World Traveler
I stayed at Vivarium in the month of June and had an okay experience, but not positive enough for me to return. Pros: Sense of Community - there are weekly potluck dinners and activities that encourage interaction. Location - fantastic location in an upscale neighborhood close to restaurants, public transportation, and the city center Cons: Comfort - no heating or cooling in bedrooms, making it uncomfortable (or impossible) to sleep in extreme summer or winter temperatures. The showers are so small that even a small person cannot maneuver inside of them. Functionality - The internet speed/quality did not work well which was a huge problem for someone who is required to be on video meetings for work. This was not just a problem for me, but for others as well. The tile floors without rugs or decor on the walls created echoes in nearly every room. The poor internet and echoes in all the rooms make work nearly impossible. Cheap Management - there are no coffee machines in the building, only moka pots or old drip machines and no filtered drinking water. When I was there, a group of colivers requested that the management order a Nespresso machine for everyone to use in the common area, as these machines are only $100 and could be used by all 20+ people in the building, but we were denied. When you take into consideration that Vivarium is making thousands per month in rents, it's disappointing that the management would not invest in something as simple as a $100 coffee machine that would last for years and make dozens of guests happy. Because everyone is buying bottled water there is also immense amounts of plastic recycling every day. The management could invest in giving the guests a better experience but does not actively seek or action on feedback.