AVA 55 Ninth

David made the tour stress-free and enjoyable. He was friendly, professional, and knew the building and neighborhood well. He answered all my questions, shared useful thoughts on living at Ava 55 Ninth, and I left feeling excited and confident about the possibility of moving in. The apartments are well laid out, with lots of natural light, stylish finishes, and huge closets. The lobby and shared spaces are beautiful, impressive, and clearly well maintained. From the moment I came in, the whole building felt clean, modern, and welcoming.

I wouldn’t choose to live here again. The location and higher-floor views are nice, and I appreciated that the building allows animals, but the rent doesn’t reflect what you get. Monthly utilities pushed my costs well above the advertised rent, often by $200-$300 in my experience, with trash alone around $100 a month. The appliances and amenities seemed worn and poorly maintained. The dishwasher barely worked during my last year, and I was told that was the best it could do. The fridge ice was greasy and unusable. Requests in the resident app often appeared completed without anyone actually responding. All three elevators were frequently out of service, a serious problem on a high floor. The concrete floors look cool, but they’re unforgiving if you drop your phone. Move-out and billing were the worst part. Office staff often came across as rude, dismissive, and passive-aggressive. I moved out weeks before my lease ended and was told to take my things and go. They wouldn’t do a walkthrough, then later charged me for damages and more than $400 in utilities that had never been clearly explained. Rather than calmly explaining the bill, they eventually sent the balance to collections. I paid what they said I owed, but the process felt unprofessional and confrontational. If you do live here, go in with your eyes open, check everything, and keep careful records.

These are compact, self-contained budget units with lots of sunlight and good views. The central spot is close to the freeway, public transit, BART, the business district, theaters, markets, and good coffee shops. Parking is very limited, and the neighborhood isn’t especially friendly.

I’ve been here for over five years and have really enjoyed living here. The dog run, gym, downstairs coffee shop, bike room, and other amenities are great, but the staff are the best part. Trish Blair and David Bejarano go above and beyond. They’re responsive, helpful, and clearly care, which makes a real difference and helps the building feel like a great place to live. Highly recommend.