The Martin Apartments

We've been in The Martin for nearly two months and have been happy with it so far. The apartments are a good size, with plenty of nice views and light. We don't have issues with noise from neighbors or outside, and having central air is amazing. Savannah gave us a tour and helped us find a layout. She made the process easy, and moving in went smoothly.

The view is the first thing that comes to mind, it’s lovely. I can hear security asking people to move away from the garage entrance over the speakers, but with the windows shut the building blocks almost all of that noise. I’ve been here just over a month, after a serious water leak forced me out of my old apartment for 57 days. I run a small handmade goods shop from home alongside my day job, so the layout and space mattered a lot to me. Kendra and Rachel made the quick move-in feel warm and easy. Kendra also took time to answer my questions about things I’d seen in reviews and what was being done to prevent similar problems. Christian at the front desk has been friendly every time I’ve come by, and quick to help with the little questions that come up while settling in. I like getting the current newsletters about SLU and the neighborhood, since it’s been more than 20 years since I lived downtown in a city. When an elevator needs work, they send frequent updates. I’d rather wait an extra three minutes than ride in one with an issue.

The floor plans are a big reason I can see myself staying here. My first place was a one-bedroom with a den, laid out really well with no wasted space and a huge living room. I’ve since moved into a two-bedroom, and for the price I don’t think there’s a nicer, bigger space in Seattle. I’ve been here about three years and really like it. The amenities aren’t as flashy as those in some newer or larger buildings, but what’s here is nice and works well. The rooftop garden is a favorite. Staff are consistently friendly and helpful, especially Christian at the concierge desk, who’s kind and understanding when I bring up concerns. Casey doesn’t work in the building anymore, but she was also great to work with. The regular 10% rent increases are the one drawback. Seems to be happening at buildings all over right now, but it still sucks.

Elevator trouble made moving in much harder than it needed to be. Even though I had a reservation, there was only one elevator available, and one seems to be out of service all the time. There were other basic coordination problems too. My parking key hadn’t been tested, so I couldn’t get into the garage for three days. Staff weren’t available when I needed help during move-in, and the parking spot I was first assigned hadn’t been checked and was changed later without telling me. So far, my experience at The Martin has been disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend living here at this time.