The Beacon

The Beacon is truly a Beacon for SF residents - it's the perfect blend between accessibility, commutability, city style living in a great location & quality with a very well kept building loaded with amenities

There are so many pro's about living here:
1) Accessibility - Everything you need is right downstairs. Grocery (Safeway) is a huge huge huge plus, high end and casual restaurants, bars (rooftop, sports bars, breweries), entertainment (bowling alley, coinop video game bar, of course the stadium + new warriors stadium coming soon), banks, fitness classes, entertainment, restaurants, walgreens, pet sitters, salons/barbers, dentists, therapists, cofeeshops, etc. - literally everything is accessible on foot within a block
2) Beautiful location - The area is very well kept and clean. It's also a 5 minute walk from the Embarcadero, along with two other parks in the area (Mission bay, South beach park). If you face north (vs south) you'll have beautiful city skyline views on a higher floor
3) Commutability - A dream location for a commuter or a city dweller. Easy access to both major freeways, walk 10-15 minutes into downtown for work, caltrans across the street, several buses stop by the building (one every 2-3 minutes) that get you thru the city, the new muni line + existing
4) Amenities in the building - A private dog park, a nice gym (perfect for a condo complex, it's not a 24 hour fitness but has plenty of equipment to work out regularly, and it's made of all glass in front of the pool and always kept clean, treadmills have TVs, there's a sauana, shower, two hot tubs + 1 lap pool
5) The building's quality - In addition to the building, the property is very well kept and clean with constant improvements which continue the modernize the place. HOA does a fantastic job managing the building - they recently added automated lockers for package retrieval and a Security robot who patrols the premises! Not many places offer that. The place was built in 2004 but has a timeless contemporary appeal to it and is very well kept.

The typical con's:
- Its near the stadium. This really is not a problem, unless you're driving out or in during a big game. The buzz from the game is not heard from within your unit, and not bad at all really. It's kind of festive
- It's a quieter neighborhood. Yes true, it buzzes during the week as commuters walk thru from caltrans, and nearby workers/residents frequent the bars for happy hours after work. It is quiet on the weekends which many residents appreciate. Again none of this bothers you in your unit
- It's far from the main jewel neighborhoods in SF (Hayes valley, marina, etc.). It's really not all that far, you can easily lyft/uber there on the weekends or take a quick bus ride. That trade off is worth it to live in a highly functional, safe, clean neighborhood. There's plenty of nice things to do within the neighborhood itself, and highly functional for comfortable living and commute ease
- There's rif raff. This neighborhood is generally much safer than the ones closer to central SF. There are a few homeless people around the block, but they don't really bother anyone and it's not bad at all. Easily overlooked
- Some units overheat during warm days because of no AC. This is only true for some units facing the south towards the stadium. However I hear it can easily be managed - leverage solar shades & in door portable AC units or just go for a dip in the pool! SF hardly has a handful of hot days ever year. If you're facing the north side, or east/west, this is a complete non issue. This is me and I never need an AC, and in fact, use the heater instead some days during the winter.
- Some units are dated; this might be true since it's an 04 build, but since it's privately owned, many many landlords have renovated their units (hardwood floors, upgraded appliances, to the kitchen/bathroom). Even if it they aren't upgraded, this is still relatively new considering how old most properties are in SF

All in all after living in a few neighborhoods in SF (the most popular ones) I am truly very appreciative living in this functional neighborhood. Can't beat it.

I am unable to post my review directly on zillow. but let this be a warning SPECIFICALLY FOR unit 761 and their landlord as well as the HOA that does NOT care for the tenant.

I toured the apartment and noticed the sink was clogged. After the tour I confirmed with the landlord that they would have it fixed for any future tenant in email!

Lo and behold my move in day comes and not only was the sink not fixed the disgusting liquid in the sink was now all over the studio floors damaging the hardwood floors.

The landlord was entirely unhelpful. Would not refund any of my $7500 paid money. I could not move into the apartment since the studio floors were not only damaged but were WET. It took me a week and another man on the phone to convince the landlord to even send someone to look at the damage. a week of paid rent where i could not be in the apartment by the way with NO refund. Last I got an email from the landlord the apartment was STILL not fixed. However I would get periodic emails of "expecting" me to move in and locking my items in the walk in closet. Where was I to live and sleep? On the floors that were taken out and next to the fans to DRY the wet floors?

The department of building inspections gave this guy a notice of violation to which he asked me how dare I let the officer into the apartment.
That is well within a signed tenants right.

Another SF tenants organization Causa Justa literally wrote a letter to this landlord informing him of my rights and he mentioned how a "random" organization has no right......

This entire issue was documented over email with THE BEACON HOA on cc. However the beacon stopped responding to my calls and emails when I tried to complain about how their HOA landlord was behaving.
To this day this landlord has my $7500 ($1500 pro rated june 16-june 30 rent, $3000 july rent, and $3000 deposit). Even though once again i was never able to move in!!
The most i was promised was an unknown vague amount of future rent credits. Everytime I tried to ask if it would be the same rate of rent I am paying I was ignored. I was told "to continue living where you are living in the meantime". I signed a lease to live in the apartment because my previous lease of a 3bed house was expiring with roommates. I had no where to go unless I wanted to foot the bill of a 3bedroom house in sf urgently all on my own for months. Every week I was told the move in date was moved.

I almost became homeless and would have been homeless if I had relied on this landlord for my "move in date" even after this insane oversight.
He claims this was an "emergency" that happened. That sink was clogged and ignored from day one.

Please avoid Jitendra Maheshwari as your landlord at all costs. He still has my june july rent and my deposit even though i was NEVER able to move into the apartment because from day 1 it was deemed unlivable and dangerous!

The beacon HOA also seems to not care for any of these activities as they will tell you that is between you and the landlord. However if you try to sign a lease and move in you will be given a 100+ page rulebook to follow and pay move in fees

What is the rule book for if their landlords are committing such blatant fraud?

I have attached a few emails and pictures of the damage for proof.

As a resident, BUYERS AND RENTERS BE WARNED.

This place is very poorly managed with numerous security and safety issues, constant repairs required that go unaddressed, consistent fire alarms in the early hours of the morning (i.e. 2 AM, 6 AM, 7 AM) because the building is above the Safeway bakery, and homeless people living in the stairwells.

Further, the garage is owned and operated by a totally different entity, making it nearly impossible to get any kind of security or report any safety issues. Residents have had their cars broken into, catalytic converters stolen, and one guy that literally hhad his car stolen out of the garage...

Don't park here. Don't live here. Don't buy here.

This review is only for their Clubhouse in which if one is a tenant you can reserve and use it for a party. In our case, it was a post Thanksgiving family gathering of 28 guests. The room was perfect for this amount of guests and since it was a potluck, we used the oven and stove area to warm things up. Bathrooms for men and ladies were inside this room which were very modern, well stocked and clean. Loved the L shaped leather couch with the four throw pillows and huge flatscreen TV.

My friend lives here so I can only attest to what I've experienced from visiting and vegging out.

The Beacon is conveniently located across from Cal Train. Just a short walk (SUPER short) to Safeway, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, and Oracle Park if you're into that sort of thing.

Inside the actual condos I'd say if you're looking to buy -- don't. I personally don't find much value in the property itself. The materials inside seem very cheap and I have a huge issue with the windows. Since the windows are quite high and you do get nice views if you're in a prized unit, the windows for safety reasons don't open up very wide so there is little to no ventilation. That would suck if you're cooking something smelly and can't ventilate your own place properly.

Aside from it's convenient factor and its on-premise pool/hot tub and parking garage (which technically isn't gated and people can enter), I wouldn't pay and arm and a leg to live here.

I would STRONGLY recommend not living here. If I could give it zero, I easily would have. Beware of this place.

Pros:
1. Safeway
2. Caltrain/MUNI Proximity


Cons:
1. Unbearable heat in the unit which makes it nearly unlivable from 11a to 5p/ No air circulation at all, the complex/builder is under a lawsuit for this.
2. Unresponsive management.
3. Out of date elevators which are often out of service.
4. Intermittent noise outside due to construction and yelling from people at the Caltrain station.

I've been living here for 8 months now and LOVE it. I especially appreciate the front desk people we have. They are always so friendly, helpful, and just awesome overall.

So far, all the neighbors I've ran into are super friendly. The complex is also very dog friendly.

Other pluses include a Safeway right downstairs, 2 minute walk to Caltrain, and a pretty safe feel at night.

I wanted to buy a condo at the Beacon, so I decided to rent for a while, and see if I liked to live there. I really liked the apartment, but the HOA was awful. The HOAs fees are pretty high, but doors, elevators and amenities are often out of service. When trying to communicate with them they were often uncooperative and rude, and provided innacurate information. Definitely not worth it paying $800 for life.

The woman at the front desk today was so unfriendly and not helpful. I don't live here but from the interaction I had inside the building, I wouldn't recommend.

Warning! Fines being threatened on residents. I've lived in the Beacon about 3 years and we have a good deal on an apartment here renting from the condo owner. I'm writing to warn potential renters/buyers that the HOA office here is a bit hostile toward certain residents. It truly compromises your comfort level.

I know a number of situations from my friends in the building where the interactions have been unprofessional to say the least. I'll go deep on my most recent experience, which was the tipping point for me to write on yelp. It is in regard to harassment over my dog that I've had for the past 6 months (adopted, currently 14 months old).

Recently a photograph from the security camera of me alone with my dog b/c he was off leash in the elevator was taken and sent, via email to myself and the condo owner, now a friend of mine. This has happened twice in the past few months, creeping both myself and the condo owner out.

Even more recently and more inappropriate, a picture of me and my dog while we were in the "dog park" was sent to the entire building saying that that owners with dogs off-leash, even if you are in the "dog park" will be fined. The picture was of me and my dog off-leash in the "dog park".

Please understand, you are NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE YOUR DOGS OFF-LEASE, PERIOD, NOT EVEN IN THE DOG PARK. Signs are posted that say as much. Fines are currently being threatened. I've actually been driven to the point where I'm contacting an attorney this week to see if I have any options as far as getting some protection from harassment. There has been a drastic disparity in how some residents are treated vs. others. My window looks over the dog park so I see all the dogs, leashed and unleashed, and I know pretty much all of the people so I've been asking around recently.

After speaking to a number of residents, it seems the hostility is being spearheaded by a particular female employee who occasionally lashes out and has had borderline hostile encounters with some residents. She has made a number of folks in the building uncomfortable.

I'm not sure what actions I'll be able to take to get some of my piece of mind back in the building. I don't appreciate being photographed and posted all over my community. Fortunately, my neighbors have been supportive. They are also creeped out to see a picture of me in their inbox. They are worried about when they are going to get photographed. I think they took one picture in the elevator of me and then decided to take me consistently.

Not sure what advice I can give you to stay on their or her good side, but it is an element of living here the can really make things uncomfortable if you inconvenience the wrong person. But the Beacon does NOT HAVE A DOG PARK. That is false marketing. There is an astro-turf area where you can let your dog go to the bathroom on-leash, but there are signs that say you are NOT to have your dog off-leash.

As I said, there is a disparity. I know some people who have their dogs off leash constantly and don't have issues (as I said, my window looks out over the dog park). I'm hoping this disparity will help me get some legal protection. The conduct of some employees in the office has been totally inappropriate and unprofessional. On top of all of this, my dog is registered as a service animal and was adopted under advisement of both my psychologist and psychiatrist to help with anxiety. He doesn't cause any problems, yet they have persisted with targeting me. I've had enough.

Please know that this element exists at the Beacon. Again, do not inconvenience the wrong employee or might find yourself having issues. Know that before renting and especially before buying. Can you imagine buying a condo here and then feeling hostility from an employee/s impact your comfort level? It's awful and I feel awful for some of the families in this building who have been bullied.

The other issue, since I'm now writing this review Wednesday at 10:30pm after work, that I'd mention is the heat. We have to keep a fan pushing cool air in about half the days of the year. Otherwise its just too hot to be comfortable. This problem, I'm guessing isn't going to get better as they would have to replace/recoat the windows. So there it is, renters beware, and buyers, I'd ask for a report of all the elevator down-time, fire-alarm false-alarms. On top of the things already mentioned, those are two things that will impact your life meaningfully while living at the Beacon.