The Blackstone Apartments

I have lived here for 2 yrs now and I really love the Blackstone! I don’t want to move! What I love most about my apartment are the hardwood floors, huge windows (my view!) and ample closet space. There might not be a lot of amenities (just a small gym) but they compensate for it in another ways– open bar during artwalk, superbowl party, etc.
I’ve read some reviews from my neighbors but I’ve never really had a problem with management. I think that when there is something negative that goes on, it just gets blown up so the positive things gets put aside. Whenever I need repairs/​help, they are quick to respond to my messages. I like that they are a text, email or call away! The staff (security, repairs, cleaning) are very friendly and helpful too. They do their job very well and are very approachable. I’ve lived in other apartments that were much worse and I really look forward to going home to the Blackstone! :)

Tyler Murphy, the Blackstone manager, promised return of my deposit when we did our walk though.
He lied to my face.
He never mailed my moveout paperwork and never answered my many emails asking where it was.
He had a lawyer answer me.
Apparently he’s so rich and powerful he’d rather pay an attorney to answer his emails than to give me back the $ 500 deposit he promised me.
In my opinion he is a horrible, unprofessional and giant liability as a building manager.

If you like to take burning hot showers your welcome to live here!
Since day one we haven’t been able to take a normal shower!
Tyler’s advice was ‘drain the hot water for 15 min and you’ll
be fine’ Wtf! Isn’t California going through a drought???
4 months here and we are ready to move as soon as possible, we can’t
handle this anymore it’s so uncomfortable…

i love the blackstone, its a really nice building.
they keep it clean & it’s quite unlike other rental properties in dtla.
It could use some more amenities but other than that it’s the best place I’ve had downtown & will probably call it home for a while!

I currently live at Blackstone. I’m loving it here. It’s in the heart of downtown. The location is great. Downtown is going through a resurgence, so there are new places opening up all the time. Ace hotel, acne studio, il café, oak, just to name a few in the last 6 months. Blackstone is right in the thick of it.
I’ve read another Unilocal review about someone complaining about management and hating on downtown. The management has been friendly and responsive. Quick to answer emails and have taken care of issues in a timely manor. And regarding Downtown — this isn’t Beverly Hills. Takes a certain kind of counter culture person to love the art and grittiness of downtown LA culture.
Last but not least, the best taco stand in LA is right downstairs. Tacos Mexico. Open 24 hours. Delicious & cheap. Blackstone management put some tables and chairs out to enjoy a meal outside. This sealed the deal for me.

I have lived at the Blackstone for a year now and am getting ready to resign my lease for another year. The location of the building is prime! My boyfriend and I are one block away from our yoga studio, peace yoga gallery, walking distance to several great coffee shops, restaurants, and bars, including the Ace Hotel next door. The management team have been incredibly responsive and proactive in creating a great environment in the building, and are simply easy going great people. Needless to say, it’s a great place to call home :)

I moved into the Blackstone in March and only have positive things to say about the building. I love my apartment and beautiful view of the Eastern Columbia Building. Management is super friendly and efficient.
The location is so perfect right now. New businesses popping up every day and right next door to the Ace Hotel! Couldn’t get much better!

The one thing that comes with living any building in Downtown LA is that by doing so, you have made a conscious decision to be a part of the melting pot that is Los Angeles. Students, working professionals, artists, skilled trades workers — all make up your neighbors who bring their own flavor to the building. When you tell your friends «I live in Downtown», there’s a stigma that comes with it and rightfully so. So having said that, The Blackstone fits that stigma because it is what Downtown LA is and wants to be without it being overly priced and out of reach for most.
I’ve been a resident for over 2 years and I’m on the verge of extending my lease once again because for what the building is, it’s location in the city and the overall vibe of the management and the general residents, it serves as a great portal into DTLA for those who want to call the area home. The key though to making the most out of it is understanding that you are 1 amongst many, and that in acknowledging that factor you will find yourself more often than not building bridges and relationships than finding yourself at odds with the masses.
Lets talk building amenities:
Parking — We do have parking within the building, which is rare for most buildings in Downtown. I do pay an additional monthly fee for my parking but that’s expected in Downtown. It really helps on those crazy weather days to just take the elevator down to the basement and get my car without getting soaked.
Laundry — I’m fortunate to live in a unit that has a space for a combo washer/​dryer (which is a life saver when you just need to get small loads done), but there are facilities on the 6^th floor and they’re pretty easily available. There are your high-​time usage periods, so just make your schedule fit it and you’ll be ok.
Gym — We have a small fitness room that has a treadmill, elliptical and a bike station, along with some free weight dumbbells. If you’re looking to get a good workout, that will do just fine. We don’t have a gym built out like other major buildings, but that’s because the building is more about keeping the basics in place.
Rooftop — We have an open roof that isn’t built out and I would say that would be my biggest criticism because I think we have such huge potential for the open area that exists because we have a beautiful skyline angle view of Downtown. But that doesn’t stop many of the tenants from just taking some fold up chairs and enjoying some wine on the roof top and enjoying some peace and tranquility from what is Downtown.
Social scene — The building is located at the edge of the South Park district in Downtown and is on the same block as the new Ace Hotel and nearby numerous hip bars in the area. Having said that, the foot traffic in the area has increased dramatically in the last few months. The ArtWalk parties in the lobby that have been criticized on here are part of the reason why I’m here! I find it to be a great resource in getting to know many of my neighbors in the building and being able to invite my friends over to have a great time and do so in a welcoming environment. The parties have become more resident orientated, which I enjoy just as much. As a building located in the heart of the growing development of Downtown with more lounges, restaurants and bars opening up week after week, it’s what you would expect for a building in Downtown.
Pricing — Downtown rents are going up and the new construction of rental units isn’t likely going to keep rental rates down because of the growing desire of people to move into Downtown. Having said that, The Blackstone’s market rate units are fairly priced and given the building’s amenities and location, it’ll be hard to beat (especially with the units having modern amenities like central air, high ceilings, etc.).
Management — In all my years as a renter here and any other place that I lived at, I found that it’s always about having a great open line of communication that can ensure a prosperous relationship because myself and management. That’s just as much of the truth here, where I have an open line of communication with management and the maintenance staff to ensure that my needs are met on a timely basis. It’s not about favoritism, it’s about mutual respect.
So I maxed out my 5000 character limit on Unilocal,and I did it for good reason — The Blackstone gave me the opportunity to join a community that has the spotlight of the world on it and let me live the «DTLA Lifestyle» at a reasonable rate. I welcome all that comes with the spotlight being on this area and it’s clear to me that I wouldn’t be a part of this community right now if it were not for The Blackstone.

I wish I could give the management at the Blackstone zero stars. They take incompetent to a whole new level. I looked at a unit in August of 2013 and put down a $ 150 hold fee, which they told me would hold the unit for three days. If, at the end of the three days, I did not want the unit they told me that I would get the $ 150 back. Ultimately, my roommate and I decided to rent elsewhere, but never got our money back. We have both contacted the management numerous times, but they have never answered the phone or responded to messages. It is completely unprofessional and disrespectful. I am exploring legal action because of the way this management operates.

The Blackstone was a great place to live!
Ok so let me give you the run down! Ready… so I lived at The Blackstone (BS…no pun intended) for a little over a year!
I moved to LA from suburbia (snooze)…looking for a cool/​affordable spot… and my bf and I found it! the outside of the building has character… and yes attached to the best taco joint in dtla (24 hrs). Perfect for late nite bites after drinking.
The lobby is nice, with a security guard available at night to watch who is coming in and out… also locked entry… only accessible by the residents.
The parking… is amazing. You can’t find underground parking in DTLA… it is so convenient and safe. They have a few tandem spot available which ran my bf 200 $ …or $ 150 each which needs to be considered obviously. But it was well worth the peace of mind. Coming in at any hour we felt safe… and the elevator took us right up to our floor. The have security cameras as well.
The units are gorgeous! We started off in a studio for 1425… but ended up renting a one bedrooms for 1700. Why the change… well both units have similar amenities… over 12 ft high ceilings, crown molding, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops… blah blah blah. Lol super nice. but my boyfriend and I have lots of stuff and had one dog at the time. So we wanted the leg room. Both our units had wall to wall windows… some of the largest I’ve seen. Great views of the city.
The noise… well you wanted the city life right? So ya… buses, horns… the occasional bums yelling… are all part of it. The afternoons and weekend nights were the loudest. *if you live on the units facing the Eastern… please take note. There is a bus stop… so yes very early in the morning, every morning… you hear the bus. And late night it seamed to idle at that stop for an unnecessary amount of time.
The light… yes yes… the windows are fabulous… but if your used to a blacked out room… please be warned. Or prepared to put up your own curtains (the unit comes with white pull down shade), but nights are not as dark as some are used to.
The neighbors… people come and go, but from what I’ve heard there are pros and cons to living on the outer units… or the units inside the complex. The outer units have the windows that face the street… so you hear more street noise… duh. But if there is a noisy neighbor I hear the inside units could be similar. Just depends. Living on a unit that faced the outside… we hardly ever heard our neighbors… walls are very thick? Lol
The gym… hmmm. Well ya it’s a workout area. Three machines, and two tv’s, but I thought I would spend more time there. There is a distinct smell (rubber mats) that you will smell like once you leave. Also it can be hot… and the a/​c was hit or miss there.
The roof… is amazing. Unfortunately it is not a designated spot, but residence do frequent the rooftop for beautiful city views. it is a nice Instagram pic… for sure ;)
The laundry room is always clean… and has ample facilities. Prepare to gather your quarters though… they could use a quarter machine. Or maybe switch over to the card system which our current complex has.
Your in the city! Location Location Location!!! Broadway bar is a fun spot for grabbing a drink or dancing. Not to mention how close staples center is. We went to several Laker games! Only a 10 – 15 min walk!!!
Umami across the street is heaven. A mini mart opened across the street recently… which is also nice!
Beware of construction and occasional filming! So they film here every now and then… where don’t they film in dtla? They always warn residence… and hey, once we even got paid $ 400 for a Walgreens commercial to use our window ;) Construction seems constant lately, with plans to open a boutique hotel next door, I’m sure that construction will continue for a year or more. Lots of new building going up in dtla, so just be aware of that. The dust is pretty intense… sweeping/​dusting daily if you live on a unit facing the street (no screens) on windows.
All in all… we really enjoyed our experience. The leasing process was easy, the BS is pet friendly which was great. We tried new food, found new bars and lived the city life!!! We decided to move on… to a place where our dogs could roam… and have more grass lol. So we’re in Los Feliz now! Tyler was always so helpful, and nice. If your looking for an affordable downtown spot… that’s gorgeous… plus safe parking… chose The Blackstone :)

What can I say about this place, besides I loved it. Was looking for a place to live in LA and came across these Apartments. Fell in love immediately. The managers were the best, always friendly and very helpful. The neighbors were always cool, I had a great time living here. Not to mention the art walk parties every month. The only bad thing was I had to move for a new job. But if I ever make it back down that way I am definitely going back there. Thanks Blackstone!!!

Walked by this place during art walk night and… they turned the lobby into a night club… If you love to party then this is the place… but for people that want to come home and relax and go out the party… not have the party at your door step then… no

I moved into blackstone apartments in April and have been living here for about a month now. I didnt want to leave a review too quickly and thought I’d wait and see how things really go after I’m here for a few weeks. Well guess what, everything is perfect, I mean really I can’t find one thing wrong. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived in. I mean just look at the lobby its like a gallery /​bar /​lounge.
A lot of reviews you’ll read are negative and refer to a problematic leasing process. They couldn’t be more wrong. The leasing process was the easiest thing ever, it’s all digital using a third party online tool. It does background check and once approved emails you link to online leasing agreement system which is simple to read, sign and you’re done.
This place is just perfect. It’s quite when you want it to be quite and busting with music and parties also when you want it to be. Most tenants are young professionals which means they like their quiet time but they also like to party. Weekends you’ll hear people having a good time, but once you close your door not a peep can be heard.
Every second Thursday of the month the downstairs lobby turns into a full on party with all tenants in celebration of the downtown art walk. And there’s a DJ and drinks and well dressed beautiful people everywhere.
Weekdays it’s all business so most people stay quiet and handle their work or whateverelse they do.
There has not been one thing wrong and I love living here. I haven’t even mentioned that they have an underground parking garage with an elevator that goes up into the building and right to your floor. Try finding that anywhere else in downtown … you wont.
The lobby has 5 big screens hd tv’s and they play all sports games live all the time. NBA playoffs were on last month I was there watching all the laker games. People come down there watch the games, mingle, eat the AMAZING and ADDICTIVES Tacos Mexico. Yes, there is a 24 hour taco spot adjacent to the building and yes its amazing and YES it has 5 stars on Unilocal just look it up.
Basically I can safely say this is probably one the best smaller buildings in downtown LA.
Oh and if you’re wondering why I didn’t give it a 5 star review? Well two reasons, #1 is that Unilocal actually systematically goes through all reviews on all pages and removes 5 star and 1 star reviews to ensure that their rating system isn’t abused by fake posters and greedy business owners and such thus giving a 5 star review for a place you love can protentially get your review removed.
Anyways, I’d also like to see them do something with the roof as all other building do. Maybe a nice place to hangout with a few couches, a table and view… just a thought.

I had an appointment to look at the building this morning. Early in the morning the leasing agent called to change it to this afternoon. I left a message and said that worked fine. I arrived at noon (from Santa Monica to DTLA, so you know, it’s not around the corner), and the leasing agent wasn’t there. I left a message, and stuck around, and decided to walk around the hood for a just a little bit in case he was running late. Luckily, I saw a lot of great places. I received a message from the leasing agent at 3:30 (!!) apologizing for being «late», and was wondering if I was still around to look at the place. ABSO-​lutely not. This is a clear sign to me of poor, poor management which I’m sure spills over to other factors of the building.

Love living here for over a year with my hubby and our cat! Staff is nice and kind, repairs are quick and the parties are fun! They decorate seasonally and even post the weather in the elevator. The laundry room is clean and easy access and so is parking and trash chutes. No complaints! We are happy tenants and have made a lot of friends while living in the blackstone! I love the stoop and the roof for taking killer photos in cherry lighting with skyscrapers in the background! Cannot dis that! (; This is home!

I seriously wish i could give this place a «no star» review, but since it isn’t possible, 1 star will have to suffice.
I moved here in Sept. of 2010, not too soon after they had officially opened their doors. I was sold on all of the extensive plans to add a restaurant in the building and a rooftop pool, but sadly, more than a year later, none of this has transpired. The best thing about this place is that they didn’t make me pay a pet deposit or pet rent for my dog and they don’t have breed restrictions, which is great because I have a 1.5-year-old AmStaff.
My year at the Blackstone sucked! When I wasn’t coming home to see shut-​off notices from the utility departments taped to the building door, I had to deal with sub-​par management. I have never lived in an apartment building where the staff was sooooooo incredibly incompetent and unwilling to follow up on their promises. (Word to the wise: get EVERYTHING they say in writing.) They clearly have their favorite tenants, and most of the time, those are the ones that are paying a premium to live in these faux-​luxury lofts.
Me on the other hand, I got a special for my 1-​brdm, but based on the way they acted, you would’ve thought I was on Section 8 or something! (And the building is about as quality as a Section 8 slum). Tyler & Kerri (property management) were lax when it came to fixing things (It took them 4 months and several attempts to properly get rid of the brown water in my shower); and I had to practically harass them to get send out a exterminator when I had silverfish in my apartment. Oh, and did I mention this was after I had to go and buy bug spray to deal with the issue on my own because it was taking so long.
Since we’re on the topic of vermin: Right before I moved out, my neighbors had started seeing roaches in their unit. Of course, management blamed it on another tenant who had just moved out. They said they’d arranged to have an exterminator come to their unit in a few days. Turns out mgmt never called the exterminator. When my neighbor flipped out, they had someone there the next day.
Tyler & Kerri try to make it seem like the building is the newest, hippest place to live in DTLA, but don’t be fooled. Underneath all those flat screens and free beer is just one poorly run property. If they reinvested half of their beer money back into the building, it may actually be a nice place to live, but since they don’t…it isn’t. Case in point, they even pissed off the website guy, so now their URL redirects to a gay porn site.
& the cherry on top? When I moved out at the end of Sept., they withheld most of my security deposit on some trumped up costs that aren’t even deductible under the California Civil Code. It’s pretty much been a nightmare trying to get my money back. I could probably go on for days about all the terrible stories from this place, but you get the gist of it by now.
Bottom Line: RUN, don’t walk to get away from this shit hole!

So I was visiting a friend of mine at these apartments in downtown LA right near the Orpheum. Now when I first visited downtown back as a tourist in ’96, I would have never even remotely considered living in DTLA. Nighttime was dead and Daytime wasn’t much better. Food scene? Well, I hope you like the Pantry and have a lot of cash. Hey, they still don’t take plastic except for plastic-​coasted patrons.
I know that apartments and lofts are going up in LA at a fever pitch ever since Staples Center opened. But I rarely get to check them out. So what to expect here? Is it really worth living here?
Turns out, it really is.
First thing after I park in their secure garage is the lobby. which is part-​kitsch and part-​sports bar. There’s 4 big LG TV’s on one of the walls and an old-​school popcorn machine blasting out the snacks. Seems they do a lot of parties in the lobby around the Brewery ArtWalk and other downtown events. That explains the lively atmosphere.
So I go up the elevator to get to my friends apartment and once I get there, I’m really surprised. His apartment is actually larger than I expected. Nice clean place with all sorts of modern appliances included. Even a washer-​dryer and a fridge? Where was this place when I relocated here from New Orleans in 2005? I still can’t believe most apartments in LA don’t even provide refrigerators/​Much less, a nice modern chrome edition. There were two closets including a walk-​in. That is more than what I got up in my place in Santa Clarita.
And then there’s the windows. And the view.
It’s more like Midtown Manhattan rather than Downtown Los Angeles. The windows are huge and they provide a really great view of downtown. Much better than I ever imagined. It’s views like this that could make people really consider downtown LA over the beaches.
Well, you’ll never completely top the beaches but with Phillipe’s and LA Live just short walks away, it works out just great. Especially if you’re a sports fan. Yea, just wait ’til we actually get the NFL back. Maybe.
No, I’m not ready to relocate to Downtown LA just yet. But after experiencing the Blackstone, I certainly have it on my radar. And that’s something I’ve never said In the 6+ years I’ve lived out here.

I lived at the Blackstone along with my girlfriend for one year between September 2010 and September 2011 before moving up to San Francisco. My experience here was really great. The management appears to be genuinely concerned about everyone’s satisfaction, and work orders are handled promptly and responsibly. Though the building appears to make some efforts toward being «fun” – art walk parties, modern design, etc., I wasn’t really concerned about that. My priorities was timely service, a well-​functioning building, and units that aren’t like the Bluth house. In all of these respects, The Blackstone delivered. These unites have the high-​quality finishes and accessories of condos, rather than apartments, and that’s something you may not appreciate at first glance. I heartily endorse the building, and am sure it will get even better over time as more amenities are added.

I am still a fan and love my loft. I am getting ready to renew my lease again in August for the 3^rd straight term.
I have lived in downtown Los Angeles now for 5 years. I came from living at the Mosaic at Union Station for 3 years and really wanted to get away from the corporate (everything by the books and we only care about your rent check) management style (of Equity Apartments) and the wood structure newer buildings where you can constantly hear your neighbors through the walls/​floors.
At my 3 year lease end, I finally took the initiative to look in the heart of downtown. I looked at Metro 417 and was immediately turned off by the inexpensive laminated floors and standard fixtures (not to mention i heard horrible feedback about their management). I then looked at SB Tower and liked it, but it seemed very cold with the slate floors and the drunken noise on 7^th street is awful every night. I was still about to sign my lease when management wanted to see my bank statements for the past 3 months. Are you kidding me… is this the IRS?
I finally came across the Blackstone and i immediately fell in love with the building. I manufacture and furnish hotels/​restaurants for a living, so this place definitely made an impression on me interior speaking from the real ¾″ hardwoods to the black granite counter tops to the soaring ceilings and upgraded fixtures. Hearing that the building was on the historic society listing and reading about all of the guidelines they had to adhere in order to keep the building as close to original during the restoration definitely made me feel like i was going to live in a very unique place.
I was ready to sign my lease and move right in. The management staff was so incredibly nice and their vibe definitely coincided with the building’s presence. I was ready to sign my lease immediately and I love my huge corner 1 BR apartment. It has a separate bedroom and huge soaring 13 foot high windows throughout, I love my place and especially love the fact that they painted each room a different color that I chose and allowed me to install my own lighting and window treatments. Most people that enter my place think i bought it.
I am not sure why there are a few negative reviews about the staff here as i find it hard to believe that Kerri and Tyler just treat me this way. Coming from the corporate management living for 3 years, these guys feel like family to me. I love the was they live onsite and so does the maintenance staff. We had one emergency while I lived here and they all came running to my apartment at 3 am.
I want to think that the few complaints must be from people who they had to evict for not paying their rent or from numerous complaints. It’s too bad people use this site for their own vengeance. I know when they first opened the building they were not screening people as much as a corporate management complex would do, so I think they let their guard down a little too much and were definitely taken advantage of by the professional scam artist that LA breeds.
Now that the bad apples are either gone or on their way out, I think we now have a great group of neighbors living here and I always feel secure in the building. The biggest plus is I don’t hear my neighbors when i am trying to relax in my loft ever unless i am in the lobby hanging out with them. I just today renewed my lease for another year, so I thought my review was long overdue. I love living here and will probably be one of their long term tenants. Funny thing is in reference to the other negative comments, I just put my work order in to repaint some areas and perform some routine 1 year maintenance and they are now knocking on my door 3 hours later. Wow!

I was asked by Kerri M., the manager of Blackstone, in a private message to remove my review.
I will not.
P. S. You can check out all their fake 4 to 5-​star reviews in the filtered section. There are 20 of them =X