the kitchen/​laundry (which I was aware about), but they function well. And in case something breaks down, the management sends someone (ie. Ono, their very responsive staff) to fix it. In my case they my washer broke down, but then the management had it replaced with a brand new unit within a week.
If you’re looking for a place you can call home… a place that has a proactive management team and a place that gives you the best value for your money, I definitely recommend Orchard Ridge.