Curiousity has me, and I'm just now looking at reviews...stayed at The Barcelona for a year before moving out of state... this was seven years ago. And I can say that a number of these negative reviews, unfortunately, are true. The biggest let down for me was not receiving my security deposit back- or I should say, receiving just $125. Veronica was manager, at the time, and her asst manager (a nice lady though I do not remember her name), looked at my place and recorded it as in GOOD condition... there was little to report. We recorded this together; she would then submit this to Veronica, before I left California. Weeks later, I received my security deposit. It was $125. Veronica had changed a number of things. This was really sleazy... I won't forget it. read more

Genuinely a complete shtshow of an apartment complex. No parking, & if you get parking around the blocks of the apartment get ready to have your car broken into. The inside of the apartment complex has an awful smell that didn't go away my entire year & a half of residency. They were under construction for over 6+ months of my residency there: resulting in me not having access to fresh air because the windows were closed shut, no water for many days, the elevator didn't work. Honestly I can name more wrong things than right. It's now May 7, & I moved out April 23. I've had no response as to when I'm getting my last months rent back, or if I'm getting a cleaning deposit back. And I've called well over 10 times within the last 3 weeks of moving out. Emailed as well & have gotten little to no help; Im lucky if I even get a reply back! Landlords expect rent on specific days. Residents & past residents expect to be paid back FULLY, & quickly. The respect goes BOTH ways & this apartment complex is extremely terrible at that. I would never move back into this apartment even if it was the last complex left. Disgrace. Do not apply. Not worth the pain & stress. read more

So far so good. I've only been around for a month but it's been a good experience. My only complaint is the street parking situation. It would at least be nice if the city offered resident parking passes for the area as it's mostly apartments in the immediate vicinity. Any other downsides are things one should expect of an apartment building near downtown San Diego. Yes, you're going to hear your neighbors sometimes. Yes, you're going to see some sketchy characters out on the streets and near Balboa Park. Manage your expectations and be reasonable about them. I've seen a lot of reviews mention roaches but it seems to have been dealt with as the only pests I've seen are a couple of stray ants. The common areas are cleaned frequently as well. I'll update if there are any drastic developments. read more

Been trying to schedule a tour for over a week now and the number on their site doesnt work and no one has returned my 3 messages i left with the call center I would be pissed if this how my building is ran when im not looking This is coming off highly ghetto and low budget...I give up read more

Terrible place to live. There is a huge roach infestation problem here. The kitchens don't even have disposal systems so the roaches live in the pipes and eat the food from dishwashing, because there are no dishwashers either. Pest control vans outside the property every other day. The laundry machines damage your clothing, and management is extremely nasty! Had to fight tooth and nail with them to get out of my lease. Completely avoid The Barcelona read more

The management here is the best. They really take care of us and keep the place clean and up to date. The apartments are small, but there are such nice amenities to make up for it and the building is in walking distance to so much. It makes sense so many of my neighbors have lived here forever. I might do the same :) read more

The pros: The building and neighborhood are charming, and conveniently located, the rooftop deck is amazing and there is great potential to make some lifelong friends living there as it is mostly studios/1 bedrooms and most of the tenants are single. They allow pets, which is becoming more and more of a rare find. Prior manager, Jackie who seems to be mentioned in a lot of these reviews. She is no longer there. The cons: Small, small living spaces. Parking is usually found 3-4 blocks away. Current manager- not very helpful, very pro-management company, not pro-tenant. Security deposit...don't expect to get much of the fairly hefty amount back, even if it's nothing but normal wear and tear from living in a place for a year. Also, the pet rent is just extra money you pay each month. They're gonna take your security deposit when you leave anyway to cover any 'damage'. We were told the whole apartment needed to be painted for one scuff from a bike tire which we could have magic erased off had we know we were gonna take one up the pooper upon moving out. They also charge for things like 'deep cleaning' which I've always assumed happened between tenants anywhere, and shouldn't fall on us to be responsible for. read more

Avoid at all cost. Just look at any of these reviews. A total waste and scam of money. The audacity management has here is insane. All they care about is the money and how much then can loop whole more out of their tenants. Not only was I always in compliance with policy when living here I was way too understanding on their behalf. 21 days later and still no security deposit refund because their "processor is down". convenient!! but if I were to be late on a payment at all I'm sure they'd jump on it and charge a late fee. So many other options with proper management, amenities, quality of life and safety. So happy I am out of there. Dont expect to get your full deposit back either regardless of how well you manage your unit. They make any excuse "in their fine print" to take as much money. Maybe they should allocate the money to exterminating the roach infestation tenants there deal with all year round or better training/ recruiting for their leasing office. Monique who claims to be the manager their needs to be reevaluated for the position. Doesn't accept feedback or care about their tenants experience. Snarky attitude, unapologetic, unapproachable and flat out unprofessional but had the audacity to ask me to remove my review. I'm not the one who on here stating the same issues... read more

This review is long overdue as it now has been two weeks since leaving the Barcelona. I'm hoping this review helps those of you out there who either don't have very much experience with choosing a new apartment to live, or those who are completely new to the San Diego area. During mine and my husbands search for a pet friendly apartment last year, we decided that because we were moving from the East Coast and never had a chance to visit San Diego to scout for apartments, Downtown was the safest option in terms of a friendly and safe environment with local places to eat and visit, especially Balboa Park. First I'd like to start off with the pros of living here as it is a much shorter list. Pros: 1.) Located near Hillcrest, Little Italy, Gaslamp and an amazing family owned taco/burrito shop and convenience store down the road. Going out and Lyfting is very cheap and convenient. 2.) There is a decently sized gym downstairs and an incredibly beautiful "1920's Lounge" that has pool, foosball and a TV along with tons of seating. Additionally, the skyview is the absolute perk of living here. There's also a grill and table area along with outdoor couches. 3.) The incredibly nice cleaning and maintenance staff. They were always a pleasure to see around taking care of the building. Cons: 1.) In terms of my own apartment, the kitchen flooring was dreadful. Our tile had one piece missing which wasn't too big of a deal, but then I discovered that a large piece of it was loose. My husband let the office know but nothing came of it, so I covered it with a mat. 2.) Some of the kitchen sinks don't divide so doing dishes is incredibly difficult and needs to be done in stages. 3.) Each rooms lighting is dim, orange shaded and I basically kept my own lamps on throughout the apartment because the lightning was no help at all. 4.) The vintage elevator is exactly what it sounds like... antique and fragile. It goes out at least two times a month, sometimes for about two days. Running laundry downstairs and back up from the basement is a given a few times out of the week. It's especially bad when the person before you forgets to close the elevator gates all the way and it is stuck of that floor until someone uses it. 5.) Laundry area. Its typically crowded on weekends and early on the weekdays. The washer and dryers are abysmal, be careful of your socks and underwear being sucked into the side of the washer and always be sure to add extra time to the dryers because they take a while to properly dry. 6.) THE PARKING SITUATION. There is no assigned parking, its first come, first serve and was one of the BIGGEST frustrations of living here. Some cars stay for weeks in the same spot, sometimes you'll be lucky to get a spot on the same block, other times you will be driving around for 30 minutes circling the area for a spot. During Balboa Park events, you definitely won't be able to park close by home. Two hour parking is strictly regulated and I racked up two parking tickets during my years lease. 7.) Incredibly thin walls and old building means you hear every thing on your floor from people coming home from late night events, to someone locking their doors and even your neighbors shower pipes turning on. 8.) Finally, management doesn't take your complaints seriously and will not do anything about it. There were two occasions when people were being too loud on the weekends past 10PM without properly renting the areas for more than 12 people (they notify you when there will be a lot of people downstairs or upstairs but this wasn't the case) and one with a car being parked in front of the building for a month and a half. Nothing ever came from my complaints to the front. 9.) THERE IS NO AC OR HEATER. It gets incredibly hot but there's nothing they can do. In the winter, you get a tiny little space heater for your entire apartment and it's not even good enough to heat an entire room. My final conclusion would be keep looking! Although Bankers Hill is an absolutely beautiful area to be in, the cost and size of what is offered here simply isn't worth it and wouldn't have been a first choice if my husband and I were able to visit the area and other apartments. Check out Clairemont. *EDIT for update on move out process. Barcelona took the entire deposit of $1400 and had the nerve to ask for $300 more. Ultimately, stay away from this apartment. You will find way better. read more

Another made up profile from management. This just proves how many of the reviews on apartment ratings are bs!

It was a pleasure living at the Barcelona! We loved our floor plan and the true to the 1920's restored architecture. Jackie, the building manager, does a wonderful job taking care of you from the time you view your future home & sign the lease, to the time you move out! Not to mention, there are ton of great people who live there. I am happy to say I have become friends with a number of them over the course of our time there. The building is currently undergoing renovation upgrades that will make this place even better...especially the new rooftop deck remodel. A bit sad we did not stay long enough to enjoy it, but life happens. This is also a great neighborhood, with many restaurants and Balboa Park only a few blocks away. If you are looking for a sweet spot to call home, I would certainly recommend checking it out =) read more

Pros: * Curb Appeal * Location * Charm * Amazing rooftop view, with grill, nice patio furnature. * Updated Gym Cons: * SUPER SUPER! thin walls (can't emphasize this one enough). It's a 100+ year old "historic" building materially "renovated" but not retrofitted. This was by far my biggest problem throughout the year living there and made my stay a living hell. I even went as far as to build out acoustical panels that covered the largest wall in my space which only ended up providing a small amount of relief. When the neighbors dog would walk around their apartment, it would sound like the dog was walking around my apartment. When they talked on the phone or when someone was visiting it might as well had been happening in my bed. When my other neighbor was in the kitchen it was like they were standing right there in my kitchen cooking / doing dishes, talking, ect. An incredibly horrid and uncomfortable feeling. Everyone who lived in the building I encountered had more or less the same concerns. Management is very aware there are significant problems with noise and will be mindful of their response to your complaints in an effort to limit their legal culpability. * Pet friendly building which means the hallways will smell like wet dogs and deification. Often times the animals won't make it out the door and end up reliving themselves in the building. * Grossly Overpriced for the tiny spaces offered. They bait you with the aforementioned charm and curb appeal. * VERY difficult and frustrating to find street parking. * Theres an elevator, but its classified as an "amenity" so if its broken down, which it was 70% of the time living there, don't expect there to be a huge sense of priority getting it back up and running. Even when it is running half the time people don't close the doors properly rending it useless, stuck in place. * Security Deposit. I didn't personally have a problem with price gouging although it did take over the 21 day CA law mandate to receive my check. - - - As a previous reviewer said, keep looking!! There are plenty of other places in the area with much larger floor plans for a more reasonable price point. This is not a luxury unit but they are charging luxury prices for amenities you will hardly use. read more

I love the location! I love being so close to restaurants and also Balboa Park. I also had friendly neighbors and even became friends with them. However.. Do yourself a favor and just keep looking. Management isn't helpful and the pest problem here is serious. Roaches in the apartment ... apparently my neighbors had the same ordeal as well. Security deposit was never returned, either. Anyway there are some pros to this place such as them allowing pets as well as the wonderful deck they have up top. But there are other places that you can rent that are more bang for your buck, if you know what I mean. read more

I am a 28 year old gay man with high expectations. Interior: historically rich and well kept property. Crown molding with great vanities and plumping. Events: Fun, energizing and well executed. Amenities: Great wifi, and study area. Washer and dryers new (updated with card readers - I think coins are annoying #ByeQuarters), roof top deck = incredible. Property Management: Jackie Reynolds is the best. Period. :) I stayed one whole year through the cold-freezing-San Diego-Winter of 2014-15 = the heat and apartment warmth was cozy and comfortable. $$$ = but I miss my Sex n da City apartment and my friends do too. read more

Just found out our application fee was returned. Thanks to The Barcelona manager! It took a little stress off our shoulders durning our move and employment shift. read more

On the outside, curb appeal is charming and this is a Historic Bldg. But...that's where the charm wears off. New management is very cunning in up-charging and finding creative ways to increase revenues. Upon move out, you will be lucky to get any of your deposit back, even after spotlessly cleaning and a move out inspection of "wow". Walls are paper thin, apt are stuffy (a/c not allowed) and flights overhead from 4:30 am to way past midnight. Keep looking, no matter the charm. it will wear off quickly. There is much better value out there. read more

I lived at The Barcelona for about 1.5 years before recently finding a larger, cheaper unit in a better location in the neighborhood. Now that the non-luxury rental market in Bankers Hill has peaked, it's a great opportunity for renters to find deals. The Barcelona is not one of those deals. The Barcelona's rates are not much less than what you would pay to rent a luxury unit in a newer building with modern amenities. But the Barcelona has no luxury units, is a decrepit building, and has no modern amenities. The anonymous vulture capitalists who own the building have already dumped millions into it, though, and will continue to squeeze every penny from tenants until they inevitably go bankrupt. Best to avoid entirely, if you have the choice! The pest/roach problem is real, too. My apartment had to be vacated and poisoned several times. No compensation. Building manager lied and tried to convince us that other roaches were "water bugs." These guys are pretty silly. Expect to waste a lot of time and money. Edit: I notice other former tenants mentioning their shady security deposit practices. This is absolutely true--you WILL have to fight for EVERY penny that rightfully belongs to you. Play hardball and don't roll over! They will drag their feet, but the law is very likely on your side. I had to threaten to sue to get my money back. read more

Location location location!!! ;) By far my favorite spot I've lived here in SD! The building it's self has such a story behind it. I love having visitors, the rooftop is a great place to relax and certainly is breath taking day or night! I would and have recommend this apartment building to all my friends! In fact 3 of my co workers all live in the building now! Hats off to management & maintenance, they work pretty much around the clock to keep multiple properties on track! read more

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I want to thank Jackie Reynolds for all your help! You really made the whole "finding a home" a really easy process for me and my family! Anyone that is looking for the downtown San Diego environment needs to check The Barcelona Apartments and Jackie! read more

Love the building. Very fair rent. Bianca is easily the best landlord I've ever had. Her no BS style keeps the building comfortable. read more

The Barcelona - Apartments Near Me - San Diego, California

I have to say from 2006 to 2012 I lived in the Barcelona apartments My deceased husband and I were the managers. We tried our best to make the building a loving and kind building. I beleive we did just that. When we took over in Feb of 2006 there were people in the building that had never knew anyone in the build no less gone up to the beautiful rooftop deck but by the time that I left in July of 2012 after my loving Dennis passed away We had wonderful residents. This building has special mememories for me. I will never forget the Barcelona it was our home. I always wanted to come back after I moved away but I was told by several residents that I was not allowed to come back into the build because Manger B wouldnt let me. I loved the Barcelona and I only hope that the new owners can make the Barcelona the way it should be. Its a beautiful building the elevator and the rooftop everything about this building is so special and perfect. I do drive by once in awhile I do miss all my wonderful memories there. If anyone were to ask me i would recommend the Barcelona now. I heard some awful stories from residents that kept in contacted with me and i told them to hang in there and hopefully things will get better. And from what i can see and read the new owners are on top of things. Some day when i am in the area I would love to come by and go in and see the changes if the management would allow me to. I would love to just go to the rooftop and look out over the bay that was my Deceased husbands favorite place I WOULD RECOMMEND THE BARCELONA TO ANYONE I KNOW IT HAS ALL THE CHARM AND ITS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE read more

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I sincerely enjoyed living at the Barcelona. I never expected to find myself so in tune with a building but the people that live there became a melody and the building was the bass line. Adjust your clock if you are in a hurry for things to happen and be surprised when things go well. I was nearly always surprised. I would be happy to tell the Barcelona "I was happy to be in the same year with you". Of course we all love Jackie and Martín is the awesome maintenance caballero, the housekeeping is awesome too. If you decide to move in you will have a great experience (provided your lifestyle agrees) but you will have made some good friends..... 10 minute walk to India St. Farmers market on Saturday. Cut down to first, make a left, right on Grape and left on India. You won't miss it. Great music, food and variety... 9-1or2............ Oh yeah, if you have to deal with Chelsea's dog, beware.... read more

The Barcelona is a great place to live with friendly tenants and is located in a great part of town. Jackie (manager) does a great job there. She helped me get in with not so great credit and helped me rent my apartment when I had to move closer north due to work. I enjoyed my short stay there with zero complaints. read more

My boyfriend, our dog and I have been living in our Studio at The Barcelona since Mid July. Jackie the building manager is the best!! The planes fly overhead at certain times of day but it's really not that bad, I barely hear them anymore, it's actually really cool to watch them land from the rooftop. There is no parking lot but we have never had to park more then 2 blocks away (normally within 1 block, just make sure you know the parking laws) read more

The Barcelona - Panoramic Sunrise from the roof - Apartments Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been a resident at The Barcelona now for 3 months and couldn't be happier! The staff, amenities, apartments, everything is so great. Anytime I've had a question or concern it's been addressed almost immediately, laundry is so convenient (which is huge for San Diego) and best of all the Sky Deck is amazing. I've never had to wait or look for parking, balboa park is two blocks away and Little Italy is walking distance as well. Really I can't say enough great things about this building so if you are deciding on whether or not to choose The Barcelona or not - do!!! read more

I just moved in over Memorial Day weekend. So far, fantastic. Amazing rooftop view, charming 1930s style hotel building, clean, amazing location. This place is a winner. read more

I've lived in The Barcelona for more than a year and I LOVE this amazing old building, the residents, Jackie our manager, Martin our jack-of-all-trades, and this neighborhood. From here, Little Italy, the embarcadero, downtown, Amtrak, Balboa Park, museums, the zoo, Hillcrest, theaters, stores, and more are all within walking distance. I've lived in San Diego most of my life and it does not get better than this. Each apartment is unique and the view from the rooftop terrace is breathtaking. This fabulous "old lady" built in 1922 has been lovingly maintained by dedicated staffs for many decades and I'm thrilled to live here. read more

The Barcelona is a great apartment complex! The management and staff are very friendly, helpful, and they work hard to keep the property clean and presentable. The building is secure and my neighbors are pretty respectful of noise levels. The on-site amenities (card operated laundry facility, free cable, free electric/water) and location cannot be found anywhere else in Bankers Hill for this price. The view from the rooftop is the biggest selling point -- and luckily it's not often crowded. read more

I have lived in the Barcelona Building for a year and a half. This building is so beautiful with historic charm, amazing views, beautiful landscaping, and a great location near balboa park and downtown. The management is great here! Jackie, the property manager is very responsive to any needs. Any time I have had any maintenance issues in my studio, Jackie and Martin are so on top of it, it is fixed within a day! The remodel is already looking great, everything is being updated with respect to the original architecture. I love the Barcelona! read more

Jackie has been great to work with we was so helpful in the moving-in process! I've lived at the Barcelona for a little over a month. It is a wonderfully charming place and all my friends remark how nice the neighborhood is when they come over. The people I've met in the building are nothing but friendly! read more

The elevator never works so you have to carry all of your clothes up many flights of stairs when you do laundry because management says the elevator is a privilege and not a right to have working. People are constantly smoking cancer sticks outside and my apartment always smells like cigarettes. The walls are paper thin and very noisy neighbors in which Jackie (the on site manager) says she cannot do anything about. She says that's just the way it is unfortunately. When Bianca used to manage the Barcelona she would stop people from being loud at odd hours with no problem. The building was purchased recently and ever since they have raised the rent tremendously, they are now trying to make everyone pay for water without even metering how much each unit is using. They use to pay for basic cable and do not anymore. There are no working heaters in any of the apartments. They have banned everyone from using air conditioners and it gets really hot and stuffy in our apartment. The building is right under the flight path for the airport which we have gotten used to but took 2 years to do so. There used to be a sense of home in the Barcelona but that has all been taken away by new owners who don't care about anything except filling their pockets with money. They raised our rent over $100/month and are now charging us for water and trash. They used to clean all the carpet in the building regularly and haven't done so since the new owners bought the building and dogs pee all over so you have the combination of dog pee smell and trash in the hallways. I am only writing this so other people don't make the huge mistake of moving into the Barcelona Apartments. Oh and did I mention my neighbor who recently found roaches in his apartment? BEWARE AND STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. read more