Pescadero Apartments - Redwood City, California

Andrew Burkhart

Thank you so much to Spencer and everyone in the leasing office. The grounds are beautiful and there are so many walking paths. From a seperate office center to send emails to gym and jacuzzi, everything has been amazing. We're used the Amazon pickup center a few times. If you're looking for a community that is right near nature, quiet, and immaculate - this is it! Thank you so much to everyone! All the reviews below listing Pescadero as one of the best communities is spot on. Thank you to everyone!

Ted Briggs

EDIT: Previously 5 star; -1 star because gym was out of operation for the better part of a year due to minor "repairs" that were continuously delayed.

My partner and I visited many apartment complexes around Foster City/RWC, and we found this to be the best. (Edit: prior to facility closures, may no longer be the best). It is well-maintained, quiet and beautiful. It's nestled in a very nice neighborhood right along the Bay Area trail.

THE PROS:
+The staff is very professional, responsive, friendly and helpful. Once I left an interior light on in my car and drained the battery, and Itzel--one of the office managers--pulled her car up to my garage to give my battery a jump. No joke!
+Buildings and complex is very pretty
+Access to nature, pretty walking trails and great views. All the lagoons are fantastic.
+Ideal location. It is quiet at the end of a peninsula and there's little traffic. Convenient commute to big tech companies.
+Great apartment overlooking lagoon with patio, fireplace and garage
+Dog-friendly and right next to dog park
+Greenhouse style pool

The CONS:
-The utilities are very expensive. Expect to pay an additional $400+ per month on top of the quoted rent. (EDIT: they've since replaced appliances for efficiency, which noticeably lowered utility costs).
-The property is a bit over-landscaped. On one hand, I LOVE all the plants and the incredible care put into the property, but with WFH, it's annoying to have leaf-blowers and trimmers running a few days a week.
-EDIT: amenities out of commission: gym was shut down due to Covid; once reopened, they shut it down in June 2021 for endless "repairs" and didnt reopen until March 2022.

NOTE:
+Reading other reviews, I think some of them are dated. In particular, people warned of a smell from a waste management plant down the road. I've lived here 14 months now in building M (physically nearest the direction of the plant), and I've only noticed any smell once.
+Also, people complained of poor sound insulation, but I never hear any of my neighbors, so I'm not so sure about that one.

Larry

3 year update (2024): Continue to be very happy here. I've lived in apartments and owned houses in various states throughout the country, here's my thoughts:

1. Condition & Maintenance:
The buildings are a little older, but well maintained and don't show their age. The owners are clearly investing in the property, renovating units and common areas. Maintenance is amazing, they resolve even the smallest issue within a couple days and are super friendly. This is the best I've ever experienced.

2. Common Areas:
The gardens around the complex are lush and immaculately maintained. Trimming and leaf blowing happens at least weekly and can be disruptive. The cost is likely reflected in your rent too. A few grassy areas, but you're also along the waterways and walking/biking paths. A children's playground is right outside the complex.

The outdoor pool area was entirely redesigned & renovated, with more seating, lounge seats, gas grills, and new hot tub. It was inaccessible for all of 2023, but now back in commission. Gym was renovated a couple years ago, it's much bigger now and replaced sauna with a weight room.

3. Location:
Lots of surrounding nature and wildlife areas. Occasional coyotes in the adjacent wildlife areas but never seen within the community. Racoons are occasionally seen around the dumpsters at night and squirrels are everywhere. Not a big deal, beats city living.

Older posts mention a smell from water treatment plant nearby.
I've never noticed anything. Sometimes on really hot days the bay and sloughs can smell...that's just the bay area!

You'll hear plans often, but you're not right under the flight path like areas in foster city.

4. Security:
Very safe and quiet residential area tucked away from US-101. Safe and low crime.

Packages are stored in lockers, during renovations they installed almost triple the amount and management enforces drivers to use them.

There's a security gate, but most visitors or delivery drivers just wait for someone to open it. It was inoperative during renovations but now back in service. The building layouts are weird so you'll often see lost delivery drivers.

5. Apartment Units:
The price point is great for what you get (~$4k) for the bay area, anything lower is like an old beat up college dorm. Anything more is overpriced or in "luxury" territory in hotel style living in the concrete jungle, Pescadero really is a diamond in the rough. Management has been very fair with our lease renewal rates so far, but I've also heard very different stories from numerous friends in the complex including some who have moved out.

Floorplans are good and they offer a 2bed + den which is hard to find at this price point. Apartments are extremely quiet, generally your adjacent walls don't touch your neighbors, and I don't hear a lot of noise above or below. Garage is great, kitchen storage is
small.

There's no air conditioning. Granted it's a little cooler right by the bay with a good breeze, but trust me you'll want some portable air conditioners. This is probably my only gripe: for this price point there should be central air.

6. Garage and Parking
Parking is $25 per year for permit (hidden fee). Garage is great, particularly if attached to your building. Other detached garages are basically carports with a door. Outside parking spots are sized for compact cars only. Trucks & SUVs take more space, but you'll always find a place to park.

7. Utilities
No utilities are included, so plan to add another ~$200+ to your bill for garbage, water/sewer, and hot water. The total cost is socialized and shared amongst tenants in your building based on occupancy and sq. footage. There's also a hidden admin fee for the billing service. Electric will cost another ~$100-$150 w/ PG&E.

8. Management
Management is great. They are very friendly and attempt to provide a personal touch. They're always responsive and follow up on concerns. Can be a little nit-picky on small 'violations', but that tends to come in waves and understandable to maintain a great place to live.

Maryna Kushnir

A beautiful community. Appartments are great and clean. The management team on site is very helpful and friendly. The renovated pool and jacuzzi are about to open. There is tons of space to walk with a dog. Close to bay trail for biking. School is 5 min away. Amazing place to live.

David Kim

My wife, cat, and I have lived here for over two years now and we absolutely love it. The view of the lagoon and wildlife is breathtaking, and we love the aesthetic of the premises. There is also a very nice walking area nearby with a beautiful variety of flowers and sunset. We have had no issues with the apartment itself. The staff are incredibly friendly and responsive to any of your needs. The apartment really provides a quiet and tranquil respite from the city.

Vivian Wu

Please be aware that this apartment is going to charge you 2k+ at move out for: replacing carpet, replacing counter top, painting, deep clean, etc. Go to court and dispute these charges!

Silvia Alem

Beautiful place to rent a spacious apartment.

Brandon Dalton

The leasing office staff are extremely unfriendly and clearly did not want to take the time out of their day to facilitate a unit tour. Would recommend looking elsewhere.