At Main Street Flats in downtown Bellevue, the updated Phase 2 building offers air conditioning and a walkable commute. For a renter considering a lease, those advantages come with concerns about elevator service and conditions around the trash area.

The unit under consideration is closer to work than an alternative in Totem Lake, with a commute short enough to skip driving altogether. Its price is also lower than the Totem Lake option, giving the Bellevue apartment an advantage on both rent and distance to work.

The concerns center on shared parts of the property rather than the location or the unit itself. Elevator trouble and trash-area issues have contributed to the building's reputation, and those problems persist, though their effect differs depending on the building or floor.

The decision comes down to whether the shorter commute and lower rent justify living with those recurring problems. Walking to work would eliminate the drive, but the appeal of that convenience depends partly on how much the elevator and trash-area conditions would affect life in the building.