Spectra Southside (student)

Berkeley students, if you don't mind it being a bit run down you can't beat it. Singles, partially furnished, some of which have sinks and/or street views, shared bathrooms (six or so on each floor), a shared kitchen, and the best thing of all, location. This is in the heart of things, between Share Tea and Blondie's Pizza. The place is old, with sagging stairs and a rickety elevator. Shared bathrooms are one person at a time, and have locks and showers. The ceilings are high and the room livable. The price cannot be beat for a single so close to campus. Residents tend to keep this place a secret. In 2026 management changed, so Spectra no longer runs the place. It's now run by Premium Properties. All in all, a win.

I lived here for three years up until the fall. I do not recommend living here. The roaches were everywhere - in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, apartment rooms. There was constant noise, smoking, and the rooms get very hot. It's a very claustrophobic environment. These were not worth the price nor the location's convenience. It was a sad, dark time for me. I think many of these issues are inherent to the building's physical features, location, and tenants they attract, so the overall experience is irremediable. I don't blame it all on management.