Over all the building doing well any problems are taken care of .. keeping up with a 6 story building is a challenge.. water trash and a electricity.. are deal considering the cost for each unit..i never understood the cost in no longer have any regrets for living here read more

New company, Winstar bought the building at the beginning of the year. If you value your safety, you will stay away. There is a crack den on the first floor, packages are being stolen weekly from the lobby, we no longer have a building manager, and homeless people are getting in and wandering the halls. We had a fire this week and no alarm ever went off. A tenant called the fire department while another tenant banged on doors to alert us!! read more

DO NOT MOVE IN HERE! Living here was the worst experience I have ever had living somewhere! I could deal with the roach problem, the lack of maintenance response, even the frequent water shut off, but the manager (who i might add lives in the building) has to be the most unprofessional, miserable, rude, unreasonable person I have ever encountered! I'm taking about having a bad taste in mouth before I even had a chance to move in the building. I had a appointment with him to get my key for my apt, but before I could pick up the key I had to pick up the the remaining deposit from the bank. Which was packed if I might add. I called him to let him know I would be a little late due to the fact the bank lines where crowed, and I couldn't believe he made such an unprofessional comment towards me saying "I can already see you have problems paying your rent". I was completely offended. That's just to start! The first week I moved in I had a family member stay with me, and he made him feel completely uncomfortable in the way he approached him. Saying to him "hey who are you?". I also put in a maintenance request and specifically put on the request to contact me in order to complete it, and the guy takes it upon himself to go in my home without my permission. Myself or my girlfriend could have been dressing. I really got to see how this guys ugly character was once he started gossiping to me about the neighbor, and how the roach problem was his fault because he was a "pig". In time I got to know my neighbor, and he gave me the scoop on how maniacal this guy was. He let me know the manager was crazy, and that he didn't like him because he refused to be manipulated into giving him free weed, to which he was licensed to grow. As more time passed I noticed everything my neighbor told me about the guy was accurate. I noticed how miserable the guy was by hearing him day in and day out complain about residents and every lil ridiculous thing. The chick upstairs told me she hated him and complained about him barging in on her, but they did nothing. She ended up moving out. On another occasion I called the manager to let him know my sink was leaking bad, and he said he would put in the maintenance request for a Plummer. COOL! Then I asked him if he knew how long that would take so I could have some idea as to when it could be fixed. He replied "I don't know, just don't fucking use the sink" and i told him that's unreasonable to ask of a paying customer, to "just stop using the fucking sink". You would think a manger would give you some peace of mind by giving you the date he expects it could be possibly be fixed. Not this guy. He clearly tries to use his obese size to intimidate people, and most definitely uses it in an effort to get his way with residents from the Serrano Towers. The one's who aren't intimated, like myself and another neighbor of mine, actually get threaten to be shot by him. Just today I as I opened my door I heard him actually arguing with my neighbor in the hall and the manager threaten to shoot him for the second time! I tried my best to avoid him so as to not to have to end up putting a hurting on this guy, but hes everywhere and in everyone's business. Even goes as far as to gossip to the old lady and people across the building. After that incident I was finally fed up and finally contacted Swell Group Properties and told them of the whole ordeal. I can't believe this guy is still employed! How could any business let someone treat their customers like this, and even still be in business for that matter!? For the guy to still have his job after what seems to be a habitual event of complaints must only means he must have some type of relationship with the owners. Either that or he intimidates and manipulates them in some way or another. Myself and a few neighbors have already reached out to the owner Mike but it seems to be of no concern to them, because hes still here. Then he finds out about it and makes your stay at the Serrano Towers even more uncomfortable...and I don't think it's going change unless the entire building rallies together in protest to his being there in the building! Smh you know its serious when someone goes out of their way to spend this much time writing a review just to save others from this misery. .. read more

Great art deco building. Great manager. The rooms are big, and the price is right. Shopping, banks, metro, and the Wiltern all within shopping distance. Parking is difficult, and it also has a few of the downsides common to old NY apt. buildings. read more

I lived in Serrano Towers from July 2006 until September 2014. It was my first home in Los Angeles and by far the best (I've lived in 2 other locations since then and none of them come even close to the positive experience I had living at Serrano Towers!). When I moved into the building, the building manager was pretty sketchy, to say the least. He and I were only there a few months together and I only heard rumors, but bottom he asked me to pay in cash, fake dates on my lease and a few other things that set off red flags. Gilbert Tang - the current manager as of September 2015 - took over soon after I moved in and the change in the building was immediate and drastic. Gilbert was able to clear out several dangerous operations that were based in the building and brought in tenants who I truly trusted as fellow community members. Whenever there was a problem (i.e. plumbing, electrical, etc.) Gilbert's action was prompt and complete. He was great about communicating any changes affecting my unit or the building. On top of this, Gilbert is a true advocate for his tenants (in LA? WHAT!?). I only saw 2 rent increases in my 8 years in the building and they were minimal; Gilbert fought on my behalf for every other year that they tried to raise my rent. I didn't even know about it the first time, it's just what Gilbert does for his community. And furthermore, I still consider him a friend. To this day, he has made it clear that I'm a welcome part of the Serrano Towers community. Since leaving, I've learned the true value of a building manager who is also a COMMUNITY LEADER, and how this can make your home truly feel like HOME. Apartments: I lived in a very spacious studio on the corner of the building. I got great light and lots of privacy. Only once did I ever receive a noise complaint, and it turned out it wasn't actually me, but it was my introduction to my downstairs neighbor who soon became a friend. Other Residents: I can't stress enough how nice it was to make friends in my building. We did holidays together. It was nice to greet people as we walked the halls, and not feel stuck in an awkward silence in the elevator. I miss that in my latest apartment. I credit Gilbert (again) with building a community of kind, well meaning, dynamic people! Amenities: All utilities are included here. So rad! Parking: It' Koreatown. Sorry. Street parking is pretty terrible (worse now than when I moved in I imagine). My first year or so I was waitlisted for a spot in the building. I was lucky and got a tandem spot with a neighbor who had a 1 bedroom which got me in but otherwise, it's a crapshoot. I can't imagine a better living situation than Serrano Towers. Great manager (truly!), great community and great building (AND great location!). I highly recommend checking this building out if you are looking for housing. I'm planning to at least hit Gilbert up when my current lease is out. Peace! read more

I lived in Serrano Towers for over 10 years and went through a several building managers at this location. This is my review of the apartment building Building Manager: The biggest thing I've learned living at Serrano Towers, is how important the building manager is to where you live, even more than the apartment. It's easy when everything is going fine but what happens when you have a problem? Gilbert Tang is the current manager (as of July 2015) and is reason enough to move into the building. Hands down, the best building manager I have had. He is a former NYC cop who lives in the building too. He does a great job in screening prospective tenants to keep most problems out of the building before they even start. The feeling of safety and security he provides is why many residents are female. It's nice to know that even if you are new to Los Angeles, you have a friend in the building. Apartments: The 1 bedroom apartments are good size and have a decent amount of closet space. Mine had 4 closets in!!! The building only has a few 1 bedroom apartments but a variety of studio apartments also have a number of closets. (Maybe females like that too.) This is an old building and the walls are made of concrete not paper thin walls. This is the quietest apartment I have ever lived in. Other Residents: The other residents are great. Gilbert throws a great 4th of July and Christmas party for the residents each year. I have gotten to know many of them and will miss them now that I have moved. Amenities: Since this is an older building, all of the utilities are included. Yep, no electrical, water, trash or sewage bills. The back of the building has a patio with a grill and picnic benches. Parking: It stinks, just like the rest of Los Angeles. The building has a limited number of underground parking spots available. One bedrooms come with a spot under the current policy but you do have some options. Several parking garages have opened up around the area and you can rent a spot from one of them if you want. All in all I highly recommend Serrano Towers and Gilbert Tang if you are new to Los Angeles or you have been here all your life. read more

I lived on the first floor of this building from JAN2011 to JUN2013. I rented a 1-bedroom apartment (other floor plans in the building include studios and a spacious penthouse apartment) for $1,200 and an additional $100/mo for 2 parking spaces (tandem). All utilities (except cable/internet) were paid for by management. My girlfriend and I moved out in 2013 for work in San Diego. Otherwise, we were overall very happy with our experience in the building. Unit: Our apartment had 2 bedroom closets, including a walk-in (which my girlfriend appropriated), and a coat closet. There was a large vanity annex adjoining the bathroom with a mirror, vanity table, and wall of cupboards and drawers. This was a huge selling point for my girlfriend. The bathroom shows its age. Everything is functional and taken care of, but not from the 21st century. You could flush a live animal down the toilet, it was that powerful. I got rid of my plunger on day 2. The living room/family room was really big. We kept our piano by the window. The kitchen had space for a breakfast table. There wasn't a lot of counter space--it was fairly cozy with all the full sized appliances. No exhaust for the stove! The windows are old and have difficulty opening, so we elected not to cook certain items on the stovetop (ie. bacon in the oven instead). I would also have tools on hand in case of an emergency so you can get out the windows if the exits are blocked in a fire or whatever. There's a walkway at window level running past the kitchen and living room. Walk around naked at your own risk. Building: The building is art deco, built in the 1930s. The door and hallway paint are upbeat. The lobby furniture and décor is welcoming and classy. The Christmas party involves decorating a tree and much of the public areas. It's a lot of fun with many tenants becoming involved. There's a communal gas grill on the patio in the back. There's frequently some conglomeration of tenants cooking out there. Join in, but bring beer, or food, or whatever. The manager opens up the roof to view fireworks on holidays. Parking: Parking on the street is nigh impossible. The building's lot is underneath the building. Spaces are generally cramped and require very careful parking. We rarely parked 2 cars in our space bc of the difficulty in our neighbors also parking 2 cars. If you have parking spots on both sides of you, it's very difficult to exit your car. Lots of space for motorcycles though! Location: There's a lot to do (read: eat) in the area. There's very close public transportation (subway and busses on major routes). There's a Ralph's a few blocks away, as well as a CVS. If you go west past Western Ave. there is an excellent area in which to run for exercise. Larchmont is only a couple miles away. The Grove is only a couple miles past that. Noise: LAPD flies one of their helicopters in this general area. You will hear it in the night. There is generally little street noise because the building is a couple blocks off of Western, Wilshire, and 3rd. Presumably the higher you are, the quieter it is. Beware noisy neighbors. There are many people living around you in the building. Some are douches and play Mariachi music at deafening volumes at 2am on a weekday. Neighbors: See Noise. Also, there were 2 particularly dirty neighbors who basically farmed roaches. It was a struggle to keep them out of our apartment. We basically fought them to a stand still. We had to clean out carcasses every few days, but they never got in our food or became our infestation. When those people finally got kicked out and the unit sprayed shortly before we left, we basically never saw another roach. I don't know whether the manager has succeeded in evicting other dirty tenants since then--I took a look at the place after they left and there was rotting food everywhere. Thank god none of them moved with us to SD. Multiple tenants signed a petition to kick out a recreational pot user who had a notional medical use. It affected myself and at least 3 others who are tested regularly at federal jobs. Many others just didn't like the smell in their hallways and living rooms. Management: Gilbert Tang was the building manager while I lived there. He lived in the building. He took care of all my complaints in a timely manner. He organized much of the social activity as well. He is ex-NYPD and an ex service-member. He's faster than he looks. He's very kind and caring and protective of his tenants. He's up fairly late (old habits/old dog?) which has saved some young female tenants a number of times. One woman was followed into the parking garage around 3am. The weirdo hid behind the dumpster by the inside door. Gilbert ran downstairs and threw him out before he could do anything. Look around/check your mirrors at entrances! Gilbert's dog, Puny, is an adorable German Shepard/Chihuahua mix. Gilbert makes the building homey and safe. read more

UNCONTROLLABLE ROACH PROBLLEM! I had over 12 professional exterminations, and yet roaches still appeared all over. In the kitchen, bathroom, and living area. Once I counted and found over 20 roaches that were ALIVE. If it were not for that huge issue, the building itself would be a very nice building with a good location. read more

If you want a great spot in Koreatown, I definitely recommend this place. I lived here for over 3 years, and I had a blast. The location is perfect - Ralphs/CVS/Kyochan/Hae Jang Chon/everything within walking distance. Gilbert is the coolest manager I've ever had - very big on security, and creates a great sense of community in the building. Everyone in the building is really nice. Great chapter of my life. James read more

So far I've being living at Serrano towers for 3 months now and it has its flaws to the level I felt like what I'm paying for each month is not worth the staying even thought the start of my stay Gilbert make me feel like home and nice but the flaws still stick up like a swore thumb. I understand due to the flood in the basement a couple weeks ago make this building have so many problems they need to fix like the light, water, electricity that need to turn off for a few hours in certain days is really irritating. Last time before the flood the light go out while I was in the bathroom which threw me off guard because I almost broke my neck when getting out of the tub and opening my door to see wtf happen to the light. When taking a shower the water always changed from warm to hot or cold in a second and you never know when it happens so I always have to rush when washing my hair which irritate me. My draws and closets can't close right and you have to force to open it and close it because they like old cheap woods that get stuck easily. My floor is the worst one I hate because I don't know if they use a very low brand paint but is impossible to clean the floor when a foot print is in there, feels like I'm in labor when cleaning my home for the first time in my life. The heat shut off so it get supper cold during the night until I complain about it and they are arranging to bring me a heater tomorrow (will let you know how that's working for me when I get it). Now that Gilbert disappear and all this chaos that's happening in this building is stressful do to so much maintenance and things we need the most are cut off for a few hours in a certain days and I just want to pull my hair out. So for those of you who want to come live in Serrano towers please think again because you be very disappointed with the flaws that comes with it and the amount of money you are paying for that flaws even thought utilities included in the rent. As much as Gilbert is a nice friendly guy when he was here but the excuse of telling me this building is old it will always have its flaws does not makes me happy because if it's an old building that have so many flaws then low down the rent for the renters so we don't complain 24/7 about shit that's breaking in our apartment easily and the flaws that we can't stand in this building. But other than that is a nice neighborhood but you will find people smoking near the building which the smell will slap you every time you got out. The building is near everything you need so far. Anyway I'm only staying here for a year and get the hell out because I'm not planning to stay in this old building forever read more

I have lived in a lot of different places in the LA area since I moved here in 2000, but no place has had a family type atmosphere like Serrano Towers. I think that's because their apartment manager, Gilbert, genuinely cares about the tenants. He takes care of issues right away. He even schedules events throughout the year to get the tenants together to meet each other and create the friendly vibe that you find at this apartment complex. I had to move because I needed a bigger apartment for my mama and I, and unfortunately Serrano Towers doesn't have 2 bedroom apartments, but I would move back in a heartbeat if that ever changed and Gilbert was still managing the complex. You just can't beat the family ambience and the charm of living in a vintage style apartment where famous movie star legends like Mae West have lived. :) read more

i jus moved in this week from florida and my buliding manager is amazing and made me feel like i was at home right away....great view love the bathroom an cloest, lots of room..great people in the building. read more