City Gate at Cupertino Apartments — Attraction in San Jose

I really enjoyed working with the management team and maintenance team they are very friendly and try to help but ultimately were limited by Equity Residential and the unfortunate circumstances that come up on the property. We spent a year at City Gate, moved from the Midwest and needed to find a place within a few days. We spent an extra day in a hotel so the apartment could be cleaned. The leasing office told us it was cleaned and move in ready, as we began to move in, we noticed it was not clean. We spent 6 hours cleaning, purchased, and put down throw rugs over the bedroom carpet (the only carpeting in the apartment) since it had not been cleaned between tenants. Management did try to rectify this by offering to have someone come in and clean, however, our belongings were all over the apartment so this was not possible. Management did provide a 3-day rent reduction for the inconvenience.

Although this is a “gated” community, it is not secure. Within 2 weeks of moving in someone attempted to forcibly enter my apartment, there were other reports of this same activity on the community blog on more than one occasion. There are continuous issues with car break ins, vandalism of personal property, theft of personal property, even from second floor balconies.

The mailroom, is a room with shelves placed around the room with building numbers above the shelves. Most of the time, deliveries are not where they are supposed to be, tenants continually complained about having to spend significant amounts of time looking for packages. There was a break in of the mailroom at one point, most packages were opened and contents stolen affecting many residents. I began having packages delivered to the amazon lockers nearby and stopped utilizing the mailroom.

There were multiple issues with USPS mailboxes being broken into as well, with notices from USPS informing of this issue and advising that mail delivery may have to be interrupted while they investigate the criminal activity.

Appliances are very old, the maintenance crew does their best to keep them going, however, for the price of rent, Equity Residential should do a better job of providing up-dated appliances and renovations. There were a lot of noise complaints and noise waking residents in the middle of the night. Many children go unsupervised and cause damage to the landscaping and property as well as noise.

The property is very pet friendly and provides free waste bags and containers to dispose of waste throughout the property, however, pet owners do not always take advantage of this and there are many complaints of pet waste not being disposed of properly.

The one time I used the pool there were a lot of insects and debris in the pool, I noticed the filters were not on, I am not sure if this is normal operation since this was the only time I used the pool and did not go back after that experience. I had no pest control issues within the apartment while I lived there. The property is very close to the highway and has a nice area within walking distance for shopping and dining. The property is not very accessible if you have mobility issues or require assistive devices for mobility.

Equity Residential could do a lot more to deter crime and help tenants find culpable parties by installing cameras at all gates, parking lots and in parking garages. This does not require continuous monitoring as recordings could be reviewed later and postings of security cameras in use would likely deter many of the things that happened.

I was glad to see some of the higher star reviews, hopefully others are having a better experience, however, several have no comments so the validity is questionable to me. I would look at some of the lower reviews. I have looked through many of them and you will find there is a common thread. Due to the criminal activity within the property we chose to move to a different property. The management team considered the issues with cleanliness on move in which was reflected in the return of most of my...

There's a notable gap between reality and the advertised features. Be cautious of the appealing photos and promises of upgraded appliances and energy efficiency (our tour was impressive). The AC and heaters are outdated, leading to high operating costs, and the insulation is subpar. Factor in around $600-$700 monthly for utilities (plus internet) in addition to your proposed rent before making a decision. Also, set aside $1500 for move-out charges.

Initially drawn to a 2 Bed Townhouse unit, the rent increased when we applied later. Opting for a similar unit with the same layout, we encountered issues upon moving in. The apartment was inadequately cleaned, and the carpet was worn. After being asked to delay our move-in for cleaning, a maintenance tech evaluated the carpet a week later, deeming replacement necessary. This led to multiple relocations of our belongings. While requesting a rent adjustment during move-out, management declined, citing the need for an earlier request.

Accessibility: No elevators are available. Move-Out Charges: The move-out fees included $700 for painting and $600 for cleaning. I possess move-in photos confirming the apartment wasn't painted or professionally cleaned as promised before my occupancy. Forum Moderation: Negative comments on the internal forum are consistently removed by management. Security: Incidents of theft and break-ins include the parcel locker, car break-ins, and the USPS mail locker. Management avoids responsibility, advising tenants to be cautious and report to the police. Despite being promoted as a secure gated community with patrols. Gate Maintenance: A pedestrian gate leading to 7-11 remains in disrepair frequently, compromising community security. Driveway gates also experience extended periods of dysfunction. Tenant Turnover: High resident turnover necessitated smart locks to avoid frequent lock changes between tenants. Unwanted Intruders: There are numerous reports of unfamiliar individuals attempting unauthorized entry or ringing doorbells. Insulation/Energy Efficiency: Poor insulation, drafty windows, and doors lead to discomfort and illness in winter. High Utility Costs: Baseboard heaters result in over $400 monthly bills for PGE. Utility costs for water and garbage amount to $200 monthly. Maintenance Challenges: Mold issues were inadequately addressed, involving just dusting or cleaning with a cloth. Maintenance requests were often delayed, necessitating in-person visits to the leasing office. Communication via emails and calls received no response. Animal Concerns: Stray cats roam freely, posing health risks. Some residents neglect pet waste cleanup. Pest Problems: Cockroach infestation persists with no management action. Flea Infestation: Fleas from nearby shrubs invaded apartments, causing discomfort and itching. Noise Disturbances: Frequent disruptions from planes under the flight path and highway sirens hinder peaceful living. Children's Noise: Lack of a dedicated play area results in children's noise echoing in the alleys. Neighbor Noise: Thin walls transmit noise, even from neighbors on different floors. Bass from a neighbor's home theater caused repeated disturbances. Garbage Trucks: Early morning garbage truck noise penetrates windows/doors lacking noise insulation. Parking and Guest Policy: Guest parking requires a permit during office hours, limiting spontaneity. Predatory towing is a concern ($500 per infraction). Limited attention for residents due to ongoing tours. Office Accessibility: Management office is often unstaffed and unresponsive to voicemails. Wait times during visits can exceed 30 minutes. Communication: Prior confirmation of management availability is advised before visiting...

We really regretted renting here;

1. The apartments are literally next to a very busy highway (I-280), beware of air pollution if you have kids especially and a lot of noise starting from 4 am.

2. There are always shady people in this area for some reason e.g. observe the people visiting the 7-eleven right behind the apartments. A couple of times a year, random group of teenagers make loud "underground garage" parties here, we had to call police to stop them.

3. Security is a problem, your cars will be broken into for surefor sure