California Park East Apt

Pros

• The apartment is nice, clean, and quiet with friendly tenants.
• The staff are really friendly and seem to genuinely care about the tenants.
• The neighborhood is safe and convenient, with the light rail and bus stop within a short walk.
• The building is secured, has nice views, and hosts an awesome community, with management that runs things smoothly.
• One reviewer called it "home sweet home."
• The place is very nice overall.

Cons

• Bed bugs were eating him up.
• The mold smell from the vents kept him congested and sick.
• Mice were eating his toes and the roaches slept with him.
• The new management is awful.
• The new manager Michele doesn't have a clue what she is doing and she is very rude and plays favorites.
• There was a horrible bed bug and roach problem.
• It was supposed to be a smoke-free building, but people still smoked inside.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a remarkably mixed portrait of this apartment community. On one hand, several speakers sing the praises of a place that is described as clean, quiet, and well-maintained, with friendly neighbors and staff who seem to care about residents. People highlight the building as a very nice place to live, noting that the neighborhood has become safer and more inviting over the years. The proximity to public transit is repeatedly praised, with the light rail and a bus stop described as being conveniently within a short walk, making getting around easy and practical. For many, this combination of a solid location, a secure feel, and a sense of community is exactly what they're looking for in a home.

In these positive takes, the staff and management also appear to be a notable strength. Several reviewers point to friendly, helpful staff who contribute to a welcoming atmosphere, and there's a strong sense that the building's management historically ran things smoothly. The sentiment is that, during certain periods, tenants enjoyed dependable service, predictable routines, and a stable living environment. A number of residents also emphasize family-friendly or familiar vibes, with references to living there for extended periods and still finding the place comfortable and homey. The overall tone in these accounts suggests a community where long-term residents felt valued and where daily life could proceed without major hassles.

Yet the overall picture is not one-note. A significant portion of the commentary focuses on serious downsides that markedly affect quality of life. Bed bug problems dominate several negative statements, with one reviewer describing being "eaten" by bed bugs, and another recounting a persistent infestation that worsens as more tenants move in. The issue of pests is not limited to bed bugs; mold smells from vents lead to congestion and illness for at least some tenants, and roaches and even mice are repeatedly mentioned as ongoing disturbances. In one vivid claim, a resident described mice "eating my toes," and another claimed the roaches "slept with me," underscoring the severity and emotional toll such problems can take on residents.

Health and maintenance concerns are closely tied to these pest issues. The mold and pest infestations are paired with frustrations about how the property is managed to address them, including complaints that pest-control efforts are insufficient or poorly timed. One review notes that management offers only weekly sprayings, which some feel are inadequate to stem the spread of pests, especially as occupancy changes. There are also comments about smoke-free policies not being upheld, with residents continuing to smoke indoors and management offering limited recourse beyond documentation. Taken together, these details suggest a sense that upkeep and preventive maintenance are inconsistent, leaving some tenants feeling neglected or unheard when problems arise.

Another major thread running through the reviews is the change in management and the resulting shift in tenant experience. A few residents reminisce about the "old" management as competent and easy to work with, contrasting that with the intense negative reaction to the "new management." Exclamations like "The new management is awful!!! Stay away from this place!!!" and "the new manager Michele doesn't have a clue what she is doing and she is very rude and plays favorites" reveal a deep frustration with perceived favoritism and poor leadership. These remarks carry a strong emotional charge, suggesting that the management transition radically altered the living experience for some long-standing tenants, even as others still feel positive about the building's capabilities and community.

Amidst these polarized views, there are occasional reminders of the building's positives that persist despite the trouble spots. Some reviewers describe the place as "really secured," with mentions of police living in the building contributing to a sense of safety, as well as favorable notes about views, location, and overall community spirit. A few long-term residents express a pragmatic view: while they like the place and have had periods of satisfaction, they acknowledge that maintenance or administration hiccups can occur, and they advise weighing the current management quality carefully when considering a lease. The presence of strong, helpful staff at times and the favorable aspects of the neighborhood - such as safety and accessibility - remain part of the ongoing conversation.

Overall, the reviews present a complex, layered reality: a building that can feel like a true home for some, offering a quiet, clean environment, solid security, and convenient transportation; and a place that can descend into frustration for others when pest issues become intrusive, maintenance lags occur, or management changes fail to meet expectations. Prospective renters would do well to weigh these facets carefully. If the current leadership is responsive and proactive about pest control and maintenance, the positives - safety, community, and location - could make this a strong choice. If, however, pest problems persist and management remains inconsistent, those same positives may be overshadowed by ongoing discomfort and dissatisfaction.

Physicians

• Denver Health: Gipson Eastside Family Health Center (0.1 miles)
• Children's Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Highlands Integrative Pediatrics (1.7 miles)
• Center For Hearing, Speech, & Language (2.6 miles)
• Rose Medical Center Medical Libr (2.9 miles)
• Orthopedic Associates (2.9 miles)
• Colorado Kids Pediatrics (4.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Our Mutual Friend Malt & Brew (0.4 miles)
• Uchi (0.4 miles)
• Larimer Lounge (0.4 miles)
• Federales (0.4 miles)
• Finn's Manor (0.5 miles)
• Gold Point (0.5 miles)
• Mercury Cafe (0.5 miles)

Cafes

• Crema Coffee House (0.4 miles)
• Improper City (0.6 miles)
• Huckleberry Roasters (2 miles)
• The Radiator (2.4 miles)
• Aviano Coffee (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)

Parks

• Benedict Fountain Park (0.6 miles)
• City Park (1.3 miles)
• Confluence Park (1.6 miles)
• Cheesman Park (1.9 miles)
• Rocky Mountain Lake Park (3.2 miles)
• César Chávez Park (3.8 miles)
• Washington Park (3.8 miles)

Transportation

• RTD Rail - 38th & Blake Station (1 miles)
• United Airlines Flight Training Center (4.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)

Theaters

• Regal UA Denver Pavilions 4DX & RPX (1.1 miles)
• Amc 9+Co 1 (2.8 miles)
• Alamo Drafthouse Denver (3.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St John's Cathedral (1.3 miles)
• Wat Buddhawararam (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Webb Center for Primary Care (2.2 miles)
• National Jewish Health (2.2 miles)