LL Hawkins Apartments by Greystar

Summary: Good quality recently-built apartment building in an excellent location, which is very well run by its management and maintenance teams.

- "Happening", lively neighborhood, great for eating out, shopping, entertainment, etc. Very walkable and bike friendly.
- The New Seasons market is literally next door! (or if you prefer, Trader Joe's is 5 minutes away)
- Good for commuting - easy public transit options and freeway close by
- Attractive, stylish building which definitely stands out
- The team is a true asset. The manager, John is an excellent professional who really takes care of the tenants. He goes above and beyond and makes you feel really welcome and supported.
- The building is very well run and clean thanks to the maintenance team which works very hard and it shows.
- The tenants are friendly and there is a good relaxed atmosphere there

Two strikes against the current manager. We arranged to tour the building the first time through the website link and arrived on time, only to be told it was not convenient and he was "running a report". He eventually acquiesced and toured us and sort of got his attitude together by the end of the tour which was a blessing. He said he would would absolutely email us the apartment options and details the next morning, but no email ever came.
I reached out after about 10 days of not hearing anything and eventually got a very professional and polite response from the Assistant Manager who sent all the details and also sent some new apartment options to look at. We liked the building so decided to tour again to see some these newly available units. Because of the issue the first time with the manager we selected to do a self tour through the email and website link the Assistant Manager sent. Sadly the same manager was there when we arrived and he point blank refused to allow us to do a self tour and then reluctantly told us we could do a rush tour with him if we really, really wanted to but that he was, again, "running a report" on his laptop and was "very busy". Aren't we all! We have travelled from far away to see the building. He made it very clear he did not want us to tour with him, and strangely not even without him! He was very rude the first time, we just put that down to him maybe having a a bad day, but the second time he was verbally aggressive and extremely unprofessional. It shocked us.
In no way can this manager be considered a credit to the management company.
Too bad because we really like the property.

I'm obsessed with my apartment. I looked all over PDX, and this was at the tippity top of my price range. I have to take an extra client to make it work but it is SOOO worth it. I have never been so happy to come home.

The view of the evergreens is astounding for a location that is walkable to all of the excitement of Downtown. The design is very comfortable, carpets in common areas are clean, and it always smells fresh. The staff are so wonderful, sometimes the front office people aren't very knowledgeable, but I quickly found the manager and he is totally on it.

It's hard to believe that it is so quiet here, being that it is an urban area. I sleep well. When my honey is asleep before me and the bedroom door is closed he cannot hear me making noise, which is great. The natural light coming through the floor to ceiling windows make the dark PNW winters more do-able. I love all of the neighbors and the cutie dogs I meet in re elevator! I don't have a dog because of my worklife, but it is such a pleasure to visit with neighbor dogs.

Having New Seasons next door makes healthy quick meals happen during busy workweeks. As a Freelancer, I love to sit out in the sun at any number of the surrounding businesses to get some work done outside of the house. No need for a car, there is a Bikeshare out front, and everything is within walking distance. My Honey keeps his car in the secure parking garage so we have that for weekend round trips. The neighborhood has shopping, Yoga and Barre Studios, Distilleries, Breweries, Wine shops, Wine Storage, Brunch houses, and you can jog to Forest Park.

There are two restaurants in the building and a small plate/craft cocktail bar. All are excellent. Management creates a lot of opportunities for building community with Happy Hours and Yoga Classes. The Jupiter Lounge is a community space with beautiful views, a Grill, Kitchen and lots of relaxation and/or workspace. I look forward to entertaining there. There is also a unit you can rent for visiting family and friends at a very fair price.

The unit is small, but I like it that way. Its perfect for two people. I have not had any problems with the appliances or heating/cooling as others have noted. The dryer does take some strategy as it doesn't dry in one take. That is defiantly annoying and defeats the purpose of being low energy. I'm not too worried about small annoyances, this is the best place I've ever lived in. It's a simple, elegant life and I've never been happier.

I was going to wait until I moved out but I've decided against it because there are a few things people need to know asap.

Here's the real deal on this beautiful on the outside, not so great on the inside building...

Very high rent for relatively small apartments and no amenities:
The LL Hawkins building charges premium rent prices but does not have the following: Free coffee, gym/workout room, wine cellar, dog wash station, game room, spa, reliable high speed internet(due to routers being installed in terrible locations in the apartments). Other buildings in Portland charge less and have these things, so make sure you look around.

Poor construction and appliance choices:
The AC/heater unit belongs in Section 8 housing, not in a high end Portland apartment building...it's tacky and quite ugly actually and does not work well on hot days or cold days for that matter. The floors are not heated and freezing during cold weather. The floors/ceiling also have very little noise barrier built in. I can hear the upstairs neighbor and kids running & walking around almost daily...luckily I'm not home very much. I've heard of people that complained and the ownership did nothing, so they had no choice but to move out.

Maintenance and Appliances:
Maintenance is a pain as I have to call an outside company(1-800...), make a reservation and describe to them the problem, which they get wrong half of the time when its communicated to the maintenance man. The washer and dryer are small and it takes 3 hours to dry clothes because they didn't install typical dryer ventilation and went with "Ventless" technology, to save money. I'm an engineer and love technology, but "ventless" dryers are not for everyone. It seems as though they cut a lot of corners during construction planning to save money.

Good management office:
Although their best managers have moved to a new buildings(I wonder why?),... the existing managers are good people and will do whatever they can within their power to help you out.

There's more but I'll stop here. I just wanted to let people know that this building is decent but there are far better choices if you look around. Best of luck!

I spent a solid two months researching apartments online before relocating to Portland - it's kind of my thing... I also have an online membership with Consumer Reports, so I'm that guy who checks ratings before every major - and minor - purchase.

I used Google Maps Street View to check them all out, "walk" the commute, scout for homeless camps nearby, walk into and tour area stores and locales, etc.

Once I arrived, I went for long walks to and around the top six prospects. I quickly learned important details like "Hmmm, that nearby Aramark factory has a loud pipe and smells like burnt metal... not good."

Because I needed a month-to-month lease for flexibility as a management consultant, that further narrowed the field when it was either a) not an option or b) increased the price beyond my acceptable pain point.

I toured the LL Hawkins after already visiting the grounds and surrounding neighborhood, so I knew ahead of time that I liked the area. It's an easy walk to 23rd Avenue.

Jade was incredible to work with, both via email before our tour, and during the tour itself. She was flexible in setting up the appointment, and forthcoming during our meeting.

The building itself is a brilliant design. Curb appeal, lobby appeal, flow appeal, all in evidence. The large, practical elevators, are key-fob activated at all times. It's extra security that brings peace of mind given the "revival" nature of Slabtown. A minor inconvenience for guests. The homeless people who live in the area have been polite to me, in my short time here.

It is a non-smoking facility. This was mandatory for me, as second-hand smoke will take me down in a hurry.

There is no gym, no pool and no "working office" here. These are three things I would never use and pay an unnecessary premium for at other buildings. The parkade is spotless and easy to navigate. There is 1 gig internet service available, a boon for tele-commuters.

Besaws is the resident restaurant on the main floor, and it comes highly recommended. http://www.besaws.com/

The recently opened New Seasons market across the back lane is amazing. All you would expect in groceries and produce, plus a top-level coffee bar, deli, to-go meals and custom ramen counter.

I went for a studio, which features great use of space, a large, useful kitchen, in-suite laundry with plenty of storage, and big windows with plenty of natural light. The level of finishing and fit and finish of things like baseboards, window blinds and doors is top quality.

The only knock is sound transfer from above. It could be my upward neighbor is training circus elephants and testing bowling balls, but that is unlikely. You should also be aware of the construction project next door on the Quimby side. That will continue for a few months.

Message me if you want more.

Room
The room is a great size for someone who is either single or has a roommate (I don't know how some families do it here). The rooms are very modern and clean, so I instantly felt comfortable. I feel like the rooms are bigger than a lot of the apartments I looked at around the NW area for a similar price. I agree with one of the previous comments that the washer and dryer are a bit small, but the worst part is the dryer because it can take a while for my clothes to dry. I also hang a lot of my clothes so the dryer isn't a huge issue, but I can see it being a pain for most. I would also say that the air conditioning system is a little tough to use. To turn on the heat is fine, but the cooling system is inconsistent.

Great location
We love to walk around the neighborhood and go to the restaurants (many options). Also close enough to the waterfront, so morning runs are awesome and more enjoyable. Also, it is really convenient to have New Seasons behind the building for grocery shopping. If you are Timbers or Thorns fans, you are super close to the stadium and you don't have to deal with the traffic. If you go to Blazers games, you are either a quick Uber/Lyft ride over or a quick bus ride to the stadium.

Maintenance
Can be a pain to get something scheduled. You have to call another maintenance line in order to schedule something instead of going through the actual apartment complex portal, which is annoying but not the worst thing in the world.

Management
The team managing this property is awesome and really friendly. They do a great job of doing whatever they can to help solve your problems and make your lives easier.

Amenities
They have a community room where you can hangout and use the grill. Unfortunately, there isn't a gym which was a big disappointment for me, especially with the price we pay. But that's also the lazy side of me wanting the gym to be closer.

Overall
I love the location of this place and I am very comfortable with the room I have. I know that the pricing of these apartments are high, but I put a lot of value in the location of the place and surrounding neighborhood. Apartment space or a backyard aren't so much of a need for me right now, as it is just my fiancé and I. I feel like this place has a good balance of everything I need.

I work outside of Portland, so the commute to and from work is really nice. Parking in the neighborhood is fine too on most days (weekends are a little busier). Outside of work, I love running in the neighborhood, going to sporting events, and going out to eat. Living here makes it easy to do all of these with ease.

I don't normally write reviews, but I'm moving to a new city and I've found Yelp apartment reviews very helpful in my own apartment search so I wanted to pay it forward and leave one for the LL Hawkins, where I've lived for the past year. It has been a wonderful place to live and the location is unbeatable! Three great restaurants literally inside the apartment building (you don't even have to go outside) and so many great restaurants, breweries, and activities (OrangeTheory, Yoga, Barre, etc.) within a couple of blocks. So many grocery stores within walking distance, including Trader Joe's, but New Seasons is literally across the parking lot and could not be more convenient. Easy access to freeway for driving, and streetcar as well as several bus lines makes transportation incredibly convenient. Even with all that, the neighborhood is still quiet enough that I can leave my windows open every night for fresh air. I have never seen any insects or rodents anywhere in the building, but lots of adorable dogs in the elevator.

The apartment units themselves are small, but they make excellent use of the space. Lots of natural light, in-unit washer/dryer, dishwasher, and air conditioning (rare for Portland) make the apartments feel like luxury. They come at a cost though and although I felt like I was paying a lot for my studio, I can see that it is being advertised at a rent that is over $300/month higher than what I was paying! Although the finishes are nice, they are definitely not the most durable (floors dent easily, blinds can break easily), so go easy on your apartment. The walls between apartments have great insulation and I've never heard any noise from neighboring apartments.

The front office can be a bit of a hassle. They have package services, which sounds great in theory, but you have to come by the office between 10-5 to pick up your packages, which is next to impossible if you work a full-time job.

This building is amazing. I just moved in, and the leasing office has been so helpful and communicative through the whole process. The units are gorgeous with high-end finishes, and the common areas are a beautiful blend of vintage and modern. The management team is warm and personable with all of the residents, and the free coffee is pretty great, too.

I've been living at LL Hawkins for just over 6 months and have nothing but positive things to say. I love the location and the layout of my apartment (I live in a 1-bedroom). Management is always helpful and friendly!

The creators of LL Hawkins paid very close attention to the finer details.... things you don't see, until you look closer. Fine touches of care and thought floor w through this boutique condo style building. The neighborhood is top notch. Perfect blend of single family residential, amazing restaurants, shopping, retail, cheap eats and local watering holes. I know first hand the staff works very hard to ensure the highest level of service and the best customer experience. This is a must see building.