I truly enjoyed living in this complex. Before moving in, I did a lot of research in this area but Bakery Loft (and b2) seem to have very reasonably priced units with great amenities. Shout out to my landlord, Kyerra, who always cared for the tenants. She was very easy to reach out to and was patient with me. I would love to live here longer but am moving out of state due to job relocation. I actually introduced my little sister and brother-in-law this apartment complex and they are currently living here. They also enjoy their place and told me great feedback about communication with the landlords. Since I had a great experience with this complex, I am looking into the same company's (Madison Park Financial) apartments in the area I am moving to. Thank you so much for the great experience while I was in the East Bay! Thank you Kyerra! read more

Lived here for five years and over the last year and a half things have really gone downhill - insufficient maintenance staff, elevators breaking down when it rains, lack of constructive management, sudden changes in policy that aren't announced properly, etc. An example is that our dishwasher broke down in early December. We requested a replacement while it was being fixed given that we were hosting for the holidays. We were given an old, used, moldy unit that we had to clean ourselves. It is mid-February and we still don't have the original dishwasher back. The management company, Madison Park, is entirely to blame. They haven't hired sufficient leasing, management, or maintenance staff so everyone is overworked. They are increasing rent much more than they have previously and introducing new policies like "pet rent" (in addition to the fees listed on the leasing website), charging for parking for residents who originally had parking spots included in their rent, etc. The argument is that this brings Bakery Lofts in line with industry standard, but industry standard for $3k/month usually includes in unit laundry (some tenants have been very inconsiderate about their use of the laundry rooms, of course). The pet area advertised on the website has been in disrepair for at least two months - the ground cover is strewn all over the paths, and now much of it is flooded. Two residents have reported having to clean dead animals (a rat and a squirrel) from the area so the dogs don't catch something from the carcasses. I don't have a pet, but I love my neighbors' dogs and cats so this environment is really upsetting. Security issues are rife - just last week two residents found someone (not a resident) defecating in the supposedly secure garbage area. Package theft is a constant occurrence and some mail carriers refuse to use the package lockers that were installed last year. Several years ago the onsite manager organized frequent events for tenants - multiple movie nights in the summer, cookie exchange in December, and so on. These haven't happened in the last two years, but several new tenants were told that these events still happen as part of the sales pitch. I asked after these events several times and was told that I could organize them myself, unpaid, if I wanted. Oh yeah, and if you go to month-to-month after a lease they will bump your rent by 25%. Several tenants report that the management company claimed that they never renewed their lease and tried to bump them to month-to-month. Those tenants had renewed and had copies of their paperwork to show to management. No thanks, Bakery Lofts. read more

After living in the B2 building for 7 years my partner and I finally moved out. We watched about 4-5 property managers come and go and none of them were particularly awful or exceptional, despite the other reviews. Some very vocal tenants seem to have a problem with Kyerra, but I never had any issues with her. (When I locked myself out of my apartment she was there in under 5 minutes to let me back in and was really nice about it.) In all of my interactions with her, she has been professional and reasonable. My neighbors... not always. I think Madison Park is a disgusting company that uses whatever legal (?) loopholes they can to jack up rent (Rent control in Oakland? No problem! We'll up the parking costs and start charging a 'community fee' and pet rent!) The common complaints from others include package theft and car break-ins... neither of which I ever experienced during my time here. What I did experience was... neighbors putting up a massive projector right in front of our window to watch loud movies in the courtyard, neighbors screaming at each other and Kyerra (the latter usually over really stupid shit), neighbors letting their dogs pee and poop in the courtyard (and not cleaning it up), and neighbors trying to throw their goddamn furniture in the garbage and pet bedding in the laundry machines despite multiple emails and signs telling them to knock it off. It took me a while to realize, but the thing I think I hated most about living at Bakery (aside from Madison Park) was 'the community.' read more

Just wanted to say that my partner and I ( gay women ) signed a lease on a B2 loft recently. At no time did I get the impression that Racheljoy was homophobic. As to the person who said "everything was going fine with the application until she found out we are gay" Maybe your credit sucks ?? And the person ranting about the lack of air conditioning and the concrete floors, did you not see these things when you first looked at the place ? I was glad to see a lot of signs designating where you are allowed to let your dogs relieve themselves,otherwise wouldn't there just be s**t everywhere ? I've lived in complexes where management has lost control of the situation and let me tell you a little micro management is way more appealing to me. read more

Rachel joy is the Resident Manager at B2 Lofts. She Stated that "To me, it's great that this person took so much time to write a review because it gives me something to work from: take some notes to make some self improvements for myself and towards my buildings." Bullshit! She is very discriminating , every thing was going fine with the application as soon as she found out the we are gay, she totally went out of her way not to answer our calls, after a week of trying I had to call her boss in down town Oakland. He apologized for her short her . I asked that Ms.Joy should be the one with apology ...but that did not happen. Will see how much she'll learn from this. 1 4 read more

I lived at the Bakery Lofts a year ago and am appalled at a few reviews on here. The management was beyond GREAT. Anything I needed was attended to right away and I seemed to get things stuck in my disposal quite a lot and Rachel never seemed annoyed at having to send someone up. When my dishwasher started leaking they replaced it immediately. Also the living there is really sweet. Neighbors are coming and going due to the amount of amazing artist spaces that are there, but there was often blue grass music practice or bbqs, art walks, garage sales. My neighbors were all so sweet and I truly had a really sweet year living there. When I left I knew I would miss it. My giant windows let in gorgeous light and I loved the quiet there. Wind chimes, cute cats, beautiful plants, safe parking, clean, quiet and a really open accepting community. I stayed to myself a lot but I loved everyone there. I just wanted to speak up for the Bakery because they were the best management I have ever rented from. read more

While living in SF I came to a birthday party at the Bakery Lofts and told my significant other (who was always trying to get me to move to Oakland) "I would only move to Oakland if I got to live here" ... and a couple days later we moved to B2! I lived there a year and my whole time there was delightful! I loved my unit and the beautiful courtyard which is great for BBQ's! All my neighbors and their dogs were friendly. I never had any maintenance issues but if there were I am sure Racheljoy and Bryan would be on top of it! I moved out 6 days ago and I am homesick! I wish I could have lived there longer but I am grateful for the friendships I made while there so I can always go back to visit....especially for cake/pie/chili/bread cook-offs, BBQ's and whatever other events there are with food! read more

I just recently moved from B2 Lofts at the end of my year lease. The only reason I moved was to cut down on my expenses by moving in with someone else. If you have a dog, this is a perfect place. During my year at B2 Lofts I had an site dog walker that gave me piece of mind knowing Beamer would get a break in the middle of the day. If you work in the city, the commute is perfect on AC Transit. Beautiful views of the city, sunrises and sunsets. Bart was about a 30 minute walk for me, so I preferred AC Transit. The neighborhood as I've learned after I moved there is "up and coming". If you're looking for a "Claremont Ave" feel, this isn't the place. There is a grocery and drug store convenient enough to walk to if you're living without a car. I lived the first 6 months without a car and the area was great for my needs. If you have a car, the gated assigned parking is a plus. I have to disagree with F M about being rejected from the apartment because they were gay. I know there are other gay people living there. As a former resident I appreciated Racheljoy's selection of renters. There's a wide range of individuals from young couple, those with kids and just old like me. If you're looking right now for a 1 bedroom, go check out the unit I just left. It's really clean because I did the cleaning! read more

I will second the notion that Rachel Joy discriminates! My partner and I are both African-American. We went there to view the lofts, and Rachel Joy went on and on about how they usually offer low-income lofts but at this time they don't have any available. We kept telling her that we do not fall under the low-income bracket but she kept pushing the idea that that was what we were looking for! Plus, she was clearly not pleased with having to show us any of the units. So, yes F M. - absolute Bullshit! Plus, the units we saw were shit. I wouldn't waste my time, money, or identity on this crap! read more

I have lived in both the B2 and Bakery. Totally different vibes, Bakery more artist friendly coolness and thus you are always going to be entertained to some degree. The B2 is a more family/9-5er kind of place. Still cool, everyone is still friendly just totally different. Would love to see the B3 developed and an actual dog parkish thing instead of a poop place. Which is me just being a brat because where else can you find a place that has a nifty poop park! Not only that - the community rocks. Bake-offs, movie nights, rockband competitions, Open studios with art that will make you swoon with pride to be part of such an awesome community! RJ and Raquel also rock my face off. read more

My current wife and I moved here a few months ago from Berkeley. We are very happy here. Easy access to the highways, parking and no pan handlers. We live in the B2 building. I have listed the pros and cons below; Pros: * People here are very friendly. I have enjoyed talking with everyone I have met. * Management is great. Both Brian and Rachael are Great. * Our loft is awesome (high ceilings..however we have a two bedroom). * The outside space is great * There is currently no construction Cons * Everyone has multiple dogs here. It's ridiculous. There should be a limit on how many dog owners can live here. * There are really bad dog owners here. They will usually excuse this behavior by mentioning that it was "rescued from the pound". FU.. You are just a shit#y dog owner. * There are many dogs that will bark all day long while their owner is gone. * The washers and dryers usually have dog hair in them. * Just have your shit#y dog put down if you can't handle the responsibility read more

I've lived at the B2 Lofts for 2 years. I have lived in the Bay Area since 2000, in a few different places and the B2 Lofts is high up on the list of the best places I have lived at. I can get into a few specifics but if I you only take one thing from my review, let it be this: COME TO THE B2 LOFTS YOURSELF AND ASK PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE HOW THEY LIKE IT. Get real opinions from real residents. This is not finding the most delicious donut in Oakland, or the tastiest Thai food in SF, it's finding your next home. Base your decision on first hand knowledge. Don't let one biased persons deceitful review deter you, especially if you are a pet owner looking for one of those rare pet friendly places. read more

This is the worst apartment complex in the history of Oakland, and that's saying a lot. First of all, the lease is 32 pages long. READ BEFORE YOU SIGN! The management here does not give a rats butt about the residents. It is very difficult to get anything fixed, things such as screens replaced, permission to install deadbolts (it is a very insecure neighborhood once you leave the complex, drugs, loitering and high crime, and anybody can follow a car into the community parking lot. There have been thefts). Our neighbors had their mailbox broken into repeatedly by a former drug-abusing resident but the mailbox was never fixed, it is still broken and the neighbor stops by the apartment uninvited. She even has a gate clicker, as the gates haven't been changed since she was evicted. She called ten times in one day demanding the new resident give her her mail, even though she moved out over six months ago. The property manager didn't feel like letting the new residents in on this little piece of classified information. The resident manager is prejudiced against certain people and dogs in the complex. She will bully you into compliance, referencing urban legends to prove her point. She claims she has another job besides managing the complex but seems to have plenty of free time to hassle you about the little things every day of your life through emails while neglecting the bigger picture. Don't be surprised if this "dog-friendly" apartment complex ends up slamming you with noise complaints. They have started breed-specific banning, so take your eight breeds of "high maintenence" dog elsewhere. Complaints abound. A previous tenant got a complaint for not having a shirt on. Gossip runs wild. Don't be surprised if you get a three-day notice - many neighbors have received three-day notices taped to their door (no attempt at giving this legal paper to them in person by the resident manager) for insignificant amounts of money around $25. When the financial corporation is spoken to they say things such as "that was your wakeup call". Don't be surprised if you get slammed with emails about how you are being spied on by the Bakery residents to make sure your "beloved" dogs poo and pee in the correct location (which becomes smaller by the day, as new signs emerge), and don't be put off by the myriad of demeaning green signs stuck into the landscaping all around the B2 complex telling you that these are the places where your dog "shouldn't pee or poo". Big brother, or maybe your least favorite resident RA, is watching. Many tenants have moved out before their lease expired, aghast at the mistreatment and hypermanagement by the resident manager. She will make your life miserable. You will convene in the hallways at 1am whispering to your neighbors about ways to get her to follow California law. Also, don't be surprised when you receive updates about community meetings that took place without you being notified involving new rules put into effect, surcharges added for doggy bags in the common area, charges for the use of the propane grill and rants about how no body knows how to use a dryer. The other day there was a sign taped to the propane grill about the cost of propane and how the building won't pay for it, the residents must. Don't be fooled. This umbrella financial corporation owns many big lofts complexes and are making more than enough money from their exorbitant rent charges in a pretty bad area of Oakland/Emeryville. But they'll take everything they can get. Don't be shocked by the weird woman who comes over from Bakery lofts and pulls your clothes out of the dryer to put hers in before they're even done. Don't cringe as she folds your small clothes and then skitters out when you give her a look. Case in point: this is the worst place I have ever lived. The apartment is nice, but spartan. Thin walls with few studs, bad ventilation, no air conditioning and concrete floors. Each tenant has been charged a different rate for similar units, differences of up to $300. The resident manager will lie to your face and then deny it. If you go above her head, she will say that you can't or shouldn't, that she is the only person in charge. The people above her are not any better. Do not be tricked by her seeming niceness and the "amazing" space and idea of a "community". The whole community of B2 bonds on the idea of moving out as soon as their leases are up. Many residents are aghast they they were tricked into such long, expensive leases, especially when the resident manager is more like a dorm mother, policing everything from dog pee to laundry on a daily basis, blaming the tenants of B2 when neighbors from outside the complex dump garbage in the dumpsters or writing condescending notes on the white board in the laundry room. Please, overlook this place. It is not worth $1600 to deal with the hassle of the worst management in the history of Oakland. read more

I've lived at the Bakery Lofts since it opened in 2002. I thought of moving over the years but the location is perfect for my needs; it's quiet, with friendly neighbors and provides a true work-live environment for artists and contractors alike. Location aside, I've enjoyed having Racheljoy as our Resident Manager and it's because of her that I continue to live at the Bakery. She has created a community with spontaneous barbeque events where everyone can share in a meal, to holding the annual Bakery Chili Cookoff and Cake Decorating Contests. But like any business, it isn't all fun and games. In a complex with over 100 units, there are innumerable issues from quirky human personalities to those who are too lazy to pick up their pet's doodoo. Honestly I remember the days when some residents let their pets pee and poo in our hallways. Thankfully those days are gone, thanks to Frank our former Resident Manager and Racheljoy's continued vigilance to keep the facilities clean and usable for all of us. It isn't easy being a Resident Manager; dealing with the garbage pile up during the garbage strike (thought I was living in a Monk episode), to delicately managing interpersonal conflicts between residents. And that is before she even gets to do the job she is actually paid to do which is to lease and rent units. The fact is Racheljoy goes far beyond her job description by creating a fun community that everyone can enjoy. Are there rules? Of course. I don't know of any building that doesn't. If you want to live in just another apartment where you live next to someone for 3 years and never know their name, this isn't the place for you. If you want to live in a lively community of dinner parties, festive contests and pet sharing...this is the place for you. read more

Not sure why this place has negative reviews, esp. from people who haven't actually lived here. My fiancee and I have lived here almost 3 years now, and have really enjoyed it here. We have two small dogs who also enjoy living here (definitely a dog friendly place). The people here are also nice, friendly, and definitely not up in your business. Racheljoy and Racquel, the building managers, are responsive and helpful, and also good people (not sure why they've been slammed in reviews, the notion that Racheljoy is homophobic is absurd). The space we live in is nice. It has 18 ft. ceilings and good storage. We also have tall windows that let in a fair amount of sunlight. We haven't really had any problems here with the unit, once the sink was leaking and they replaced the whole sink promptly. The B2s are joined to the Bakery Lofts by a parking lot and there is something of a community between the two. The Bakery side is probably more close knit (due to the layout maybe?) the B2s more quiet. There are community events here like cake bake-offs, art shows, and chili contests, that you can participate in or not. Anyway, I wouldn't be scared off by bad reviews, this is a nice place to live. read more