AVA Pasadena — Local services in Pasadena

Short version: AVA hired contractors to remove the asbestos-containing popcorn ceilings in the hallways. After their work, debris that looked like the popcorn ceiling littered everywhere in the hallways, but management has no interest in cleaning it up. They are only interested in avoiding legal liability.

Long version: A few weeks ago, the building managers notified tenants that they would be removing popcorn ceilings in the building halls and that since the building was built before asbestos was outlawed in building materials, they would take asbestos precautions including testing. For readers who may not know, asbestos is extremely toxic. Asbestos fibers may enter the air when asbestos-containing material is disturbed and cause mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, in those who inhale it. No level of exposure is safe. My wife and I were concerned, so we sent the managers emails asking them about the precautions and the results of the testing. After many rounds of emails, the manager disclosed to us, but not to all residents in the building, that it had been confirmed that the popcorn ceiling indeed contained asbestos.

Out of an abundance of caution, my wife and I chose to stay in a hotel the day that the popcorn ceiling in our hall was removed (Tuesday). The managers sent out an email to residents around 5 or 6 pm that day announcing that the work was finished and it was safe for residents to return. I came back to the hall outside my apartment between 6:30 and 7 am the next day, before any contractors were in the building, and I took a photo (attached) of what I saw outside my door: little white pieces of the asbestos-containing popcorn ceiling were littered all over the hall. I made an urgent request through the building’s service app asking them to clean it up. The manager denied that the crumbs were from the ceiling since hours had passed since the ceiling removal and reiterated that a third party had deemed the hall safe to return to.

With nowhere else to turn, I had to ask the government to help me. After many phone calls, I learned that the agency in Los Angeles tasked with managing asbestos complaints is the AQMD (https://www.aqmd.gov/). They sent an inspector who arrived in the afternoon (Wednesday). The inspector looked at the debris and told me that he could not prove in court that the debris contained asbestos because he did not see who dropped it and that the individual pieces were too small to test. The inspector did say that I should not attempt to clean up the debris myself and that the contractors should vacuum up the debris with a HEPA vacuum. However, he had no authority to order AVA or the contractors to clean up the mess - he could only ask them nicely. After asking them to clean up nicely, they only vacuumed right in front of our door. On the second day (Thursday, still staying at a hotel), we said “No that is not enough, you need to clean the whole hall.” Then they quickly “vacuumed” so poorly that no one could tell they had vacuumed at all. On the third day (Friday), I began to threaten to write a review if they did not remove all of the debris from our hall, and they finally put some effort into vacuuming the hall but still missed many spots. When I continued to press that they needed to clean all possible asbestos debris from the hall and the building, they ceased to engage with me. We have not heard from them since Monday (6 days after the ceiling removal) when they said “Someone from our management team will contact...

A new Review of the maintenance crew

Alright! This review goes to the staff, and high kudos to the maintenance team, Rosalvo, Willie Nichols, and the Air conditioning and heat company! About a week ago, our AC unit went out! Toast! Yep, that's what I said, right when the hottest days in SoCal were in the 90s and 100s. I'm here to say that a new AC unit was installed today! Overall, we love living here; our neighbors are friendly and respectful.

JAN-FEB 2021 Once someone responds, I'll change my rating and possibly my review.

My fiancé and I have been to this location twice now. I went with my soon-to-be MIL—we were well received, and the staff agent was receptive. (I'm reframing the name now because I believe people deserve a second chance.)

I don't know exactly what happened regarding our applications placed on Friday, 1/15. It is legally said that I may have lost my application fee. I am waiting for our deposit to be on hold before getting back to us.

At first sight, the community doesn't strike you right away; however, once you enter, the premises are colorful and inviting, just as displayed on their website!

I'm feeling shaded by the apartment specials and offers to move in!

Only to learn that once you apply and pay for your fees, it takes 24 hours to get an answer for approval once they run your credit and background history! That didn’t happen then because my fiancé had his credit frozen when he got to release it. It was way after the 24-hour window, and the unit was given to whoever was next.

MAJOR UPDATE: As promised, Frankie (rental agent) is your go-to person. However, getting ahold of anyone in the Avalon communities office is difficult. Have some serious patience.

I must say that I lost it on Friday, 1/22. After an email and two other surveys from Avalon communities, it took me 2 hours to get someone’s attention and get back to me on the phone.

The “On HOLD” deposit made on Sunday, 1/17, was returned within 48 hours.

There was a lot of miscommunication and confusion between my fiancé/boyfriend and my MIL. I still hope that I can move in and live here. If not, oh well.

Thanks for hearing me out!

3rd LAST UPDATE

We made it! We moved to AVA Pasadena, and I can’t tell you how happy I am living there. Yes, there were some hiccups, though we prevailed. I strongly advise you to do your research. Frankie is the main guy to reach out to. He had incredible patience with us—best of luck to you. The neighborhood is nice and quiet! I haven't yet made it to the...

AVA likely exposed their residents to asbestos.

They just care about their bottom line - not the quality of life for their residents, or apparently, the lengths of those lives.

They changed from popcorn ceilings to flat ceilings in the hallway, they introduced asbestos to all the hallways. They had a bunch of materials to pipe air out of the hallways, but there was still a bunch of white powder/ residue on the carpet after we were cleared to return.

Pretty sure constant construction is done on the building to keep it nice for prospective tenants. AVA gives out a lot of short term leases, so there is definitely an incentive to attract new tenants rather than keep current residents happy; after all, if they're out in 6 months regardless, it doesn't matter if they liked it while they were here.

It seems like there's been construction forever, a lot of it right outside our doors in the hallway. They also painted the hallway new colors (twice in 1.5 years). It's been quite loud, and a constant knocking sound near your door really agitates any pets you might have.

There was even one day where we woke up and couldn't figure out how to exit our apartment because the doorway was covered in plastic sheeting. The email notifying residents of work in hallways came in an hour AFTER we were shocked to discover the blockage.

The advertised common area on the roof has been inaccessible for ages, and while it looks better now, it looked great before. Likewise, I write this after getting an email about yet another renovation - they're tearing up the carpets and putting in new carpets in, you guessed it, the hallways.

Sure it will look nice when you tour the place, but it won't stay that way for long and you'll have to hear it the whole time they make whatever unnecessary changes they want to make.

The bright spot is that the location is good and the maintenance team is great. Apartments are still a good value too, despite, of course, all that rent money that has to be being funneled into all these design changes. I'll be absolutely pissed if I get...