Boxcar

Time Frame: Stayed here for a year
Price: I only paid 1050 $ for an extremely tiny studio on the 5^th floor
Community: I would say most people here probably works at Amazon or Microsoft nearby but there are also students here with weird hours making noise…
Location: The location was minutes from work, however, after work hours this is a dead zone. You will not see anyone walking around on the street. There may be a few people in the restaurants nearby but this is generally a pretty dead place. I found myself going to capitol hill or belltown frequently because there was nothing here. There is a wholefoods 2 blocks away but its kind of pricey for groceries and there are restaurants nearby as well… but honestly… if Im going there for lunch while at work… I dont feel like going there after work.
Noise: OMFG this place is noisy as hell!!! You hear the upstairs neighbors stomping around all day and night and some of them dont sleep till after 2AM for some reason so you have to shift your life around THEIR schedule unless you live on the top floor. If you are very sensitive to noise, this is NOT the place for you. Also as other people have stated… the stupid garbage trucks are load as heck as well… you hear it in the morning all the time. I wasnt even facing the alley and I could hear it on the other end…
Views: There are no views of anything…
Apartment: The kitchen and bathroom was normal, there was nothing special about either of them. Very cheap and energy efficient appliances. I did like how they offer in unit washer and dryer which is nice.
Parking: Underground parking for additional fees
Amenities: There is a Gym which is nice and common BBQ area.
Staff: The maintenance staff Ricky was awesome and was also helpful. The leasing office and Nick was also very helpful.
Overview:
— Dont live here if you are sensitive to noise… you will hear everything next door, across the hall, above and below, and outside. I would only consider living here if I was on the top floor…
— Minutes from work but this area is a dead town after working hours (6PM and weekends).
— The staff is always helpful and polite and got things fixed when needed
— If it wasnt for the noise, i might have stayed.

I have agree with the first reviewer. Had I read it before moving in I would have thought otherwise.
I live on the 6 floor and I can hear the garbage trucks.
The worse and unbearable thing is the noise. My upstairs neighbors stay up late and seems to get active after 1130pm. I’ve been woken up @2am and those that have experience this, its maddening because you can’t go back to sleep. I’ve let manager know about 4 times and not much seems to have changed. I like the location but the noise is not worth it! I need to move asap!

I compiled this review during my year at Boxcar. It’s a tad long, but I feel it’s fairly complete. It probably makes me sound like a giant dick for nit picking; but essentially every time something bothered me I added to this.
I lived in Boxcar during their very first year. So, I’m going to not mention the things that were launch problems, and just focus on the unchangeable qualities of the buidling.
Noise:
I was on the third floor corner unit toward the alley, where the entry to the parking garage is. One thing you don’t experience when walking through a place is the noise level during the ‘quiet’ times. A lesson learned for me is look around the area for commercial garbage, that’ll tell you where the trash truck noise will come from. For me, my unit was basically right next to it.
A trash truck comes every single day; 3:30am some days, 5:30am other days. The latest I’ve ever heard them was 7am. Yep, it was hell. Loud trucks, loud metal boxes, and clanging machinary to lift and bang the garbage.
Also, Boxcar was constructed using some new recycled steel beam program, which allowed a «modular frame system» construction. What I didn’t realize this meant was; All of the walls and floors are really thin.
They were built off site and placed onto the structure; they have to be light enough to crane as an entire unit, and not built from pieces. (I’m assuming). So, I can hear my neighbors above, beside, AND BELOW me. My Upstairs neighbor liked to do jumping jacks at 2am, probably prepping for the trash truck, but that wasn’t as bad as just constantly hearing them walk around.
Also, everyone on the floor liked to slam their doors shut. Which, you could hear happening anywhere on the floor you live on.
Interior:
The hardwood style flooring is really nice. Though, it:
* Damages really easily
* Stains really easily; movers wheels left marks the very first day!
* Is slight soft, and plyable, so wheels/​furniture burrows into it (but not permanent)
The kitchens are great, but lacking counter space. I really appreciate the extra cabinetry in the unit that helps spread out stuff that doesn’t fit elsewhere. Though, they don’t have any shelves in the larger units; which is weird. 4 foot tall cabinet with no shelves. who knew.
Sinks, bathroom, toilet, and appliances; All the cheapest stuff you could possibly select. Though there is a garbage disposal in the kitchen, which is great to have.
Parking garage:
Really tiny spaces, you will get dings on your car. Accept it. Also, you’ll be 10 point parking every time you go in and out.
The recycling is only in the parking garage, so if you want to participate, you’ll have to make a special trip. There are garbage shutes on every floor.
Elevators/​Hallways/​Entry:
Elevators seem to work fine. Though i haven’t figured out how you can let someone up to your room without going down to get them. You can beep them into the lobby, but you need the keyfob to call an elevator.
Hallways are clean, wide, and well lit. No windows in the hallways though. And the décor is very ‘chic prison’.
You enter and pass the sales office; which is layed out to make it the most awkward experience when you have a package to pick up. The mailroom is next to that, and then a hallway leads past the elevators to the common area.
Common Area:
* Lots of seating. Most uncomfortable chairs/​couches imaginable.
* TV is pretty nice, kitchenette is near identical to the units.
* Outdoor area has a gas fire place with seating, a gas grill (which I’ve never used, but I’ve watched bunches of people fail to use properly; so I imagine it’s junk/​broken.)
Gym:
I was a big fan of the gym until they installed a speed bag for boxing. It’s LOUD. And just uses up more of the already limited space in that room. 145 unit apartment, and room for 4 people to use the gym at once.
Maintanence:
* Vacuuming and dusting doesn’t appear to happen often/​ever.
* Windows only seem to be washed once a year.
* Problems with the units were fixed promptly, they have an online entry form for issues.
Overall:
Would I live there again? No.
If it were my only option within walking distance of work? Maybe.
Would I recommend it? I’d say go take a tour.
Let’s just say I didn’t hate it enough to break my lease and after my lease came to a close there were more than enough options nearby that I found something that was quieter, better equiped, and within the same price point.

Being new to Seattle the leasing agents have been nothing but amazing to my husband and I. This is only the second apartment in the U.S. that I can honestly say, «You need to live here!» It’s not too loud and I don’t seem to ever hear my neighbors. They have a rooftop patio and a lower level patio that includes a fire pit and grills. The fitness room is enough for just minimal track training and the lounge area isn’t too bad. If your fridge seems to have an issue they don’t mind you using the lounge kitchenette fridge. The have composting, recycling room is fairly large and trash room doesn’t seem to ever smell horrid. Air conditioning would be nice for the hot summer we are having but it isn’t unbearable.