Bancroft Apartments

I lived here for 6 years and initially chose this place because I wanted to live in a charming old capitol hill building. I hope my experiences can be helpful for you.

Things to consider:
- I consistently had plumbing issues in my bathroom and kitchen. My kitchen flooded multiple times, I had to have my radiators repaired multiple times (one completely removed because it couldn't be fixed), they'd occasionally shut off the water supply for hours fso I’d have to pop over to a cafe to use the... bathroom, and access to hot water was inconsistent. The shower pressure was low, and water is a light rusty color. I've had to shower in an empty unit because mine needed repairs. My tub leaked into my downstairs neighbor's unit so frequently that they had a hole in their bathroom ceiling/could see the bottom of my tub for a while. My friends who live in other old buildings in capitol hill haven't had as many plumbing issues.

- the walls are thin enough that you hear neighbors talking and doing a variety of normal human activities (in the bathroom, bedroom, you get the picture).

- utilities proportionally cost more because the appliances and plumbing are old. When I lived here I usually paid about $150 - $180 in utilities each month, plus around $35 for laundry. My highest water bill was about $300, when there was a water leak in the building. I now live in a larger apartment with more efficient appliances, and my utility bills (including laundry) are around $60.

- I'd recommend reading the yelp reviews for northwest apartments regarding security deposits, especially over the last 5 years. They charged me over $2000 for cleaning and repainting my 520 sqft unit. I took very good care of my apartment while I lived there.

Living here is a bit like flying spirit airlines, except if it cost the same as flying business class on alaska. It was becoming increasingly hard to justify, so I moved. I'm still in the heart of capitol hill and my monthly housing costs are the same (what I pay more in rent I save in utilities) but I now have a dishwasher, in-unit washer and dryer, AC, and my walls are thick so I no longer hear my lovely neighbors pooping or talking on the phone.

I made do with the challenges of living here, but after getting to know the neighborhood and the various housing options over the last 6 years, I can confidently say there are many better choices regardless of whether you're looking for a charming old building or something modern with amenities. Read More