Breakwater at Marina del Rey Apartments

Having lived here for over a year now, I feel I can give Breakwater an honest review. Overall, I’m a fan and enjoy living here but there are a few areas that could use improvement. Here’s my take:
The good:
The apartments are gorgeous inside. The bathrooms and kitchens are fully renovated and upgraded. Though I’d love to have gas burners, I will say that I really enjoy using my kitchen and there is more storage space than I could ever utilize.
Quiet. It is extremely rare that I hear my neighbors. The walls are thick and floors seem well insulated.
If you live on the marina side — which I do — then you’re living right on the water. I love waking up each day, rain or shine, and waking along the water or sitting on my deck with a coffee. The wildlife is amazing: birds I’ve never seen before, sea lions, even the occasional dolphin). I don’t even mind the sounds the sea lions will make all night long (I wear ear plugs on occasion). I often have a hard time believing that I am still living in LA.
Location, location, location. Breakwater is at the end of a not very busy road, meaning no traffic as well as it’s very private. When I am away from work I like the quiet, but it’s also nice knowing that you are within a very short drive to shopping, restaurants and neighboring communities such as Venice, Culver, Santa Monica, and Playa. Breakwater is also within a 15 minute walk to the beaches at Playa. Many special events happen year round right outside your door.
Food trucks in the Spring. This seems to have stopped for now but I really hope this program comes back. It was so nice to skip cooking and try a different food truck every week.
The not-​so-​good:
Rent increased 8% in one year. Wow… a little steep! That’s crazy considering no additional amenities have been added to account for this. This place is expensive, and while I’d like to say you get what you pay for… it seems like there should be some extra perks.
The residents and their dogs. I am a dog person and a very respectful one at that. Meaning, I leash my dog and pick up after her. Many residents here don’t abide by the rules and my dog was attacked by a bull terrier after she had JUST had leg surgery. It’s also not uncommon to see dogs randomly walking around without leash in the parking lot (with owners ten or so feet away). I almost ran one over one day. Though It wouldn’t have been my fault, I still would have been devastated.
Honestly, the majority of the residents could be a little friendlier. I know this is LA and people can be a little self involved, but I’ve found it really, really difficult to meet people here. And this is coming from someone who has NEVER had a problem fitting in or making friends.
Areas for improvement:
Build a hot tub already! It’s cold on the water. The pools are not heated year round. The pool space is wasted when it is cold. There is nothing more I want to do at the end of a long day then to soak in a steamy hot tub with a glass of wine.
Parking is a real issue and the residents at Breakwater continually abuse the system. There are very few guest spots and the residents monopolize them. It doesn’t take a genius to see the exact same people go in and out of the buildings while permanently parked in guest spots. This is a real deterrent for having people visit and it kind of sucks. Especially since I pay an extra $ 150 a month for an extra garage spot and play by the rules.
More social events might help to break the ice between residents. I really see this as a great locale for people to meet up for drinks and appetizers on the many gorgeous patios but have never actually seen it happen.
Overall:
I don’t see any reason — besides another move out of the county, or rent becoming astronomical — that we wouldn’t stay living at Breakwater for the next couple of years. I do believe that the staff is trying to work on some of the issues that could make this place go from good to truly great. If you’re thinking about moving here and have any questions, feel free to private message me.

Beautiful apartments with amazing water views! I love all the features inside the apartment like the tile backsplash and stainless appliances. The apartments are spacious and also have large walk in closets. The pool area overlooking the marina is an added bonus and being able to walk to fisherman’s village!

Breakwater is the finest living establishment in the Marina! I HIGHLY recommend living here. The staff is unbelievable. Alex specifically is extremely helpful and goes the extra mile to make sure his residents are happy. He deserves a raise for his hard work and dedication.

I moved into this complex when it was first completely remodeled. The staff and service were great! Then Equity bought them and it went steadily downhill from then on. We moved out and they conveniently couldn’t find notes in our file that the previous manager had placed in our file– which would have cost us an extra 900.00 in move-​out costs. I stayed in touch with the former manager and that is the only way, Equity was willing to make right on our bill. What would other tenants have done?
We paid top dollar for a non-​smoking community that then turned into non-​smoking is just a suggestion. As was, responsibility for pet poop pick-​up. The staff changed hands so many times they quit answering the phones and everything was left to a voicemail box. That should tell you something. Nobody seems to have the power to get things done. The last year was not great and for the best unit in the whole complex-​we should have walked away with a positive experience. Instead, we were glad to leave.

I was the very first person to move into Breakwater after they reconditioned it in June 2012 and just moved out last month. I rented a 3 bedroom on the top floor right on the water (arguably the most desirable unit in the complex.) Unfortunately, over that time, I have witnessed extreme demise. There was a marked difference when Equity acquired the complex from Archstone — the management transformed from true professionals who cared about their tenants to the incompetent buffoons that work there today led by Alex. Employee turnover is extremely high and the ones that are there don’t keep their word or enforce the rules allowing tenants to smoke wherever and dogs to run rampant spreading feces all over the grounds. It’s really a shame, because this is a great location and has so much potential.

Jessica A., you have never worked at Breakwater, so I am not sure why you left me a comment? If you had worked at Breakwater, then you surely would be knowledgeable of the email that was sent out to all the tenants, by the Breakwster staff, regarding the stolen bikes and recent car break-ins…As far as the police showing up at the complex at least once a week, as I mentioned in an earlier post, there were five cop cars and an ambulance here, just an hour ago, to break up a fist fight between two black teenagers. In the middle of Sunday afternoon… Additionally, I have seen several screaming matches going on between neighbors…

Seemed like a great place to live when I moved in but too bad I did not check more in the area. The apartments are ok, but not great. To have a Marina view the cost was insane so I settled for a courtyard view. Seemed like a good idea especially because the rental agreement stated that IT IS AGAINST THE PROPERTY RULES TO WALK YOUR DOGS THROUGH THE COURTYARD AT ANY TIME. This made me feel comfortable because I knew without dogs walking by my own dogs would stay relatively quiet while sitting outside. However, residents walked their dogs back and forth through the courtyard constantly and ignored the rules. I asked the management to address this because I know my dogs will bark loudest at other dogs if they see them. I received constant complaints from neighbors about my dogs barking (even though there were dogs barking all over the property). Over and over I begged management to better enforce their rules, as sending out email reminders was obviously not working. I did my very best to keep my dogs quiet as I want to be the best tenant and neighbor possible but received no help from the management whatsoever. Along with the fact that the gym is subpar and amenities are nothing more than decent for such a price (just look around the area and compare) I knew I would leave when my lease was up. However, I received a notice from Breakwater telling me THEY would not renew my lease b/​c of my failure to control my dogs. While I was planning on moving anyway I was still shocked by this and it just showed me just how poor and pathetic the management is at this property. In the year I lived there I saw so many people move out that I guess the writing was on the wall. Steer clear of this place… it is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

We have now lived at Breakwater at Marina del Rey since January 2014 after living in Downtown LA. I can honestly say it was one of the best moves for us. When I read through the various reviews regarding this community, several of them really confused me — especially with how negative people felt about living here.
I have found the community to be very open and social with a wide range of residents from young couples, singles, families, professionals, and retired neighbors. We look out onto to one the courtyards that overlooks a pool. We see people out there all the time and by no means are they exclusively «older residents». Parking is a premium, but the apartments come with assigned spaces. There is guest parking available at the front of the community as long as you register your guest. The staff also frequently communicates with us reminding us of other parking options at Fishermen’s Village and Pier 52 for guests. Both options are within walking distance. Are there dogs here? Yes. They accept dogs. We have cats. I love that the community is pet friendly. The community is designated as smoke-​free. Will people still smoke? Yes — but the management has been quick to address the issues when brought to their attention.
The community is well maintained and they appear to be consistently finding ways to improve the common areas where the residents socialize. The residents that I have met in the hallways, elevators, courtyards, etc. have always been friendly — and while I do not personally know all my neighbors, I certainly feel a sense of community. The quality of the apartments themselves is good. This was an older community that was completely redone. Stainless steel appliances, new white cabinetry, quartz countertops, new fixtures, all new exteriors, hallways, etc. As another review said, it feels like you are living at a resort. Will you hear your neighbors? Yes. It is shared community living — but it is never more than I would expect when living in an apartment with neighbors above, below, and side-​to-​side. We have lived in apartments our whole lives — so perhaps we know what to expect.
The location is one of kind. I love living at the end of Fiji Way with no one else around us. It feels exclusive compared to the other side of the marina that is simply jammed with apartments. You can walk to the beach! The walking and biking trails are right next to the community. I envy the residents who literally live right on the water facing the marina. Last, but certainly not least, the staff here has been amazing. The best words I can use are attentive and caring. It is clear to me that they want us to be happy and try their hardest to ensure it.
We look forward to living here for as long as possible!

My boyfriend and I have lived here for the last two years, and love it here. We have a little community of neighbors who we spend time with. I love how close I am to the beach, and all the activities around the marina as well.
Whenever we have had an issue in the house, maintenance is always really fast to respond and get things back to working order, they are almost like family now.
We can’t say nicer things about Kevin, the manager of the property. He is very reasonable and level headed, which is really important considering the number and different types of people he has to deal with. Everytime I have large heavy packages, he offers to carry them for me or help me, which is really just a nice thing to do.
I feel very safe and secure at this property, it is a great mix of fun professionals from every age group and background. A lot of us work from home and take walking/​coffee breaks together, and really take care of each other. Love the breakwater.

My five stars is just for my your experience and first impression. My husband and I toured with James and had a wonderful experience! Most times in property management people rush through their tours but James took his time with us and showed us around the entire community. When an apartment comes available in our time frame, this will be the place we rent! Great views, excellent location and clean apartments!

I’m a new resident at Breakwater and have also lived at Mariner’s Village, The Capri apartments and spent time at many other complexes in Marina Del Rey from growing up in the area. I’m very glad that I didn’t let the negative reviews here alter my decision to move in. I’m really happy with the space, the design features, views, amenities and price. We have two heated pools to choose from, one overlooking the sailboats cruising down the channel. We had family over to BBQ this weekend and the BBQ areas are better than any other place I’ve been to in the Marina. The blue glass fire pits next to the BBQ overlooking the water and walking distance to the pool are awesome. Our unit has excellent design features that make it feel high end. Our friends that come over who have lived in other complexes are in awe when they see our place and we still are paying the same or less as them. Were close to the freeway but it still feels like a resort. We have met a wide range of neighbors and everyone has been very nice and welcoming. I’m 31 and have already met people to hang out with. I’ve been able to cancel my gym membership because this gym here is wonderful and has everything I need. The only reason I am not giving it the full 5 stars is because the parking isn’t fabulous but to Los Angeles standards it’s equal to or above par. Their resident parking is full and they only had one spot left farther than I would like. They can’t change it but it’s still not too bad. Guest parking was full this past weekend, but we are right next to El Torito who has a 5 dollar paid lot and guests are also allowed to park further down the street for free if you are up for the walk or you can just pick them up. This parking situation is still easier, cheaper and better than what we dealt with at our past apartments in Marina we’ve lived in. We have neighbors on both sides of us as well as above and below us but feels like we are in our own single family house. We haven’t heard a peep out of them thus far. So far I am very happy with our decision to move in here. Will keep you updated!

This complex was recently purchased by Equity Residential as part of a 9 Billion dollar acquisition of Archstone from Lehman Brothers. Why do I share this? Because this place is ALL about the money! Yikes.
My wife and I were shopping for a home and lived in our unit for 6 months. When we gave notice we were moving, we did a thorough inspection of the apartment with the management. My wife and I are both professionals and we kept the place in immaculate condition and had the place thoroughly cleaned once a week. After the walk through with the building manager, we agreed to pay $ 265 for some minor repairs to a closet door, some paint on one wall and a spot on the carpet. I felt at the time, this was a little nickel-​and-​diming since the apartment was immaculate, but I wanted to leave on good terms. (I used to own apartment buildings and I would never charge for minor repairs when tenants moved out. I just figured that it was part of normal wear and tear.) We had a $ 1500 security deposit, so I was expecting the balance of the money back.

When I got the final bill, instead of sending me our remaining security deposit back, they said I OWED THEM $ 1354.05! Our total move our bill was $ 2104. What? Instead of fixing a spot on the carpet, they had decided to completely replace the carpet in the entire apartment and charge us for it! They also charged us for multiple items we never agreed to. So much for the final walk though in which we agreed to pay $ 265.
I wrote letters to the management trying to get them to charge us the amount they had agreed to charge us for repairs. I then started receiving notices and robo calls from Equity Residential saying that if I didn’t pay them, Equity Residential was going to go to collections and ding my credit. Since I was right in escrow on a house, I had to settle with them or risk having my credit score go down 200 points and not be able to close.
Also the renovations they did are as cheap as they can be. We constantly heard our neighbors banging around above us because the floors had inadequate sound proofing. All of this, and we were paying $ 2500 a month for a small two bedroom apartment.
Avoid this place at all costs. Really.

I gave it 2 stars because I only visited once months ago, but the leasing agent was so horribly arrogant, that I decided not to live here. I visited 2 other properties in the neighborhood, where the leasing staff was professional.

I have been living here for almost 1 year now and I absolutely love it. I feel like I am living on a resort every day. The management staff is great! They are always available when ever I need them and they always have a smile on their faces. Very pleasant. Although I hardly ever need maintenance, they respond promptly and always do a great job. The grounds of the complex are always clean. I feel very safe living here. Security does a great job and they are always friendly. This review is my personal experience so far and I would totally recommend living here.

All I can say this complex is very well kept, its very quiet, super mix of persons from their 20’s to the 70’s .
Dogey friendly with Waste Stations everywhere. Great barbecues ala Viking equivalent
Management is excellent and responsive to the needs of the residences. As to its Marina del Rey location, its fantastic! Its very close to The Marina Fwy, Culver Blvd, Playa, LAX and best of all, you avoid the grid lock sections of the Marina. The bike path runs adjacent to the property, so you can jog or ride to Redondo Beach going south or to Santa Monica, Venice going North. You can walk to shopping and eateries What more can I say its Paradise. The Breakwater is a gem

This is not a nice place to live. Management is unproffessional and non-​responsive. The complext is dirty. Rules not enforced. There is rare enforcement of non-​smoking policy. Apartment walls are thin. Parking is not patrolled. Dogs off leash and poop everywhere. And high turn-​over move out by residents. People are unhappy living here. Lots of loud parties at the pool. Complaints go unresolved. It’s literally the worst place I’ve ever lived, which is a shame becuase it’s such a pretty location.

If you’re looking for a fabulous place to call home, then you will find it at The Archstone Breakwater!!! Not only is the property and apartments beautiful and pristine, the Archstone Breakwater truly provides you with a sense of community! I have been a resident at the Archstone Marina Del Rey (another spectacular community) since 2009 and had never been happier. The staff is warm and welcoming, the amenities are top notch and the customer service and apartment homes are spectacular! After 5 years in my same apartment home I decided that it was time for a little change, but only with another Archstone/​Equity community. They truly have their residents interests at heart and go above and beyond to make your experience the best. That’s why they continue to win awards for excellence and why I continue to call Archstone Communities my home! If you’re looking for the best, check out The Archstone Breakwater or The Archstone Marina Del Rey. You won’t go wrong. The Archstone Breakwater is a newly renovated property and is breathtaking and it is why I continue to call The Archstone/​Equity family of apartments home. The office staff is superb. You couldn’t ask for anything better.

A huge thank you to the management of the Archstone Breakwater on Fiji way in marina del rey. I’ve lived at the marina harbor and mariners village across the channel and I can’t even compare. I just assumed it was a standard that the management of these large beautiful complexes in the marina were too corporate to care, but they definitely proved me wrong. I take my hat off to the management here at archstone for being great listeners, incredibly friendly, warm and generous. I’m clear since the day I moved in that they stand for excellence and it shows

Location, location, location… It’s what you pay a premium for at Archstone Breakwater. The amenities and apartments don’t equal the rental rates, but the view of the Marina and proximity to the bike path & Playa del Rey Beach are priceless.
My wife and I lived here for 34 months until just moving out this summer. Archstone took over about half way through our lease and we’re glad they did because the previous real estate company (Lyon) was horrific. The office staff and maintenance team for Archstone are friendly and efficient at their jobs. Communication is pretty consistent via email, too.
The negatives are hard to overlook. The elevators in our building broke down more than a dozen times and sometimes for more than a week or two. The condition of the old building was terrible with pipes that frequently backed up, dirty hallways, and a habit of neighbors to store their trash outside their door. One of the biggest attractions for us was the two pools, but they are only cleaned once a week and usually have sea birds in them. The pool is almost never used by anyone except to relax in the sun. Parking isn’t secure, but as long as you don’t mind the smell of dog urine around the poles next to your car, it is ok.
Overall, we loved living near the beach and the marina. It’s the best of both worlds and you can bike to Venice/​Santa Monica as easily as you can to Manhattan Beach. We hated our building condition, dirty neighbors, and the noise. Well, not all the noise. I don’t mind not hearing the UCLA classes shouting instructions on the water or the incessant Fog Signal, but I kind of miss the guttural pleas of the Sea Lions.
Archstone Breakwater at Marina del Rey won’t be for everyone, but if you value location more than lifestyle, peacefulness, or amenities, then it is a truly unique property.