The Blakely

Pros

• Carlos is described as the best apartment tour guide in Seattle, taking time to understand needs and offering thoughtful recommendations.
• The Blakely is highly recommended as a wonderful place to live, with compassionate management.
• Maintenance responses are prompt, addressing issues within a few days.
• The staff are consistently praised for kindness, care, and attentiveness.
• The property is noted for cleanliness and well-maintained grounds, with parking that is easily accessible.
• Tours are informative and transparent, presenting options both within and beyond budget.

Cons

• The Blakely is described as absolutely horrible, with management only caring about the bottom line and continuously harassing vulnerable tenants.
• A new manager, Carlos, is accused of towing a resident's car and attempting to extort a $3.30 payment with no explanation.
• The property is depicted as turning into last-resort housing for vagrants, with ongoing harassment, fires, and neglect from management.
• Management is criticized as stingy, under-staffed, and neglectful, more focused on rents than upkeep.
• The complex is described as unsafe and unwelcoming, with residents warning others they'll regret moving in and likening it to the Wild West.
• Parking and move-in processes are described as chaotic, with misrepresentation, lies, and lack of proper notices or tagging.
• Move-in conditions are described as dirty, with rotten carpet, bad smells, and even rats; theft and towing issues are reported.

Review

Prospective renters arrive with a mix of hopes and hesitations when they set foot at Blakely at Echo Lake Apartments, and the impressions here run the gamut. Several visitors describe their first tours as deeply informative, feeling welcomed and cared for from the outset. A recurring thread is the way the leasing office and the on-site staff, especially a manager named Carlos, make the showing itself feel thoughtful. One reviewer highlights that Carlos took the time to understand their needs, presented a broad range of options - including units both above and below budget - and was transparent about the pros and cons of different layouts. That level of attentiveness helped this person decide on a home that felt like it had "everything I need," and they left with a strong sense that Blakely could be a long-term place to live.

From there, the tone in several accounts remains decidedly positive. Another reviewer notes they had been searching for a truly great place for a long time, and the moment they stepped inside Blakely, they felt comfortable. They credit Carlos with going beyond the usual showing, explaining the features of each apartment and helping them navigate the choices with care. This person would happily recommend Blakely to others and frames their decision as the result of compassionate, attentive service. In a similar vein, a separate review emphasizes the community's quiet atmosphere, with management described as generally caring and maintenance described as capable of keeping things clean and functional. The overall sentiment is that Blakely can be a peaceful, well-maintained place to call home, particularly when the right staff are on hand.

Maintenance and overall property upkeep emerge as a brighter spot in multiple stories. One reviewer writes that they moved in only a couple of weeks ago and, after reporting around four issues, had three of them addressed by maintenance within three days. The quick responsiveness there reinforces the sense that the property can offer reliable service when issues arise, contributing to a comfortable living environment. A different account highlights easy parking access for residents and a well-kept building and grounds, reinforcing the impression of a well-managed community on the surface when things are running smoothly. Taken together, these comments sketch a picture of a property that has the potential to be quiet, clean, and functional with timely maintenance and accessible parking.

Yet, alongside the praise, a starkly different set of experiences colors Blakely with a darker hue. A lengthy warning voice describes what they characterize as a radical shift in management and safety since the pandemic, painting Blakely as a place that has deteriorated into "last resort housing" for disruptive and dangerous individuals. In this account, the new leadership under Carlos is accused of harassment, bullying, and aggressive enforcement practices, including parking enforcement that the reviewer portrays as punitive and unexplained. They describe instances of towing long-time residents' cars, demanding a small sum in cash-based payments, and a culture of fear and intimidation. The reviewer portrays a transition from a once-pristine property to a chaotic environment where fires, drug and alcohol use, and regular disturbances supposedly overwhelm the living experience. This viewpoint casts a sharp contrast to the more positive narratives and frames the management team as a source of ongoing conflict rather than a stabilizing force.

Other negative voices latch onto issues of parking and communication, describing a consistently problematic experience with management even when the property appears appealing. One reviewer insists the parking situation is abysmal, accusing the staff of lies and inaccessibility, and using strong language to convey dissatisfaction with how the office handles tenants, conveying a sense of mistrust that extends beyond minor inconveniences. The same post uses harsh descriptors for the overall management style, suggesting that the real problem isn't the property itself but the people running it, whose conduct is perceived as dismissive or deceitful. Taken with the "warning" narrative, these comments present a cautionary counterpoint to the kinder assessments and remind readers that experiences can swing dramatically within the same community.

A separate critique centers on a move-in experience gone wrong for a family member, amplifying concerns about cleanliness, security, and administrative competence. The reviewer recalls a dirty apartment at move-in and a lack of initial cleaning, followed by stolen packages and a car being towed without clear justification. They describe frustration with a manager named Frances and a process that failed to provide a required parking sticker, culminating in a personal financial hit when the car had to be retrieved from the tow yard. The reviewer positions themselves as a property manager by trade, lending their perspective on what proper protocol should look like and signaling that the experience at move-in can set an early tone for tenants' overall satisfaction - or disappointment - with Blakely.

In the end, Blakely at Echo Lake emerges as a place with undeniable strengths and equally undeniable vulnerabilities. For some residents, the appeal lies in a welcoming show, responsive maintenance, and a quiet, tidy environment that feels like a solid long-term home, especially when the staff shows genuine care and attentiveness - qualities many reviewers attribute to Carlos and to the maintenance team during routine issues. For others, the same property represents a cautionary tale about mismanagement, poor communication, and safety concerns that evolved after the pandemic, with parking disputes and aggressive enforcement practices coloring daily life. The overall story is one of a community that can be wonderfully fulfilling under the right circumstances, but that also carries sharp warnings about trust, consistency, and safety when leadership shifts or when expectations about management and security go unmet. Prospective tenants would do well to weigh both the glowing personal stories and the more troubling experiences, and to seek out current residents' views and up-to-date information on parking, towing policies, and maintenance response times before deciding to call Blakely home.

This part of Shoreline, Washington offers a convenient and accessible location for senior living. With several pharmacies nearby such as Bartell Drugs and Fred Meyer Pharmacy, accessing medications and health supplies is easy. The area also features a variety of parks like Echo Lake Park and Lake Ballinger Park, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. There are also cafes like Starbucks and restaurants such as The Habit Burger Grill within close proximity for dining options. In case of medical emergencies, Swedish Medical Center and Northwest Hospital are located just a few miles away. Additionally, transportation options at Northgate Station Seattle and Northgate Transit Center make it easy to navigate the area. Overall, this part of Shoreline provides a well-rounded and convenient environment for seniors looking for a comfortable place to call home.

Pharmacies

• Bartell Drugs (0.4 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• QFC Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.6 miles)
• Bartell Drugs - Ebt (1.8 miles)

Parks

• Echo Lake Park (0.4 miles)
• Lake Ballinger Park (1.6 miles)
• Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (1.8 miles)
• Log Boom Park (3.8 miles)
• Carkeek Park (4.1 miles)
• Saint Edward State Park (4.7 miles)
• Greenwood Park (5.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Woods Coffee (2.2 miles)
• Walnut Street Coffee (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• Diva Espresso (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)

Restaurants

• The Habit Burger Grill (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Dick's Drive-In (2.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.2 miles)
• Yeh Yeh's Sandwiches (3.6 miles)
• Dick's Drive-In (4.1 miles)
• Seaplane Kitchen & Bar (4.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Swedish Medical Center (2.5 miles)
• Northwest Hospital (3.8 miles)

Transportation

• Northgate Station Seattle (4.6 miles)
• Northgate Transit Center (4.6 miles)
• Roosevelt Station Seattle (6.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Alderwood Mall 16 (5.2 miles)

Physicians

• Ballard Pediatric Clinic PS (6 miles)
• Lakeshore Clinic (6.4 miles)