Centerra

The GOOD
It is a new apartment complex next to local dining and entertainment. I guess pricing changes rather frequency… there were deals with 2 months free /​6 weeks /​etc. so it depends. The sign-​up process was smooth and management team was responsive. There were a couple of minor hiccups but they were resolved promptly.
You will get some city noise from the lower levels, which is unavoidable. Another point to keep in mind is that apartments facing swimming pool also face highway, which also adds some noise. On the other hand, you get most of afternoon sun on that side of the building. There are quite a few different apartment layouts. Some of pretty standard, some (it appears) were created by Tim Burton (there is one with windowless bedroom). Reasonable amount of closet space though I expected bigger size for the price.
You will see jets landing… it happens mostly in the evening time. There isn’t much activity in the morning though. Parking is gated. Gym is decent and includes treadmills /​step masters /​a few weight machines and weights but it is not a professional gym by any means. I haven’t tried pool yet but I saw resident using it already.
The BAD
Washer /​Dryer — epic fail. The management invested into «Package Concierge» system and magnetic door locks but really dropped the ball when it came to appliances. I can live with a regular refrigerator or a dishwashing machine but outdated model of W/​D really makes a negative difference. The machine has very basic selection options and all programs run around 1.5hrs. They are nearly industrial capacity and you can easily load 20lbs but that’s an overkill for two people living in a 1BR apartment. Clothes come out wrinkled pretty badly too. Finally, it is LOUD.
The «Nice to have»
* Typically, there is a vanity cabinet behind sink mirror in the bathroom. It is useful to keep most of your personal items. There is no such cabinet here… just a mirror. So things like shaving cream /​tooth brush /​creams & lotions clutter the area around sink.
* Wardrobe closet has two horizontal bars for hangers. I guess the idea was to double the amount of hangers you can place. It works… but if you have longer dresses /​coats /​etc., it becomes an issue. So org structure wasn’t thought through.
* It would be really helpful to have a pull-​up bar in the gym. Yes, you can connect an older version of iPhone to the treadmill via cable but absence of regular pull-​up bar is puzzling.

This is just on my dealings with the management staff No reply to emails or voicemails. Looked like a great place to live amazing amenities but really poor communication.

My wife and I moved into our new apartment here last week and absolutely love the place!
We decided to lease here, and really enjoy being residents, for a number of reasons:
1) Management team — Timothe and Ciara are fantastic! Timothe, the business manager, is super nice and was a pleasure to work with. Ciara, the leasing manager, is a gem! We visited the property three different times before leasing, and she was incredibly generous with her time, knowledgeable about the property, and very helpful through the entire leasing process. We’ve lived in other large complexes and buildings that were professionally managed and know that management can really make or break the experience. You’ll love the Centerra team!
2) Unit design and build quality — units in the building are beautifully appointed and built very well! So many of the new apartment buildings popping up these days are built with cheap wooden frames, which can reduce construction costs by up to 40% but seem to allow in 40% more external noise! Not Centerra — we love the concrete construction and are amazed at how quiet it is inside our apartment, given that it’s smack dab in the middle of downtown! Also, we’re on the 11^th floor and love the great views from our balcony.
3) Community amenities — from the well-​designed business center to the pool/​hot tub to the sky lounge, the community amenities at Centerra are top notch! We’ve not yet had the chance to enjoy all of them, but love knowing that all of these things are available to us.
4) Location — doesn’t get much better than this! 10 — 15 minute walk to things like CalTrain, Whole Foods, tons of coffee shops (including Philz!), and the amazing cultural offerings of the SoFA district. And, of course, it’s right across the street from the bustling San Pedro Market.
For all of the above reasons, I’m confident that you will enjoy living at Centerra as much as we do. Plus, with the great move-​in incentives currently being offered, anyone looking to rent in downtown San Jose would be crazy to go anywhere else!

I’ve had a wonderful experience with Centerra so far. The management team is extremely professional and always happy to help. I’d like to specially mention and recognize Timothe Washington, who assisted me right from the pre-​application stage to move-​in; she really is a superstar here at Centerra.
You want to be living here.
About the Location:
— I was a little skeptical (about safety, traffic and noise) of Downtown. But, the apartment building is very secure and I haven’t had any issues so far. — The traffic too isn’t too bad and guests can almost always find on-​street parking nearby.
What’s great:
— Amenities
— Good views of the city (depending on the floor)
— Proximity to places of interest
— Great management team
— Friendly neighbors (most of them young professionals)
— Package Concierge: a 24hr automated package recovery set-​up that’s really cool.
— High-​Speed elevators: I’ve never waited for more than 2 mins for an elevator.
Less than perfect:
— I’ve seen bigger hot-​tubs/​spa-​pools around and it could have been a little bigger for an apartment of this size.
— Since I do face the market and on a lower floor, I do hear a bit of noise in the afternoons.
— Frigidaire Appliances: Not the best and easy to use out there. (I’m not expecting a Samsung here, but at least a Whirlpool?)
— Nest thermostats won’t work: cause the building uses a proprietary HVAC system.