The Civic — Local services in San Francisco

I've lived in the Civic for 2 years, and I will be living here for another year (for 3 total). I lived in a unit facing away from Polk Street, and I currently live in a unit with window-access facing Polk Street.

I'll breakdown my review by category:

Staff/Front Office: The staff here are all very courteous and friendly! John, Tanya, Ken and George have all been highlights in my time here. The front office staff are all very friendly and accommodating, and they go out of their way to help you out if you need it. When I moved in they offered me a COVID-rate, and later they offered me a rent concession when I opted to stay - and I never knew enough to even ask or negotiate for one. Their is third-party security on-site 24/7, the maintenance staff (Ken/George) are both very friendly, down to earth guys. I haven't interacted with management often, but they are always available.

Amenities: You have access to a parking garage, which is very cool. There are storage lockers, a small gym (well-equipped but small) and an outdoor patio and rooftop. The rooftop is a gem, you have a beautiful view of Civic Center/Hayes Valley, City Hall, the part of the skyline etc. The rooftop also has furniture, grills and fire pits which I use in the summer! The Civic also puts on activities like social events, rooftop yoga, and giveaways/movie nights.

Location: I absolutely love the central location in the city you get here. You can walk to the Asian Art Museum, City Hall, UC Hastings, two or three parks, tons of restaurants and bars in Hayes Valley, and have access to all of Market street. You'll be in the heart of the city, and there's always things going on. However, the downside to living in the heart of downtown is ambient noise and light. Be prepared for that especially if you choose an apartment facing the major intersection (and I recommend blackout curtains/ear plugs if you are a light sleeper).

Units: The units are all relatively new! Everything feels modern, clean and polished. You have laundry in-unit, provided to you as well as a microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, garbage disposal. Windows will depends on the unit, and the lighting by itself is a bit dimmer. But there are plenty of power outlets, and heating (no AC). Internal sound insulation is good - I don't often hear my neighbors.

Price: The pricing for are about as expensive as any other SF unit, but they are fair and the front office oftentimes offers deals!

The Civic is a great place to live, if anything because of it's location. If you want to live in a modern, sleek apartment in the heart of the city it's a great option. It has parking, accommodates pets, offers all the amenities of the city within walking distance and has some great people...

The Building: • The amenities include a gym and a roof deck, though the latter is often too windy and cold to enjoy. • Location is a highlight, with easy access to Civic Center, BART, and various public transit options. • Just two blocks away from Hayes Valley, making it a great area for dining and shopping. • Unfortunately, the neighborhood has a significant homeless presence, contributing to safety concerns.

Property Management (Laissez fair approach) • Initially, I was informed the utility bill would be about $60 per month because of the low-flow faucets. To my surprise, my first bill came to $180. This property management uses RealPage software for utility management. This software is under the Department of Justice Investigation and has been banned by the SF Board of Supervisors. • After signing the lease, I received no moving instructions, leading to a chaotic move-in day where I couldn’t even access the freight elevator. • I asked for updates on the loud site horn from a nearby construction project, and while the management had prior knowledge of the issue, their response was unhelpful. They sent out a generic monthly pamphlet that didn’t contain any noise updates and suggested I contact the construction team directly (this was communicated to me via email). • When I requested assistance with the locker system, the management directed me to the locker provider instead of providing direct support. • I requested sanitizing wipes for the gym multiple times (six or seven) via email. Although they assured me they would resolve the issue, the wipes were still unavailable when I checked back on Monday (after my Friday email) and they indicated that maintenance was the hold-up. The gym is 20 steps away from the office (?)

In summary, the lack of responsiveness and clear communication from property management significantly undermines the living experience here. I have never encountered such poor communication from property managers in the past; at Avalon Mission Bay, which offers multiple gyms, a rock climbing wall, a basketball court, a ping-pong room, and many other amenities, the property management was always professional and hands-on with...

We fell in love with how much the apartments received sunlight during the day even though it is surrounded by loads of tall buildings. I also love the location, as it is so close to Trader Joe's & Whole Foods. I looked at around 10 different apartments the same day, and this was our last apartment that we looked at. Our leasing consultant, Clayton was very kind and thorough with the tour. I could easily say that 25% of our decision was made due to Clayton and his enthusiasm.

I've dealt with a lot of apartment leasing team/management that always lacked in helping the tenants out through their lease - from small issues to larger ones. I've had no problem at The Civic whatsoever, only pleasant and comforting times. I also do feel that The Civic is doing a great job keeping the surroundings (including outside) very neat and clean - I barely encounter any homeless/zombies near here. Even though we are right next to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, I hear nothing even when there are concerts on certain...