Kiara — Local services in Seattle

We recently lived at Kiara apartments in Seattle and had a fantastic experience. The staff (Michaela, Sara, Scott, Cheri, to name a few), location, views, and amenities were all exceptional. The apartment offered a variety of floor plans, and we particularly liked our "10" floor plan with views of South Lake Union (SLU). The rooftop amenities were definitely the most impressive, with unmatched views of the city. We held a few rooftop BBQs outside and dinner events inside which our friends really loved. I can't speak enough about the concierge service. This was a new benefit which we definitely appreciated especially with packages/mail deliveries.

One of the best aspects of Kiara is its location. With an H-mart (District H) located within the building, Whole Foods across the street, and a 2-5 minute walk from most Amazon buildings and SLU restaurants (including Sams and Local), Kiara is very well situated.

The apartment is actively managed, which means that the staff takes an active role in maintaining the property and ensuring a great experience for all residents. Community areas are cleaned regularly, including elevators, the rooftop, and parking garages. Additionally, rules are enforced to ensure a positive experience for all residents. While some may prefer a more hands-off approach, we appreciated the staff's efforts to maintain the property.

We also really appreciated the community mixer events. We personally attended the paint and sip nights which were great! They had a bar service with a large charcuterie board which was phenomenal.

However, there were a few minor nits why I wouldn't give Kiara 5 stars. There was a recurring problem with the trash and recycling chutes being down. Towards the end of our stay we also ran into maintenance issues with our fridge and the air conditioning/thermostat stopped working during one of the coldest days in Seattle. They did give us a space heater very quickly, though. The gym could be better, compared to the gyms in the other high-rise apartments. The utilities are definitely on the higher side. Moving from my previous similar sizes 1 bed / 1 ba to Kiara was a 2x jump in utilities bill. I partly attribute this to Kiara using a formula to split the bill across residents based on square footage of the apartment and number of residents vs. actual usage. Additionally, the immediate area around Kiara has an abandoned building that can feel dodgy at times, but that's perhaps just Seattle being Seattle.

Despite these minor issues, we highly recommend Kiara apartments. The staff, location, and amenities make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality living...

Michaela and Sara were incredibly patient through the entire process. I must've asked to look at over a dozen units at Kiara in the span of a few days, and they were both happy to assist me despite their incredibly busy schedule. The view and floorplan varies a lot depending on which floor and which corner of the building you're facing. When I finally did decide on a unit I really wanted, the application process and the lease agreement is very lengthy (application, renter's insurance, proof of income, electricity account, parking account, parcel pending, reading and signing the lease agreement), but that's all done conveniently online and they were able to walk me through each step.

I tried parking in my assigned spot and it took me 4 tries to fit my compact car into that cramped space next to an SUV and a stone pillar. So I walked up and asked Brandon if I could switch my spot. He went above and beyond my expectations, jotting down a list of valid parking spots for me so that I could take a look myself and pick out the one I liked best. It turns out that all of the available spots suck, but at least I found one I can park into easily. I just have to make sure my passenger gets out of the car first before I finish parking.

I will say that online website (RentCafe) has been offline or malfunctioning a lot in the past two weeks - it's been down more than up since I've started here. But I can still handle everything downstairs with the 24 hour concierge, and the site seems to be working again right now. The friendliness and experience of the concierge seems to vary a lot depending on the time of day, but I have always gotten the help I needed.

I've already made a bunch of maintenance requests for fairly minor fixes - cleaning vents, replacing a broken fridge shelf, cleaning and resealing some bathroom corners with mildew. They seem to get these fixes done within a few days, so I appreciate how responsive they are. That said, after cleaning the bathroom vent, I came back to find that the bathroom fan was missing entirely and I needed to submit another request to get it put back in the next day. So it's fast, but might not always be done on the first try.

That's about all I can remember for my first impressions these first few weeks. But I'm pretty happy about it so far and hope to enjoy my stay this year while my promotion is active - two months off rent was a big part of what sealed the deal for me to pick this apartment over others in the area. If they eventually offer similar promotions to retain current residents, I may end up staying...

I am happy to share that I have moved back to the Kiara community since my lease ended previously about 4 months ago.

To start, this building staff have really taken resident feedback and concerns seriously. They have addressed multiple items in the building and even added new amenities that provide a more engaging and convenient environment for residents.

First, the concierge in this building is on point. I had a very close move in date to a planned travel date, and this team made it easy. The concierge team took complete care of me, my packages, and going out of their way to assist in a few items while I was out of town at a cousin's wedding. There is no comparison to the team this building has, and I noticed this upon my first day.

Additionally, the leasing team has been very patient with me in exploring different units that caught my eye even after move in. Unit floorplans and locations are always unpredictable, and this building has such an easy transfer process should you wish to try a new unit, which I'm currently doing. They really strive to ensure you love where you live.

Michaela is extremely helpful and patient with move in AND post move in. Some places only help until you sign the document but Michaela has been helpful, pleasant, and patient with my random inquiries. It really is appreciated.

Another item to note is the communication the leasing has with residents is unmatched. I have received multiple emails and dates for any window washing, resident events, or other FYIs happening in the area. Speaking of events, there are already 3 events slated in the next few weeks which is great to see. Some buildings 'say they will have events' but this building has an entire schedule. On top of events, there is an entire group fitness schedule posted, included with no extra fee. I don't need a gym membership here.

I would also like to point out as someone that works from home, it's nice to have all the resources I need (printed, small conference room, water filter,etc) in one place and no need to leave to go somewhere else. They provide resources and treat residents like adults. There is no micromanaging of amenities, yet a balance of organization and ensuring resident safety.

In all, I highly recommend looking at Kiara as an option. The location is unmatched - in SLU without being on top of downtown-, the amenities are worth it, and the views are...