I lived at The Plaza at Sherman Oaks for eight years, so I know this building very well. I do not…read morerecommend living there.
Let's start with the positives. The amenities are good, and some of the staff members are friendly. Vicky is great, and the previous manager, Lori, was excellent too. The best part of the building is Prince, the security patrol officer who has been there for many years. Prince is responsible, trustworthy, respectful, and empathetic. Honestly, he would make an excellent manager for the building.
Now, let's discuss the negative aspects.
First and foremost, this building markets itself as "luxury," but the units are far from luxurious. They are cheaply constructed and outdated. The bathroom fan is extremely noisy, and the walls are paper-thin, meaning you'll hear everything from your neighbors. The ceiling situation is even worse, as you'll be able to hear every step and movement from the people above you.
During my last stay in the building, I had a couple of "heavy-walkers" move in upstairs, and they were a nightmare. They dragged furniture around, walked heavily, and made noise all night long. If you happen to have inconsiderate neighbors like that, don't expect management to resolve the issue. I had to move out because the current manager was unable to address the situation.
A significant issue in this building is that people smoke marijuana and tobacco throughout the premises, both day and night, and management fails to enforce the rules. The lack of control has worsened over time. Additionally, there is a rule that pets must be leashed, yet many residents ignore this as well. The common outdoor areas often smell unpleasant because dogs urinate everywhere, and some residents do not clean up after their pets. Instances of dogs attacking people have occurred in this building. There have also been fights and arguments between residents due to irresponsible pet ownership. Once again, management does not enforce the rules.
After 10 p.m., the common areas are supposed to be closed, but people still stay outside making noise, sometimes until 1 a.m. or later. For example, there was one crazy guy who let his small kid run around barefoot and shout like a wild child late at night. That kid was extremely loud, screaming like a savage at night with no respect for anyone living around them. This is the type of behavior that occurs in the building, and management does not take action to address it. The same individual has also forced open an emergency door to smoke in concealed areas. I provided the manager with several videos documenting these incidents, yet that terrible guy has never been evicted for his actions because the manager has no authority whatsoever.
People shout from their balconies, which adds to the noise around the building. Many residents use their balconies and parking spaces for storage, despite it being against the rules. The parking lot is very dirty, and residents often leave furniture in the corridors. Overall, the building feels chaotic, noisy, dirty, and poorly managed.
Maintenance is a significant problem here. When you call maintenance, they tend to fix everything in the cheapest way possible. I complained for two years before they finally replaced the bathroom fan--two years. This experience shows how seriously they take residents' complaints.
In my opinion, this building lacks class and is no longer a safe or peaceful place to live. A dangerous fire broke out months ago, which adds to my concerns.
If you enjoy living in a chaotic environment--where people shout, dogs run around and urinate everywhere, rules are ignored, children scream late at night, residents smoke throughout the building, and management fails to enforce any regulations--then this might be the place for you.
If that's not what you're looking for, I recommend seeking a more decent living situation. For the amount of money they charge, The Plaza at Sherman Oaks is absolutely not worth it.
