Station 16 - Millbrae, California

Maxim G.

Review for Station 16 Apartments.

My family and I lived in Station 16 Apartments for 15 months, and today is our move-out day. I want to share my experience to help others considering this place.

When we moved to the U.S., I wanted to find a comfortable home for my family. We selected a two-bedroom apartment with plenty of sunlight, which was a big plus. However, our experience had its challenges.

Pros:
1. Natural Light: The apartment had large windows, which brought in a lot of sunlight and made the space feel open and bright.
2. Service Response: When we had an emergency (a broken tap with water flooding), maintenance arrived within 10 minutes closed and fixed the issue in two days.

Cons:
1. Keys: We were only given 3 keys for 5 family members, which was inconvenient. Despite requesting additional keys at the beginning of our lease, we were told it wasn’t possible. We had to live with this limitation for the entire 15 months.
2. Window Issues: they were difficult to open and close. The mechanisms felt fragile and poorly designed, with thin metal components that bent easily if not maintained with oil.
3. Maintenance Quality: Although the service was fast, the repair of tap was done with used parts instead of new ones, which was disappointing.
4. Move-Out Process: This was the most stressful part of our experience. I informed management that I will clean the apartment, but they warned me that any spots on the carpet, walls, or laminate would incur charges. I spent a lot of time cleaning everything thoroughly, but with three children, some spots on the carpet were unavoidable.

My main frustration is that after paying significant rent, the management still holds tenants accountable for minor wear and tear. I believe they should either invest in professional cleaning tools or absorb some of these costs, especially for things that are normal after 15 months of living. The move-out process left me feeling stressed and unwelcome.

In summary, while Station 16 Apartments had some good features, in my opinion the overall experience was mixed due to inconveniences and the lack of understanding during the move-out process. I hope management can improve these aspects to make the experience better for future tenants.

Javier

I would strongly advise against renting here. My lease just ended, and I couldn’t wait to leave.

Summary: This place is marketed as a “luxury” apartment, but it’s anything but. The grounds are constantly littered with dog poop, trash rooms are overflowing with garbage, the walls are ridiculously thin, parking is a nightmare, and the property management team is completely indifferent. Save your money and find somewhere else to live.

Here are the major downsides:

1) Noise – The walls are so thin that you can hear every little thing your neighbors do, from closing doors to walking around to even their conversations. Management will tell you the walls are concrete and soundproof, but that's clearly not the case. Complaints fall on deaf ears. It’s possible you could get lucky with quiet, considerate neighbors without pets or children, but if not, you’ll be listening to them around the clock. Also, there's constant construction in the complex, which means more noise if you work from home. And it doesn’t look like the construction is going anywhere anytime soon.

2) Parking – For $125, you get the “luxury” of using a car stacker that’s broken half the time. When it’s working, it takes forever to get your car out, especially if you’re waiting for others to use it too. Alternatively, you can pay $105 a month for a BART parking spot, but that means climbing four flights of stairs to reach your car. If you go the daily route, don't forget to pay before 6:30 a.m., or else you’ll be slapped with a $55 ticket. You would think Station 16 would have some kind of agreement with BART but nope. And don’t even think about parking in the ground spots in the garage, or you’ll be threatened with towing.

3) Mailroom – While they have lockers, they're not consistently used, and packages are often left out in the open. I had multiple packages stolen, and when I asked management to review the security footage, they ghosted me. The cameras either don’t work or are just for show.

4) Security Deposit – Don't count on getting your deposit back. Despite keeping my apartment in great shape, I was charged for minor wear and tear, with no real justification. It's clear management is not interested in returning your deposit.

5) Trash Room – The designated trash and recycling rooms are always filthy. People leave trash on the floor, and management sends out emails but takes no real action to improve the situation.

6) Dog Poop – This is a pet-friendly complex, but clearly not all pet owners are responsible. There’s dog poop everywhere, and Station 16 does nothing to address it. It's a hazard, and frankly, gross.

7) Management – They seem like they’re just here to collect a paycheck. Their responses are slow and unhelpful, and they rarely do anything to fix issues. If you need actual assistance, you’re on your own.

8) Security – Security is practically useless. Homeless individuals come and go as they please, and whenever I do spot security, they're just hanging out in the lobby glued to their phones instead of actually patrolling or addressing the issue.

This place is not worth it. Look elsewhere.

Ryan E.

Very nice modern apartment right near Caltrain! I lived here in a new, never lived in studio for 15 months and had a great experience. Quartz countertops are super nice and found in kitchen and bathroom. Appliances are new and I never had any issues. Please note that the dishwasher and oven are a little small, but fine for one person.

No issue with noise either. I’ve literally never heard my neighbors, although my upstairs neighbors sometimes stomp around. Seems very well insulated to me, especially compared to older buildings. People complaining about noise have not lived in an older building…. This is probably the best you can get without owning a private house.

It’s a very pet friendly building, and has numerous pee spots for dogs in the front, back, and even nearby at the Residents Inn. The dog washing station downstairs was also perfect for keeping my pug clean.

Gym is very nice, especially the cardio room since it’s huge and has lots of treadmills. Weight room is kind of small and can get crowded, but has the essential machines and there’s nobody there in the mornings.

I’d recommend this apartment if you are able to afford it. Seems expensive at first glance but for the modern amenities, dishwasher, and in unit laundry, it’s actually in line with other spots. Only downside is the Millbrae area is still being constructed, but being right next to Bart and Caltrain means u can go anywhere. Also has chipotle, habit burger, Panera, and in-and-out within walking distance. I usually had to take a bus or uber back from Safeway, but it’s close enough to walk there (without carrying groceries).

And management was great, never had an issue getting ahold of them!

Lynn L.

I should’ve read the reviews.

Below average experience. The staff is nice but that’s it. They don’t offer a lot of solutions, which is odd, because as a nurse, that’s my job to think outside the box.

The parking stacker is the worst. And NO ONE told me I could apply for reasonable accommodation, since I have a disability. A maintenance person told me to apply since I have a disability. Funny how the office never told me. I ended up in a terrible accident with the stacker and now no one will insure me without charging an exorbitant fee.

The central air is LOUD. If you have noise sensitivity, this will give you anxiety. I’ve had to turn it off and rely on space heaters.

Then, a contractor I know, who worked on the apartment, said everything was made poorly and cheaply. They just stuff expensive appliances there to charge people luxury prices. The paint is so cheap. It’s still soft after 1 year. That really stabbed me in the heart.

So, at this point, I’m thinking of discussing this with 2 attorney friends of mine to see what my options are.

It’s really no wonder I don’t see the same people twice. I predict in 5 years, they can’t charge the prices they do. And the 1 Adrian is near by.

Atefe D.

UPDATE 06/14/2024: Families with young children and pets: DO NOT MOVE IN HERE!

We’ve been living here for over a year now, and the situation has only gotten worse. While the staff remains genuinely nice and always willing to assist, the fundamental issues with the building are unbearable and, frankly, dangerous.

If you have young children or pets, be prepared for a nightmare with the parking situation. They will assign you a parking spot on the stackers, which is a design flaw waiting for an accident to happen. To park your car in the stacker, you must leave your child or pet unattended in the parking lot, surrounded by other cars, while you go back and forth to park and retrieve your car. This is incredibly unsafe and impractical.

Their "solution" to this dangerous situation is to offer a loading zone parking spot on ground level. However, this spot may or may not be available when you need it. They expect you to park in the loading zone, take your child or pet home, leave them unattended, and then come back to park your car in the stacker. Absolutely clever, right? Despite our repeated requests for a ground level parking spot for the safety of our child, they have refused. Instead, they’ve notified us that they will tow our car starting July if it is in the ground level parking.

When we argued against their irrational request, they referred to California fair housing laws, which feels like a convenient excuse to avoid addressing the safety concerns.

And if you’re wondering about the unresolved issues from six months ago – no, they still have not cleaned the exterior of our apartment windows after a year.

Despite the high cost of living here, the lack of basic safety considerations for families and the unresolved maintenance issues make it clear that this building is not a suitable place to live.

Last review: We've been living here for nearly six months. The staff is genuinely nice and always willing to assist in any way they can. However, being a new building, several issues are still unresolved. We had to wait for months for the mailroom and nearby elevator and trash room to start working.
What's bothersome is that despite the high cost of living here, there hasn't been any effort to schedule a simple exterior window cleaning service. The windows in our apartment have yet to be cleaned, and it's not something we can do ourselves. I mean, we've been waiting for six months and they have no idea when they will be scheduling a cleaning service!

Nathan M.

I lived at Station 16 Apartments for over a year, and my experience was overwhelmingly positive. The management team and maintenance team are attentive and responsive, quickly addressing any maintenance issues that I had that came up.

The amenities are the best part about living there. The gym is well-equipped and rarely crowded, making it easy to fit in a workout, and they offer free fitness classes for residents on Saturdays which is great! The outdoor courtyard space is beautifully landscaped and perfect for relaxing or socializing, they even have a fire pit.

Location is another huge plus. It’s conveniently situated near Bart and Caltrain, plus In and Out! I appreciate the quiet community atmosphere, while still being close to city life.

The apartment itself is spacious and well-maintained. I love the modern finishes and the large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The soundproofing is excellent, and I rarely hear my neighbors.

Overall, I highly recommend Station 16 Apartments for anyone looking for a comfortable, well-managed living space in a great location!

Rafael Q.

Living here has been a total nightmare. The stacker/parking never works. I missed my 3 thousand dollar vacation flight because my car was stuck in the stacker and they would not fix it for hours. The apartments are super small and the leasing office employees are rude and are so tired of people complaining that they truthfully dont care at this point. Specially the asian lady with red hair she has a really big attitude and feels super entitled. When you park in the 2hr parking they will put non stop stickers in your car and violation even though i pay for parking. The pool is extremely small and u will never use it to be honest, is pretty dirty most of the time too or closed. The windows for the apartments is extremely dirty and they do not offer cleaning so yes, you will have nice view but windows are dirty so u cannot even take a picture out if your window. If you try to leave they will charge you the upfront bonus which is almost 10k and based on california law you must continue to pay rent until they have back filled the apartment.

Based on this, you choose if you want to move here or not. Do not recommend this torture!!! 😭😭😭

Keissy Q.

Living here has been nothing short of a hellish experience. The staff at the leasing office are shockingly unprofessional—rude, unsympathetic, and completely unwilling to work with tenants in any reasonable way.

The parking stacker is perpetually broken, leaving tenants scrambling for solutions, and the elevators are constantly out of order. It’s a circus of incompetence. To make matters worse, tenants are bombarded with relentless, borderline harassing emails about parking and noise violations. Pair that with the incessant construction noise, and you’re left with a living situation that feels more like a punishment than a home.

When I requested to downgrade to a smaller unit, I was told I’d have to pay for both apartments until my original unit was leased. That’s right—they expected me to shoulder the cost of two apartments simultaneously. On top of this, they demand a staggering $10,000 to break the lease.

This apartment complex is nothing but a cash grab wrapped in poor management and shameless disregard for its tenants. Save yourself the stress, frustration, and thousands of dollars—look elsewhere.