Warehouse Artist Lofts — Attraction in Sacramento

I recently contacted WAL - Sacramento and unfortunately, my experience was quite poor. The customer service was lacking, and the manager seemed uninterested and not transparent and almost annoyed to even be working there.

I started by calling a couple of times but no one answered during the business hours. I left a voicemail, but the outgoing message was hard to hear. In my message, I mentioned the difficulty and requested a callback. However, when I called back again, I noticed an updated and clear outgoing voicemail, however, I did not receive a callback from them. Clearly they got my message and updated their voicemail but didn't feel the need to call me back.

I reached out to them via email this time and at least received the same automated email numerous times. In the email it mentions the following:

 “There are currently no vacancies at WAL - and we are not currently accepting applications for affordable housing; for households in the 30% and 40% AMI income. If you're interested in being placed on our waitlist for market rate housing, please download the rental application from our website and bring the completed application and background check fee to our leasing office. If approved for tenancy, you will be placed on our waitlist.” - Perfect, because I’m not interested in the affordable housing as I wouldn’t qualify and I'd like to waitlist myself.

The website advertised that they were only renting out studios and one bedroom lofts, with a 6 months to 1 year wait time, which is what I was interested in and didn't mind waiting. It's ideal time for me. So I showed up at the office attempted to join the waitlist, the manager didn't bother let me in, even though I could see him in the office through the glass door! So I called, and of course, the phone works perfectly fine and seeing that I was at the door, he was forced to answer! And that's when he told me I needed to make an appointment to apply!! During my appoint the following week he told me they're only taking applicants for studios! Moreover, the ONLY way to qualify for the 1bed lofts at all, was to waitlist for the studios, get in, live there first and while living there apply and then waitlist for the lofts. The manager created a convoluted process that felt like jumping through hoops to get to where you actually wanted to live. And the reason being, “There aren’t enough lofts in the WAL.” It feels like some fun little game the manager came up with himself to accommodate for the shortage of lofts. And it’s a way to test who will want to live here badly enough to go through his hoops. I personally would love to live here badly and I do want a loft. Both can be true. I shouldn’t have to temporarily camp in the studio, after waitlisting for it for years, then waitlist for the lofts, and just maybe after years of waiting, w the hopes of that I’d get lucky for a loft! Ridiculous. Just say you can only waitlist for studio on the website then or email?

Aside from these issues, I also noticed a lack of diversity and representation of people of color in the community. While the website states that they are an inclusive community, I didn't see much evidence of that during my interaction while spending time at the events there. And one of the only POC I spoke with mentioned the same. It's essential to have a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes people from all backgrounds, but this didn't seem to be the case at WAL.

Overall, my experience with WAL - was subpar. And I can appreciate the manager being open about the process AFTER some grilling and asking questions, but the process should be transparent on the website and on their automated emails. And as for why it’s not on the website, a mere “shrug” is not an appropriate answer. I would advise those looking to rent there to approach with caution and keep in mind the difficulties I faced during the application process.

Great location tho....

I just want to say thank you to who I believe is James, for offering me a chance to rent one of their apartments.

However.

A ton of time was wasted trying to rent one of their apartments. When I came into their office and gave them my income, I was told by one of the managers (who I believe is Athena) that I fell under the 30% AMI income. I gave them the money order and information all in one day to get the process going as fast as possible.

However, through email, I was offered an apartment at 50% AMI. During this time, I was communicating with Daniel. Another one of their managers. I was confused and tried to clarify through email that I was told I fell under 30% and not 50%. Even though I told him that, he still asked for my income records.

I don't know how the system works, so I'm trying to think of possibilities as to why I was being offered a 50%. Maybe that was the standard, then they would change the offer by your income? I had no idea. But after the third phone call with Daniel, I had to clarify a second time with him that I don't make 50% of the median area income so I don't know why I was being offered a 50% apartment. I asked if they needed to verify my income first before offering a lower rent price. But then he proceeds to tell me that it is strictly a 50% AMI income apartment... Even though I've told them a total of three times that I don't make 50% of the area median income... He then tells me that because I don't make twice the rent amount, then he can't certify me for the apartment... I don't understand. 30% never equaled 50%. So I don't know why I went through all the trouble to apply for an apartment I never qualified for anyway. If I was told from the start that it was strictly a 50% AMI apartment, and I would never qualify, I wouldn't have applied.

It's crazy to me that Daniel tried to make it seem like it's my fault over the phone because he didn't get the income records soon enough to see if he could certify me for the apartment or not. It wouldn't even have mattered anyway cause I gave my income in person from the very start. I even clarified over email that I dont make 50% of the AMI. And if the income records were that important, then he would have figured out I wouldn't qualify if he did the basic math from my income records.

Here, I was hoping to move out soon. Only to hear back that all they can do is put me on a waitlist of two years... Wow...

This was all a huge...

Really terrible experience. Lots of little bureaucracies within bureaucracies. Lots of waitlists… with the soonest availability about 2 years for a studio, and 4 years for a 1 bedroom… it’s a rad place— great location… and the people who live here will never leave. Honestly I think art residences like this should have a cap of 2 years per person so new and emerging artist can also get a fair shake at living here, as well. Seems like people move in and never leave… I don’t blame them… but I do think it’d be more fair and supportive to artists to give each resident artist a maximum of only 2 years to live there— this would certainly provide a yearly turnover of new rooms that consistently supports and encourages emerging artists in Sacramento who are poor, down on their luck or just trying to get on their feet. Shameful calling itself an artist residence. It’s just a regular residence with some...