Pacific Plaza Towers

Pros

• Leandra is always friendly and helpful.
• Megan has done a fabulous job coordinating repair projects and is very professional and pleasant.
• Olivia is very pleasant and takes the time to answer questions.
• The renovated floors look fabulous.
• The location and price are hard to beat.
• The building offers convenient amenities, including a gym and a bike rental downstairs.

Cons

• The leasing office staff are rude to tenants, eliciting disbelief from other residents about how they're spoken to.
• Management is routinely unprofessional and harassing, frequently changing policies midstream and violating rent-control laws.
• The elevators are old and unsafe, with residents repeatedly needing rescues from the Santa Monica Fire Department.
• The parking garage is unsecured and prone to theft and vandalism, with management offering no real solution.
• There is an ongoing cockroach infestation and poorly maintained laundry facilities.
• Gas fire incidents have occurred, causing evacuations, allegedly due to management negligence.
• Pathogens including mites have been found in units, with positive lab results reported.
• Lawsuits have been filed against the company/building for inhabitable conditions, alongside high management turnover and ongoing abuses.

Review

Pacific Plaza in Santa Monica has become a focal point for a troubling pattern of maintenance and safety concerns that many residents say has deteriorated over time. Across multiple units, tenants report recurring leaks - from bathroom sinks and toilets to kitchen sinks - that culminate in flooding large enough to disrupt daily life. The pattern isn't limited to isolated incidents in a single apartment; several residents know colleagues or neighbors who have endured similar problems. The core frustration isn't just the water itself but what residents describe as a culture of slow or dismissive responses from management when these issues are reported. The expectation, as several tenants put it, often seems to be about gathering proof rather than preventing the next flood, which feels counterproductive in an emergency that demands immediate action.

One resident describes a specific incident that occurred in the bathroom, where water spread throughout the space even after cleanup. The visible evidence can fade, but there remains a clear concern about underlying damage, mold, and structural implications. The response from a supervisor - identified by a Douglas Emmett navy blue shirt as a supervisor of the on-site maintenance team - left the tenant frustrated: "If I don't see it, as far as I am concerned everything is fine, and there is nothing I can do." The on-site maintenance team has historically been praised for professionalism, but the source of the objection here was perceived to be a supervisory stance rather than a direct maintenance action. Nevertheless, the tenant emphasizes that documenting each incident is worthwhile for personal records and for building a historical trail that might prompt more decisive action in the future.

Beyond the surface level of leaks, this community is grappling with allegations of a much larger, long-term issue: persistent, environment-related hazards. Some residents claim to have encountered pathogens and mites in their units, and they allege that rooftop drone footage was provided to support the case. A licensed testing lab reportedly found positive results for harmful pathogens, and residents accuse the building's owners - Barrington - and the manager of ignoring or downplaying concerns. The former and current leadership, including a "new manager" named Lisa Allen, are referenced in connection with these claims, with assertions that management has ignored tenants' documented concerns. The situation is described as a broader inhabitability problem, accompanied by references to lawsuits and public records searches, and culminating in warnings against renting at the property. One resident even foresees a potential class-action scenario, insisting that the building's occupants deserve safer conditions and accountability for ongoing health and safety concerns.

The atmosphere at Pacific Plaza is further colored by staff turnover and managerial turbulence. Several reviews describe "toxic upper management" and a revolving door of leasing-office personnel, which tenants say undermines consistent communication and accountability. A serious incident involving a gas fire that required evacuation for multiple nights is cited as an example of management's alleged negligence, with residents and local authorities (LAFD) involved in the investigations. Elevators, a critical resource for residents - particularly those with disabilities - are repeatedly reported as out of service, compounding safety risks and accessibility issues. In the midst of these problems, a few staff members emerge as bright spots: Leandra is singled out for consistent kindness and reliability, Megan is commended for coordinating repairs, and Olivia is recognized for her responsiveness - even though she works in leasing rather than maintenance. The sentiment is a mixed one: appreciation for some individuals, but alarm about the overall management structure and policy changes.

Despite the negatives, there are residents who celebrate certain aspects of the property. The location - across from the beach, with nearby conveniences like a deli, a gym, and a downstairs coffee shop - is repeatedly praised as a strong draw. The complex's recent renovations, such as updated floors, are acknowledged as improvements. Some tenants emphasize that the staff who interact with residents daily - especially on the maintenance front - are capable and professional, and that the living environment could be a good community if management dynamics could stabilize. The recurring tension appears to be less with the service people who fix things and more with the policies, responsiveness, and accountability of the leasing and upper-management teams.

Another thread running through the reviews is the sense of insecurity about neighborhood and infrastructure. Tenants describe a surrounding environment that includes unsafe public areas and concerns about the building's security measures. Elevator reliability is repeatedly flagged as a safety hazard, and fob access problems contribute to residents feeling locked out at unpredictable moments. The parking garage is described as exposed and poorly protected, with stolen or damaged bikes illustrating a breakdown in perceived resident safety and property protection. The combination of aging infrastructure, maintenance lag times, and perceived policy changes amplifies anxiety about day-to-day living and long-term residency.

Taken together, these accounts paint a portrait of a property with undeniable appeal - its beachside location, price point, and certain staff members who are genuinely helpful - but with a systemic set of issues that undermine confidence in management and safety. Leases and rent negotiations aside, residents are asking for timely, proactive responses to urgent hazards and a commitment to address persistent problems rather than treating them as episodic incidents. The recurring leaks, the reported health hazards, the contested leadership culture, and the visible gaps in elevator, security, and accessibility infrastructure all contribute to a cautious, mixed-to-negative overall sentiment about living at Pacific Plaza.

For potential tenants and current residents alike, the underlying message is clear: while the property offers attractive amenities and a favorable locale, the reliability of maintenance, clarity of communication from management, and a credible commitment to health and safety are non-negotiable factors. Residents are calling for urgent inspections, comprehensive remediation of water intrusion and mold risk, transparent reporting practices, consistent staffing, and stronger accountability from upper management. Until those elements are addressed, the property's reputation will continue to be shaped by the tension between its appealing features and the persistent concerns voiced by those who call it home.

Restaurants

• Water Grill (0 miles)
• Santa Monica Whaler (0.1 miles)
• Meat On Ocean (0.1 miles)
• Elephante (0.1 miles)
• True Food Kitchen (0.1 miles)
• Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe (0.2 miles)
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co (0.3 miles)

Parks

• Santa Monica State Beach (0.1 miles)
• Palisades Park (0.2 miles)
• DOG PPL - Dog Park, Bar, Cafe & Lounge (0.3 miles)
• Ocean View Park (1.3 miles)
• South Beach Park (1.4 miles)
• Penmar Recreation Center (2.4 miles)
• Will Rogers State Historic Park (3 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Santa Monica - UCLA Medical Center & Orthopaedic Hospital (1.1 miles)

Cafes

• The Rose Cafe & Market (1.6 miles)
• Gjusta (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Great White (2.3 miles)
• Intelligentsia Coffee (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Chocolate Bash (4.3 miles)

Physicians

• Kaiser Permanente Culver Marina Medical Offices (4.4 miles)
• UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood (4.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• King Fahad Mosque (5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Century City 15 (5.4 miles)
• Cinemark 18 and XD (6.5 miles)