Trestle

There are definitely things I liked at Trestle, but enough negatives that I decided not to renew my lease.

The biggest positive is that it’s a newer building with modern finishes and all new appliances. Everything felt clean and updated when I moved in. The location is convenient, with an easy walk to downtown San Carlos, restaurants, the farmers market, and Caltrain.

The gym is small but adequate for basic workouts if you avoid peak hours.

The biggest downside was the noise.

Street noise... was constant, especially during rush hour. Cars and motorcycles with loud exhausts made it feel like living next to a racetrack. Opening the windows wasn’t really an option, and there’s also a nearby fire station.

Noise inside the building wasn’t much better. My upstairs neighbors regularly stomped, dropped heavy objects, yelled at the TV, and argued late into the night. I reported it, but nothing changed. Residents also came and went through the nearby side gate at all hours, and my outdoor camera even captured someone urinating near my patio.

The air conditioner was either off or full blast and was extremely loud for such a small apartment. Since opening the windows wasn’t practical, I often had to choose between being too warm or listening to what sounded like a jet engine.

The one-bedroom layout wasted space with a long, narrow entry hallway. Although I had a patio, it was too noisy and often too windy to enjoy.

The building uses digital locks on almost every door, which became frustrating when carrying groceries or packages.

Some fixtures felt cheaply made. The towel bar and toilet paper holder pulled out of the wall during normal use, and the toilet’s flushing mechanism frequently stuck.

Parking is assigned but uncovered, so my car constantly collected dirt and dust. The EV charger was often broken, and when it worked it was slow, with people leaving their cars parked after charging.

Overall, the apartment has attractive finishes, a convenient location, and decent amenities. However, the relentless street noise, noisy neighbors, and rent increase made it difficult to justify the price. For what Trestle charges, there are quieter and better overall apartment options in the area. Read More

Moved in a few months ago and first things first, let me give credit where it's due -- to the staff! Talk about friendly people and going the extra mile.

Similarly, the units are nicely done with some of the better floorplans I've seen around the Peninsula (I've seen other apartments where you can barely get a dining table and couch in the living room of a two bedroom.) While it comes at a cost having features like AC, the Washer & Dryer, stone counters and other trim is a great win in a place... with a lot of older communities (hint Bay Area, summer is not mild anymore.)

Common areas are getting busier as the people continue to move in (the place is still pretty new and part is under construction) and the gym needs some more machines but the pool and roof top patio (nice until the train comes by) have been just fine when I've stopped by. People at the events are nice enough, not that apartment people tend to know each other well.

That said, this place is peak Bay Area and it gets pretty silly. The train is obviously right next door and you will hear it, even with the nice windows and build quality, same goes for the traffic on El Camino. Similarly, when they got this place permitted they obviously didn't do much with the city (beyond mess up traffic on El Camino for months). Getting in is long lights to make one u-turn, getting out is the same minus the signal light, there are none of the logical turn spots. Guest parking, well there really isn't any since the open spots are left for residents and guests alike -- absurd.

Finally you've got the absurd door system. Everything is app controlled and while that sounds really cool, it's rather silly and certainly more marketing pitch / management feature. Every time you want to open a door you're unlocking your phone, opening an app and waiting for it to process. It's not long but keys and keyfobs worked just fine. Betting the community staff hates having to use the app a million times a day too.

In an area with really expensive options each with their own quirks, I'm happy with my decision but only against other silly options. Read More