Alex is extremely friendly and helpful. The building looks like an old office/warehouse building from the outside, but looks can be deceiving, as inside it's more of an older and charming dorm. The proximity to the Metro is very good; you're two blocks from the Little Tokyo station. There is no A/C, but Alex loaned me a fan when the outside temps got up in the 90s. You'll get some street noise and noise from others in the building. The residents were great, though, and it's not a rowdy place; it's just that the sound travels. This is a very interesting place to stay; you're on the edge of Little Tokyo and the Arts District and close to Union Station. I used the Metro to travel everywhere from Koreatown to Pasadena. On Sunday much of downtown was closed for bicyclists, which gave me a great opportunity to explore more of downtown. I felt safe in the area, although the panhandlers will come out in the evening. Make sure you know where you want to go, as Skid Row is a few blocks south.