Villas Parkmerced
  (formerly Parkmerced)

Yes, the apts.are safe. You may enjoy the convenience of being close to school as well as being surrounded by people in your age group. Although, the majority of the negative write ups regarding this apartment complex have a lot of truth to them.

I cannot say they are or are not safe. I have read alot about burglaries and a few nights ago I heard gunfire. I live in one of the most popular towers for college students. I have seen someone cuffed in the lobby. I do not recommend them for safety, so watch out for yourself if you are moving in.

I live in the townhomes, which are a completely different ballgame, but I have numerous friends residing in the towers.

The towers are nicer than the townhomes overall, but they also have their own issues. Read through the reviews and take each of them with a grain of salt.

Ask the Villas to show you the place you'll be moving into...not a model home. They're incredibly misleading. Furthermore, make sure you ask if the price you're quoted is for a REMODELED home or their "normal" ones. They differ around a grand, and the unremodeled ones are horrible.

Get EVERYTHING in writing, and make copies for your personal records. The office tends to misplace anything that would work in their favor financially.

In all honesty, from what I've heard, the Towers aren't nearly as bad as the townhomes, but you'll most likely still be up on weekdays from the sound of your upstairs neighbors, you'll still be living in the Villas, and you'll still probably be better off anywhere else.

Just my two cents :D

FULL DiSCLAIMER: I hate the Villas, I live in the townhomes, I've been screwed over a ton by them, and I'm moving out ASAP. (Has to be the end of my lease because it costs 2 months rent + 600 to break the contract.)

Always make sure you tour the apartment you will be leasing. Ask about crime in the building. Get written responses on items of concern to you. Make sure you are given a complete tour including fire escapes, moving in an out requirements, and details on how many keys, etc. Ask about your obligations and for written instructions on reporting maintenance and other problems. Join PRO the tenants' friend at Parkmerced.

Positive: If you are attending SFSU, you are going to be very near and it is going to be very convenient.

Negative: Everything else.
Management is extremely incompetent. If you never run into any problems, you won't have to deal with them, that's a definite plus. If you ever have a problem, good luck in trying to get it taken care of.
Safety is somewhat of an issue. Cars keep getting broken into. I had seen the police coming by and arresting people on at least 2 occasions.
Noise. We lived in the townhomes that were furthest away from SFSU. Because of that, we really did not have very many problems with noise. However, when we walked our dog (especially late at night), we frequently ran into noisy parties, even on weekdays.

The management and staff will always promise you things they cannot deliver. Just like previous responses have stated, they frequently lose vital information (and things) as long as it works to their advantage... and then you will have to deal with their attorneys if you want it resolved. Management and staff are often helpless and cannot assist you. So, there is a great deal of upsell when they try to get you to sign a contract/lease and once you put your name on the dotted line, that's where the service ends.

Staying in ParkMerced has left a very bitter taste in my mouth. They owe me money and missing items and I'm sure I will never recover either. However, as in any good business (and in this case, bad ones) word of mouth is the best referral (or in this case, anti-referral).
Please read my blog. Every incident mentioned happened and is real.

http://livinginparkmerced.blogspot.com /

My 2 cents worth. Stay away from this place. It is not worth the headache.
Good luck if your decision is to live there.

My girlfriend and I moved into Parkmerced when she was accepted to SFSU.... We moved out exactly one year later. It was our first time in the Bay Area and we didn't know any better!!!

POSITIVE: Very close to SFSU so you can get to class in a hurry and survive without a car (probably better off without one).

NEGATIVE: Your car will likely get broken in to and maybe stolen all together. I have no doubt that the "Courtesy Patrol" cause more problems than good and are probably the ones alerting their hoodlum friends to cars that look worthy of breaking into!

And... the 42 pages of disclaimers that you have to sign when moving in have merit. Mold warning... check! Lead Paint Warning... check! Asbestos warning...... twitch, twitch, check!!!

You can definately find newer, cleaner, cheaper, safer places with better parking, and much better management. Whether any of these are a stones throw away from school... Guess you have to weigh your priorities! Chances are pretty good that you will live through the Parkmerced experience (sure you may sprout a 3rd arm in 20 years). If Dad's willing to spend the $2500/mo for a tower 1 bedroom, load up on pepper spray, damp-rid, & Lysol Disinfectant....... Good Luck!

As long as you understand the policy on students living in a "neighborhood" and community you will be aok. Students must abide by the number of people per bedroom laws, and cannot sub-divide the units or build partition walls. A curtain is aok.
Another issue is noise, partying does typically generate CSU SFSU police visits, and therefore is discouraged. A reminder to all students seeking places to stay at parkmerced, respect the neighborhood!

The tower units do have a new security system, but students typically are targetted by criminals due to their lax attitude on the property, often leaving doors unlocked when going to do laundry etc.

Make sure to get all items in writing and review the units adjacent.

Understand the issue of PASSTHROUGHS and maintenance and such items which they are tacking onto leases, and carefull what documents you sign, as they are issuing "move-out" charges that can be over a months rent, based on the forms Ive seen. These are noted "to become a part of the lease agreement" DO NOT SIGN THEM or you may be liable for the payment when you move out.