Tenant Reviews for 634 S GRAMERCY PL

Old, dirty, poorly maintained, defective or deficient everything. Nasty manager and staff. Don't throw away your money.

Peggy and Ben have been managers at the Gramercy Wilshire for the past twenty years. They are not on the internet so they have been unaware of these reviews which seem to be slanted against the building and management. I have lived here since 1995 and find the landlord to be quite responsive to my maintenance requests. The rent is reasonable with all utilities included. The laundry room is small but accessible. The building is kept locked with camera surveillance for added security. Noise is curtailed at night. The building has been freshly painted. The Metro Red Line is just a few blocks away and there is a mini-shopping center across the street that offers a dry cleaners, a donut shop, a sushi place, an El Pollo Loco, a Yoshinoya, a Pizza Hut and a Subway. My only complaint is the scarcity of parking which plagues every apartment dweller in Mid-Wilshire. Peggy points out that a few persons have been evicted for non-payment of rent and some for behavioral problems in the last couple of years and these possibly libelous, retaliatory rants are nothing more than attempts to discredit the Gramercy Wilshire and its managers. I urge any prospective tenant to disregard these anonymous postings and come see the Gramercy Wilshire and decide for yourself.

It became quickly evident AFTER moving in that this apartment building is substandard. The garage reeks of garbage and gasoline. The laundry facilities are inadequate for a building of that size (although many of the tenants are so unkempt and "hygenically-challenged" that this might not be an issue). Excepting the lobby, which they keep clean to lure-in unsuspecting prospective tenants, nothing is properly maintained. There is never enough hot water during peak use hours. The elevators are antiquated and constantly out of service. Many of the tenants are rude and inconsiderate and of questionable moral character. Anyone can get into the building and we frequently saw strangers roaming the hallways and trying doorknobs. The neighborhood itself is seedy and rapidly deteriorating. It was a big mistake which we won't repeat and which we urge you not to make.

Once you get past the lobby, it becomes immediately evident that the owner is only interested in stuffing warm, paying bodies in this building. Everything is dirty, worn-out and smelly. The garage stinks like an outhouse.

As long-time tenants, we take exception to the review issued by "ANONYMOUS" on June 3, 2009. It is our understanding [VIA BUILDING GRAPEVINE] that this particular tenant lived here for approximately one year and was on the verge of being evicted for non-payment of rent. Obviously, this building is not for everyone, but we love it. A big part of living in an apartment is being a good tenant and respecting the rights of others. Caterwauling on the sidewalk in the middle of the night does not qualify. [HINT-HINT] Whatever vendetta or altercation this former tenant had with what he refers to as the manger's "roommate", we can attest that he is neither a scam artist nor "convicted criminal". We trust both the manager and him implicitly to monitor our apartment & mail while out of town and to accept packages on a regular basis. There has never been the slightest problem and NOTHING has ever gone missing. We have lived in the Gramercy Wilshire for more than ten years. We actually have two apartments: First- 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms; Second- A small bachelor unit across the hall with large bathroom and walk-in closet- works great as a home office. Total: 3 Bedrooms & 3 Bathrooms for the price of a West Hollywood one-bedroom INCLUDES UTILITIES. Is it perfect? No: the hallways are in need of redecorating, the electrical is ancient, the original plumbing cannot accommodate dishwashers and roaches do appear on occasion. But being veteran Manhattanites, cleanliness and frequent trash removal keep bugs at bay. [HINT-HINT] On the plus side, the lobby is immaculate and the manager is attentive. In the apartment the ceilings are high, the rooms are well proportioned, the windows are big & plentiful, meaning great cross ventilation. Further, we like the Urban feel of the area and easy access to the Red Line Subway three blocks away.

This is a wonderful apartment community with great management and a fabulous old-Hollywood vibe! I lived in the Gramercy Wilshire for a little more than five years. I'm only moving now because I needed to be closer to work. The rent is very reasonable, especially when you consider that it includes your utilities. The building is secure, with a telephone entry system. The apartment manager, who lives in the building, is awesome, friendly, and is always there if you need anything, whether you have a problem in your apartment or you've locked yourself out! Of course there are bound to be issues occasionally in a building this old (it's over 80 years old), such as peeling plaster in the bathrooms from the moisture or a leaky faucet, but as soon as you notify the manager, the issue is resolved. There are lots of tenants in the building that have lived there as long or longer than I did, and it's easy to get to know your neighbors, so you get a nice sense of community within the building. There's also a cool little rooftop terrace with chairs and tables where you can relax day or night! I never had any issues with roaches or any other pests. The building is in a great location, a couple of blocks from the Wilshire/Western Metro station & bus stops, and is walking-distance from lots of restaurants, groceries, shops, cafes, gyms and banks. The only drawback to living in the area is parking, but you have those issues with any of the apartment buildings in that area. There are only a few parking spots in the building itself, and they are allotted to the larger, higher-rent apartments. There is a parking garage next door, but the company that owns it is not affiliated with the Gramercy Wilshire and charges exorbitant monthly rent. Also, the city requires that you move your car every two hours if you park on the blocks north of Wilshire and south of 4th Street. That being said, there is plenty of neighborhood parking a couple of blocks away (just west of Wilton) that doesn't require constant moving of the vehicle, and it was worth the exercise to stay in such a great apartment. I recommend the Gramercy Wilshire as a great place to live!

Many of the tenants there are mentally unstable. The building itself is a mess. Beware of the manager and her roommate, who is a convicted criminal and a scam-artist and likes to enter your apartment when you are away to steal your possessions a few at a time.

Rent is reasonable - all utilities included, but parking IS extra (separate company), and is practically a must-have with all of the parking restrictions on Gramercy and Wilshire. The building overall is quirky, built in the 20's, but isn't as practical as some modern buildings. 2 washers/dryers for 80 units is a hassle with trying to time your loads to avoid people cutting in line. Management is nice and is on top of most repairs/issues. Cockroaches ARE a problem, but manageable. The elevators at first seem cool, but are definitely not practical - when having to carry groceries, laundry, ANYTHING, you must open a steel door, creating quite a cumbersome situation. Tenants range from single professionals, to the elderly, to single families. Quite an eclectic group - some do drugs, some have kids, it's hard to generalize. It can get quite loud being next to Wilshire and Crenshaw (ambulances, firetrucks, people screaming/talking, etc.) There is no A/C, but there is a heater that is timed, based on temperature. Having a fan or two is a must-have in the summer months, but it doesn't get too hot where it is unbearable. The electricity can be tricky, since the building was built so long ago, too many powercords and you run a risk of short-circuiting the socket. Overall, if you're looking for a place that has a reasonable rent and you're not high maintenance, it can work for you. If you're looking for a nice place, and a community, this is definitely not a good fit.

The Gramercy Wilshire was a neato building in the 1980's, when I was in college. The rents were reasonable, the tenants nice, and the managers always kept the areas clean. Close to downtown and shopping, it was easy for young people without a car to jump around by bus from place to place. I have many lovely memories of this building: Small get-togethers, a sense of community, and mgrs who were always there for you. It was a happy place. Yes, the occasional roach, but easily controlled by little roach trays. And there isn't one bldg near Hancock Park without them! I had a studio with fridge and small cooking facilities. All was adequate and kept in repair. I was a student at the time, and when I explained that I was on a budget, rec'd few or no rent raises. The owner at that time was very kind. All the people I knew from that era have now passed on, but the memories will always be there. The Gramercy Wilshire was a great place to live and a quirky, sweet part of Los Angeles's heyday when Bullock's Wilshire was once open, Farmer's Mkt was a draw before the Grove, and open-top buses cruised east and west on Wilshire Blvd. Gotta love it!

Roaches everywhere. Filthy hallways, garage, common areas. Even talking with two current tenants we were told that the building is unsafe and that the manager's boyfriend is a burglar and a drug user. Avoid at all costs.