Sharps and Flats

Sharps and Flats from the street.

Sharps and Flats offers two-, three-, and four-bedroom flats and townhouses ranging from $1,385/month to $2,620/month; pets are subject to a security deposit of $400/pet [March 2009]. All units have either a balcony or a patio connected. Sitting a block away from Safeway, these apartments are in a convenient grocery shopping location and are on the Unitrans M/W bus line. The phrase "Sharps and Flats" is a play on words, "flat" of course being another name for an apartment. The signage around the complex prominently features various musical notes; accidentals (actual Sharps (#) or Flats (b)) are noticeably absent. They feature "ThickAir" wireless internet access which is free for residents. The complex is managed by Sequoia Equities.

You need a key to get in and out of the usually well-maintained pool area. The large pool is flanked by two hot tubs. The weight room is sparse and stocked with garage sale-quality machines: 1 weight machine, 2 bicycles, one air-strut type stair-stepper, and a surprisingly nice treadmill.

If you luck out and get an apartment here with no problems, they are really nice and spacious. Some say they have a much better living room set up than Allegre Apartments.

Sharps and Flat's provided wifi is a source of much frustration.

To learn more about additional rental housing options in Davis, check out our Housing Guide as well as our Apartments pages.

Older comments can be found in the comment archive.

Comments:

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2008-02-22 05:53:42   In response to StudentRuby's wasp problem...that is so weird because during the summer months we had wasps and yellowjackets SOMEHOW get into our apartment too. we just ran around in circles like little girls trying to get them out. anyway, sharps and flats is a very nice place to live id have to admit. however, thursdays through sundays are like the worst days ever to get some sleep, especially during the hotter months when you have to leave the window open to breathe. Immature little shitholes find it fun to run around the complex screaming like dying cats at the top of their lungs. There was one night where I actually heard someone come out of their door to shout "shut the fuck up" at this group of drunk dumbasses near the pool area. management is extremely friendly even though they may be slow or even unattentive at times. as for parking, i dont see why people are complaining so much about it?! theres always at least a couple of parking spaces around when im in need of one. even my visitors whom spend the night often have no problem finding a spot. then again, i could be lucky and stealing all the available spaces? —echelon

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2008-02-29 00:16:56   Everyone is right about the Management's response time to getting things fixed. Took them months for them to come and fix our dishwasher. Even then, it wasn't fully fixed and so we had to complain to them again and it took several more weeks for them to come back. Yet again, the dishwasher still has problems and we have just given up asking them to do anything about it anymore. Last week they had the nerve to leave a post on our door though telling us to sweep our balcony of the leaves and rain sludge because they're all about "upkeeping" the complex. UPKEEP our dishwasher you nubs! —Nguyen

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2008-03-10 23:03:00   I currently live here, and I must say it isn't worth the money.... i can hear the girl next door giggling with her friends through my walls, and people talk super loud at night outside, which echoes even up the the third floor. also, the management is super tricky, and the lie about when they are in the office or not. i was blatantly lied to, and they tried to brush it off.... uhhh yea. enough said. anyways, i'm moving out next year. the floor plan is tight, i like the spaciousness, but its not worth it. —juicee

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2008-05-12 18:26:40   The management here is criminal. —cupandsaucer

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2008-05-20 16:23:30   I also currently live at Sharps & Flats. I think it is very important to give an accurate view of the complex. Cons of living at S&F: -apartment office does not always stick to posted hours, which can be frustrating, but it is getting better.

-parking needs some work. although each apt is given a covered spot, we have a 2bd apt and 2 cars and have a very difficult time finding parking for our 2nd car. Moreover, recently the tow-truck came through and posted warnings to cars which have been sitting (some with no tires) since I moved in. All the owners removed the stickers and none of the cars got towed. There are approx 10 cars in the lot in unusable condition. Also, not all the covered spots are utilized and management does not seem to be working out a good solution (although some spots, probably not near your apt can be rented for $25/month).

-wifi service sucks. in fact, we have Comcast internet for this reason. It has been suggested to management that they attempt to get a contract with Comcast (since we only pay $20/month for our internet) but I haven't heard anything in that direction


-now that its summer, pool is often crowded (with, I think, people who do not live in the complex). This has become a serious recent concern (which in all fairness I have not yet taken to the management). At night, when the pool is less crowded (after 10pm), the gates are padlocked, which I think is a horrible idea.

The pros of living at S&F: - There is new management (Roxanna) and a new girl at the front desk. Both are very nice and have been extremely cooperative with me. The issue is, as with any student housing, and since there are only 2 maintenance guys, is to call every day if you have a problem. That way, it gets fixed in a timely manner. Our A/C was broken and they sent out a guy to fix it within 2 days. That's, I think, a pretty good response. Another time our roof was leaking and they came the same day and patched the leak and replaced our wet ceiling.

- Apartment is very spacious and affordable. Plenty of room for my boyfriend and I to be comfortable (with our dog) in a 2bd. Also, our apartment was in really good shape when we moved in.


- They allow dogs!!!! And have recently gotten clean-up stations which have kept the property cleaner

All in all, we re-signed our lease (over which the management was a bit tricky, so watch out! We got $500 cash but next year our rent goes up! Of course, thats just business for apartment complexes I guess) and I am very happy living here. The location is great and (most of) our neighbors are nice and quiet.

—RNS

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2008-05-28 23:46:28   I currently live here and although it is a bit on the pricey side, you really do get what you pay for. The apartments are really spacious living rooms, lofts and tons of storage space. In contrast to some of the previous experiences expressed on here, I've had no problem with the management at Sharps. They are always friendly and very helpful. Not to mention they always have fresh cookies baking in the office :]. Sometimes, it does seem like they're never in the office but if anything, you can call in to get a hold of them. We've put in quite a few work orders since we've moved here and they've always fixed things in a timely manner provided that they only have two maintenance workers (who are both very nice). Noise has not really been a problem for us. As for parking, we get one spot assigned to our apartment and the rest is free for all but even that's never been a problem for us. There is always plenty open parking over at our side of the complex. Overall, my experience at Sharps and Flats has been enjoyable. —TingLi

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2008-08-21 23:48:25   Well, I'm just about to move out of this place and I can say that it hasn't been a bad year for me at all. This place may be built with very very cheap material. (walls-yes, I can fucking hear people talk in the middle of the night in my room),(also, the microwave handle broke), (shower hangers-broke) Other than the poorly built complex the whole unit is very spacious and as for parking, it isn't bad at all. I have never had trouble with finding parking. The noise relatively non-existent until summer comes and the little kids scream at the pool all day. The management is awesome. The two ladies (especially Roxanna) is very helpful. The repair are always done asap. Overall, good place to live expect its overpriced in my opinion (paying 626) a month. Lastly, the inactive cars there needs to be towed. Hope this review helps. 08/08 —relax

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2008-10-10 12:12:33   By far the worst place I've lived in Davis. Extremely loud, poorly maintained and very expensive. The internet they offer is awful, I had faster connections using dial up. The management takes forever to do anything, and the one time I got the manager in my apartment to look at the broken dishwasher she lit up a cigarette. Parking is atrocious, although the management allowed some residents to keep totally broken down junkers parked wherever for months at a time. —Flannery

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2008-11-10 14:29:58   Parking here is nearly impossible. I'm not even convinced that there is one spot available per each unit, even if they say so! —KateJames

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2009-01-03 16:15:18   Having lived there for a period of two months (sublet) I must say that although the apartment itself was decent, and they do allow dogs, the management is pathologically dishonest, and will do every thing possible to nickel and dime you at every corner. Once you give a deposit, you'll likely never see it back. Avoid this place, unless its an emergency, and you are temporary subletting.

—a.mazah

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2009-01-21 16:11:16   I currently live here, and while I have heard horror stories from people who lived here in the past, this has not been my experience at all. The new management is quite responsive, fixing things within a couple days (often within hours!) The apartments are clean and extremely spacious. Parking has never been much of a problem, there's always something available. The noise level can get a little loud on weekends, and some guy likes to play his guitar at 2 in the morning, but nothing unbearable (though seriously Guitar Guy, turn your amp down!) The free wifi is terrible, don't bother, just buy through Comcast. Like any place, it has it's problems, but overall it's a great place. —ArielleWeiler

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2009-02-10 16:03:05   The new management is really helpful. They have responded to service requests on the same days as we requested them. They are on the pricey side, but they are pretty friendly. The maintance guy, Alex(?) is a pretty chill guy. I'm renewing my lease here next year, though ideally it would be cheaper. The only negative other than the price is that the management is often out on the property so you may have to wait for them to be in the office. However, they now answer the phone during buisness hours. Before, they would almost never answer it at any time of day. What is cool is that even though the laundry rooms technically have hours, they leave them open all night. Its also helpful becuase the laundry rooms serve as passageways across the complex. Sharps' Wi-Fi needs improvement. I used them becuase I was the 1st person here and it was free to use, but my late arriving housemates used an internet router that works much better. still its convient because I have two networks to choose from if either fails. Still, I would not use their network if I had to pay for it. —BryceH

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2009-03-20 10:08:54   Decent place to live, but not for the student or any sane person who values a sleep. Street noise is absolutely unbearable. High traffic, the late night train and rowdy parties, the f@%king gardeners every morning at 8 with their leaf blowers and the trash guy dragging the dumpster back and forth on the street (you WILL wake up Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to this deafening sound). Avoid anything in Drew Circle, Sharps included. It's seriously too noisy, crowded and expensive. —melocure

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2009-04-21 22:23:39   Sharps and flats should be avoided at all costs.

im serious

Also water leaked into the apartment we live in three times that i know of.

if you enjoy sleep do not live here.

if you enjoy ventilation do not live here.

i would only recommend this place to an enemy.

oh and the walls are paper

—aechanio

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2009-04-22 13:03:38   I've lived at S&F for the past two years but for the price they ask for you're better off living elsewhere. The noise hasn't been too troublesome (although the walls are thin between apartments so you better hope your neighbors don't listen to music at 3AM) but you're better off paying Comcast for wireless internet service. I decided to move once this lease expires after new management was swapped in this past December. I really didn't have any problems previous management who I thought were extra friendly and timely. But if you manage to catch up with the new managers when the office is actually open (as they often close early or go on extensive breaks) you'll more than likely be met with a handful of poor, rude experiences. They seem to hide behind a fake smile and take offense to being bothered. It should be noted that the maintenance guys are both great and if you ask them to repair something they'll do it as quick as possible (you're probably better off asking them personally than dealing with S&F's horrible management). —TariqTrotter

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2009-05-07 11:01:33   So much to say so little time. FACTS LIST #1

FACT: This is a very dog friendly complex w/ trails within walking distance.
SADFACT: Apt. building behind pool reeks of urine & has piles of dog business along the sides(walk by you will smell it)

FACT: Very spacious floorplans
SADFACT: Overpriced, once the euphoria of sq. footage fades you will start to see all the structural problems(Water is shut off here on average once-twice a month for 8hrs+)

FACT: Gustav <sp?> is nice & best of all looks to be drug free & actually works (unlike stereotype maintenance guys)
SADFACT:Manager is incapable at best, of running this place. Office staff seems to quit/get fired often. The girl who flaunts her rack is apparently gone (sorry guys).

FACT: Office is open on Saturadys
SADFACT:This is probably only day you can walk in, office hours are 9-5 but goodluck actually finding someone in, as managment is frequently off-site/out to lunch & deals with people by appointment only.

FACT: There is security to deal with the loud/rowdy tenants & the parking situation.
SADFACT: I drove out this morning to work & passed squad cars & crime scene tape (wtf is that about?)

FACT: There is a weight room & pool
SADFACT: The weight room is reminiscent of something out of boogie nights circa the early 80's, there is no computer lab & the pool is frequented by non-residents.

FACT: The dumpster areas are fairly clean & accesible (can actually walk in, instead of tossing bags over gate)
SADFACT: The creepy trailer trash that ransack recyclables day & night scare the $hit out of me & roomatesI hear dueling banjos every time i see that one van drive around, btw dumpster digging is illegal no?

FACT:Close proximity to shopping/dining/campus
SADFACT: Close to trailer parks/rapist friendly bike trails (I say this because a woman was knocked out and assaulted about 2 months ago while jogging, & loud bangs/gunshots? can be heard at night from the trailer parks FYI they are technically in Solano county, local law does not bother with calls (score one for the meth dealers that live there)

FACT: There is actually a few families w/ children here so it cant be that bad right?
SADFACT: I rarely see kids playing outside (lack of grass areas & anything i mentioned above that might make a parent keep there kids inside)

Soooo many more issues with this place, to many to name them all so i just picked some of my fav's —TheTruthHurts

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2009-05-28 09:47:06   If you’re looking to rent at Sharps & Flats, read this before you sign a YEAR contract.

The location is good and it’s pet friendly. I’ve never had a problem with management and to be fair before I slam them, management has done due diligence with all of my maintenance hassles and other concerns.

Unfortunately, the above does not make up for a handful of negatives about renting here which severely handicap a decent quality of life. I have outlined the problems below so that you will not make the same mistake renting here as I did:

1. NOISY: I have neighbors who host parties up to 3-4x/week. If you are a professional who must get up and work the next morning, you will be in a world of hurt. Average sleep time is about 4 hours with a loud crescendo of activity around 3am amid yelling and honking in protest of a police intervention. Know that you are in the company of loud, drunk, disrespectful students. Holidays and summers are peaceful when they go home to their enabling parents and ask for money to rearm with beer and pot capital to host “back-to-school” bashes. If this were the only concern, it should be enough for you to think twice about moving to Sharps and Flats.

2. THEFT: It’s a well known fact that Davis has more bikes than people. I cannot emphasize the amount of criminal activity born from this. My bike was stolen and my buddy had his pilfered to the bare bone while locked up in front of his place. I have seen hoodlums (likely from the trailer park 2 streets away) casing the place looking for a quick cash bike. To be fair, this is a Davis problem and not just a Sharps/Flats problem. Not 2 weeks ago however, gunshots were fired during an attempted robbery at an apartment 40 feet from mine in this complex. Gun shots. GUN SHOTS FIRED AT 3 in the morning 40 FEET FROM WHERE I SLEEP. The police were still here when I went to work at 7am.

3. TRASH: This is a big problem. Yes, it bothers me when I walk to my car in the morning and beer cans are in the bushes, a KFC bag with greasy debris clutters the walkway, and someone spits on my car to form the glue which will hold their smoldering cigarette when they took their smoke break outside during the party last night. No respect for fellow tenants.

4. APARTMENT: I have seen other apts in sharps/flats and they are much nicer than mine which is a 2 bedroom 1.5 bath. The main living space is cut down by an indoor stairwell leading up to the main room which is tiny. I had to get this place before looking at it in person due to time constraints and was misinformed by the original apt office representative who is no longer here. I believe I am paying at least $300 more than the fair value of this tiny 2 bedroom (but my work pays the rent).

I have nothing against Sharps and Flats management and maintenance. Unlike other people’s experiences living here, they have been quick to respond to my complaints and have honored all agreements with me to date. I knew this would be a temporary move, but it has been a painful 2-3 years. I was ready to move many times, but have endured this because of my distaste for moving. Now, I’ve accepted a job which requires a move, but even if I didn’t have the new job as an excuse to get out of here, the gunshots were a deal-breaker for me. I have lived in Los Angeles, Fullerton (southern ca), Detroit, and Phoenix and this is -without a doubt- the worst living situation I’ve experienced. I really hope this saves people from making a big mistake.

-Disappointed

—Disappointed

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2009-08-14 16:09:05   The NOISE is horrible. There are raging drunken parties with people shouting and screaming their lungs out. These parties go on until early morning. There are also people who come home in the middle of the night with their car stereos blasting and then scream all the way to their apartments. Several weeks ago at night police were here because of a bloody drunken fight. During the day there are two different apartments with two sets of drums being pounded on so loud it can be heard all over the complex. Management doesn't seem to care about any of this because it is only getting worse and worse. The summer is no better since this year most people did not go home. Don't even think about getting any sleep. You won't! This could be a good place to live if someone were in charge so that it wasn't so completely out of control, noisy and unsafe! —Trent