Terman Apartments

Pros

• Edith Rodriguez is a great manager who is friendly and helpful.
• Angela is a great manager who is always available to help.
• Angelica is a great manager who is always helpful and patient.
• The outdoors and the tenants are great people.
• The location is prime and convenient, with close access to groceries, restaurants, outdoors, and Stanford.
• Maintenance has been good.

Cons

• The management team is unresponsive to inquiries and complaints.
• They have not provided a copy of the lease for more than four months.
• Maintenance support is poor, with recurring issues such as clogged toilets, locked doors, and heaters not working.
• They increase rent by 10% without any clear justification or corresponding improvements.
• The area is not safe, with incidents like broken-into parked cars and stolen bikes.
• They impose excessive move-out cleaning requirements, including per-room carpet cleaning and cleaning ceilings, walls, and areas under appliances.

Review

The reviews paint a picture of a place that can feel safe and conveniently located, yet is weighed down by inconsistent and often disappointing management. In Palo Alto, Terman Apartments is described by many as a neighborhood with good outdoor spaces and friendly residents, but the crux of dissatisfaction centers on how the property is run. Multiple tenants emphasize that while the area itself is appealing and the community is pleasant, the management team often fails to respond promptly to questions or complaints, and the relationship between residents and the on-site staff can be tense and frustrating. The experience of living there hinges more on who is handling the management at any given time than on the physical grounds themselves.

A common thread in the criticism concerns the responsiveness and support from the management team. Tenants recount that inquiries, complaints, and maintenance requests frequently go unanswered or are met with slow responses. This disconnect is compounded by procedural delays, such as a request for a copy of the lease that has dragged on for more than four months. In addition, residents report significant maintenance lapses: clogged toilets, doors that won't unlock, and heaters that fail during colder periods. The financial side of the relationship is also contentious, with repeated mentions of rent increases - specifically a 10% hike - being implemented without visible improvements or clear justification beyond generic statements about market trends.

Beyond the day-to-day frictions, there is a broader sense that the value of living at Terman Apartments doesn't always align with the costs. Several reviewers flag that the complex may look cheaper on the surface, but the ongoing disputes with management, opaque policy enforcement, and questionable move-out charges undermine that perceived affordability. Move-out requirements, including carpet cleaning and other housekeeping tasks that some consider excessive or overly burdensome, contribute to a sense of hostility around end-of- tenancy processes. The community is also described as vulnerable to non-ideal scenarios such as cars being broken into and bikes stolen, and some reviews characterize the area as not entirely safe, with additional concerns about the behavior and oversight of the management team toward subsidized or lower-income residents.

The history of management at Terman Apartments appears to be a rollercoaster of changes, with some tenants recalling a period when maintenance was relatively solid despite other management shortcomings, while others describe a pattern of incompetence and instability that makes it hard for residents to form a trusting relationship with the office. There are explicit calls for leadership changes, with the sentiment that the property needs a dedicated, effective manager to stabilize operations and restore predictable service. Within this context, there is also a notable tension around individual managers and their impact over time: some accounts reference Edith Rodriguez as a problematic or former figure ("Edith Rodriguez does not work there"), while others insist that Edith had a positive effect when she was involved. This tension underscores the inconsistent experiences residents have depending on which staff member is currently in charge.

On the other hand, the complex has its advocates who share more favorable experiences of specific managers. Several comments highlight positive interactions with managers who are accessible, patient, and helpful. For instance, Angela is described as a great manager in some reviews - someone who is consistently available, responsive, and effective at getting tasks done, particularly during the transition to new management. Similarly, Angelica is commended for being a great manager who is present in the office and willing to assist family members and visitors, underscoring the impact that engaged, approachable leadership can have on the daily experience of residents. In some cases, Edith is praised as well for improving the situation, being easy to work with, and providing a friendlier, more reliable point of contact.

The overall sentiment, then, is a blend of frustration and hope. Tenants repeatedly stress that the outdoor environment and the community's social dynamics are strong positives - neighbors and the setting contribute to a sense of home - yet the inconsistency of management, the slow pace of responses, and the financial and procedural tensions create a volatile living experience. Several reviewers point to a need for stable, competent leadership - someone who can balance policy, maintenance, and resident needs with transparency and clear communication. Others emphasize the importance of continuing to cultivate the helpful managers who have earned trust, while acknowledging that turnover and changing office personnel can disrupt continuity and undermine resident confidence.

In closing, the reviews reflect a complex portrait of Terman Apartments: a place with undeniable advantages in location, accessibility, and community amenities, but marred by management instability and mixed experiences with staff. The recurring call is for stronger, more consistent leadership, reliable maintenance, and fairer, more transparent processes for moves, leases, and charges. For some residents, the presence of proactive managers like Angela or Angelica signals a brighter path forward, while for others, the lingering memory of days when responsiveness lagged or policies felt punitive remains a significant part of their lived experience. The end result is a nuanced narrative of a property with potential and a clear need for sustained, effective management to realize it.

This area of Palo Alto, California, offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for seniors considering living in the area. Within a short distance, there are several pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy, ensuring easy access to medications and healthcare supplies. Additionally, there are various cafes like Boba Bliss and Verve Coffee Roasters for social gatherings or casual outings. For entertainment, seniors can enjoy nearby theaters like ShowPlace ICON at San Antonio Centre or AMC DINE-IN Sunnyvale 12 & IMAX. The area also boasts numerous parks such as Mitchell Park and Shoreline Park & Lake for outdoor recreational activities. Access to quality healthcare is readily available with hospitals like Stanford Health Care and El Camino Hospital in close proximity. Overall, this part of Palo Alto provides a well-rounded environment with essential services and recreational options for senior residents.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)

Cafes

• Boba Bliss (0.8 miles)
• Verve Coffee Roasters (3.5 miles)
• HanaHaus (3.6 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (3.6 miles)
• Café Venetia (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.2 miles)
• Sunright Tea Studio (6.8 miles)

Theaters

• ShowPlace ICON at San Antonio Centre (1 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Sunnyvale 12 & IMAX (5.6 miles)
• AMC Mercado 20 (8 miles)

Parks

• Mitchell Park (1.5 miles)
• Stevenson Park (2.5 miles)
• Shoreline Park & Lake (3 miles)
• Evandale Park (3.6 miles)
• Baylands Nature Preserve (4 miles)
• Grant Park (5.1 miles)
• Rancho San Antonio County Park (5.8 miles)

Restaurants

• State Of Mind Pub (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2.2 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.3 miles)
• Steins Beer Garden (2.7 miles)
• Sports Page (2.8 miles)
• Wildseed (3 miles)

Physicians

• Bay IVF Center (2.4 miles)
• Encina Building, Palo Alto Medical Foundation (3.1 miles)
• Anesthesiology: Palo Alto Center: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (3.2 miles)
• Melchor Pavilion (3.3 miles)
• Stanford Otolaryngology (3.6 miles)
• Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, Alex Dimitriu, MD (4.8 miles)
• Menlo Medical Clinic in Menlo Park - 1300 Crane (4.8 miles)

Transportation

• Mountain View Caltrain Station (2.8 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (3.3 miles)
• Sunnyvale Caltrain Station (5.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Stanford Health Care (3.4 miles)
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (3.4 miles)
• El Camino Hospital (3.5 miles)
• Stanford Hospital (3.5 miles)
• Hoover Pavilion (3.5 miles)
• Surgery Center Mountain View (3.8 miles)
• Reproductive Medicine Associates of Northern California | RMANORCAL (4 miles)