I've been wanting to update my review for a while now. After living at Vicino for two years, I feel…read morelike I have enough perspective to share our experience. My original one star has become a two star because despite our frustrations, there are still things and people here that we do genuinely appreciate.
After the car break in, we raised concerns about the lack of security cameras and how unsupported we felt. It was especially frustrating that Vicino didn't respond to my Yelp review until 2 months later (you can see their response on December 9, 2025). Their response said they took our concerns seriously but to our knowledge, additional cameras were never installed inside the garage.
Parking has also been a constant frustration. The spaces are tight considering the cost, and our parking neighbor has crossed into our space before. Large trucks are often parked along the fence near the garage entrance, making visibility hard when exiting onto the main road or turning in. Visitor parking is limited, and drivers often speed through the garage around the tight corners.
Our experience with management was a big part of why we became unhappy. Communication became increasingly difficult particularly with Shelly, who was the property manager at the time. When we signed our lease, we had an agreement for two parking spaces for both of our cars. We had those spaces for several months with no issues, but after the car break in and while we were also dealing with hard water dripping onto both of our vehicles, one of our spaces was taken away shortly before Shelly left. I don't want to assume anyone's intentions, but there was very little communication about the change and the timing left a bad impression on us...
Our experience definitely improved after Shelly and several other staff members left. The atmosphere feels more pleasant, and our interactions with current staff have been much better. Paul, the new property manager, has always been kind and approachable and we REALLY appreciate that!
We've also dealt with quite a few maintenance issues, including our AC failing within the first few months, plumbing problems requiring access through our apartment, hard water dripping onto both of our vehicles from cracks in the garage, and a dishwasher that randomly stopped working. Some repairs were poorly done and later had to be redone, and the window cleaners skipped one of our windows and did a poor job overall.
None of these things were dealbreakers on their own, but repeatedly dealing with repairs and scheduling access to our apartment in a newer building (opened June 2024) was frustrating. That being said, the maintenance team has been one of the best parts of our experience. Gabriel, Marcio, and John have consistently been kind, responsive, and helpful. We really appreciate them!
Smoking is also an ongoing issue. We've regularly smelled strong cigarette and marijuana odors in the hallways, elevators, and other shared spaces. We even received an email from management about people smoking in the stairwells, and there have been multiple times I've noticed people smoking on their patios. If you are sensitive to odors, have children, or have a very sensitive pet like us, this is something I would definitely consider before moving in.
We've also had a package stolen, and the parcel room can become extremely disorganized. Packages pile up quickly and can be difficult to locate.
Overall, Vicino markets itself as a "luxury" apartment community, but the events and amenities don't always live up to that experience. Many events we've attended have felt poorly planned or underwhelming. After two years, these things add up to the feeling that the luxury experience being advertised doesn't match the reality of living here.
We've also noticed a general lack of consideration in the common areas. We've had a few experiences where people rush into elevators before letting others exit or are otherwise inconsiderate in shared spaces. After two years, those interactions definitely add up...
I understand that no apartment building is perfect, and despite everything I've mentioned we do like our apartment itself and have made it into a cozy little home. It will always be special to us because it was our first place together as an engaged couple! There's also a beautiful view of the city from the rooftop areas which we've loved.
I appreciate the small improvements we've seen over time. However, the accumulation of issues over two years has unfortunately made us unhappy here. Security concerns, parking problems, smoking odors, cleanliness of shared spaces, package issues, inconsistent enforcement, and overall lack of organization make it difficult to feel like we're receiving the "luxury" experience Vicino claims to offer.
I hope management takes feedback from current residents more seriously and starts focuses not only on how it presents itself to future residents, but also on what it actually feels like to live here!