The Aspen

Current Resident 370443

Resident • 2005 - 2007

its ok

I've lived here for 2 years and its not that bad. I live on a high floor so I don't have a roach problem. I have only seen about 3 or 4 roaches in my two years. There are roaches sometimes in the hallway near the elevator on the lower floors especially. The parking is ok if you live there but you cant have vistors park without a pass. The neighborhood is safe so parking in the strret is not that big of a deal for vistors. Whenever I have an issue sink, bathroom or closet door they fix it the same day or next day. If its the weekend they come on Monday. I'm moving soon because I don't like virginia and this place is a little too far from metro and Im not a bus fan but overall this place isnt bad.

Current Resident 534900

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Bad to worse

I read the reviews of this place and found them to be a little exaggerated, but now I understand. I'd see the occassional roach in the hallway, but that never bothered me. I've awakened in the morning to shower, thus finding out there's no water, but that only bothered me a little. Trying to catch a bus in the morning is made a bit more challenging when you don't know if the elevator's ever going to arrive. Also, security in the parking lot must be really tight when there's no gate at the front entrance, or the one they have stays up long enough to let in the entire neighborhood. This morning, they demonstrated how tight security is - oh boy! - when my guest's truck was towed (supposedly at 1230 AM) in a full parking lot hardly big enough to back in a bread truck, for not having a guest pass. First of all, getting a guest pass isn't the easiest thing. You have to know you're having a guest over and contact the office between 9 AM and 6 PM. If you can't pick it up between those hours, they're supposed to leave it in the overpriced convenience store downstairs. On the rare occassion they actually did leave the pass, everything's fine. But, most of the time, you're SOL. For example, out of the five times I've asked for a pass, I've only gotten them the two times I went in to the office during business hours. So, when the guest got there the other three times, I had nothing for them. We took our chances and everything was fine, until NOW. I'd like to meet the driver that fit his big tow truck and a pickup out one of those tiny parking spots with cars in either spot beside it. Obviously, they waited until everyone emptied the lot to go to work in the morning and snatched the truck then. So, 150 worthless dollars later, I'm pissed and there's no way I'm ever recommending this place or renewing my lease again. If the parking policy was the same all the time and there was always a way to have a guest over, I would take my punishment and STFU. However, the lack of a standard and horrible customer care here (don't forget about the water, the elevators, and the ROACHES!!!) has lost them a renter and hopefully prevented others from even considering.

Current Resident 166777

Resident • 2007

ROACHES

I wish I looked into this site before we moved into this apartment. When we were looking our main goal was to find a clean, spacious place and reasonably priced. So, when we went to see our apartment we loved how large the space was and that we were going to pay less than what we expected we would pay for any apartment in the VA area. Well, let s just say that came with a price. The place is infested with Roaches. When you walk down the hall you have to jump over the nasty roaches because there is like 6 of them all over the floor and ceiling some are dead because someone squashed them some are still moving around. They clean it every morning and when I come home from work there is a new group of them. Luckily I have only seen 2 in our apartment but as we all know 1 roach means there maybe 100's. I hate coming home because I get so paranoid. When I walk into that nasty building my eyes are constantly wondering to make sure I don t run into one. We are miserable in this apartment and the people in the office do not care. The only thing they tell us is okay we will have the exterminator spray your apartment well He/She does come but so do the roaches. We do not know what to do if we could get out of our lease we would be out today. For those of you that have moved from here, you are so lucky I am counting down the days.

tyraoddle

Resident • 1998 - 1999

gross roach haven

Worst apartment I have ever lived in, horrifying, I liked on the 5th floor my apartment was infested with roaches and fleas. Also we had no working a/c when we called for someone to check it out we were told it was fine and our apartment was at 85 degrees and this was acceptable to the leasing office and managment. I honestly dont know how the builing is still standing its a horrific piece of property with bugs and crime. Our car was broken into 3 times and there was a shooting there as well. So much for the rent-a-retired cop they used to have. Getting out of there was the best thing I ever did. Good luck to you all. Move on to bigger and better places.

Current Resident 120265

Resident • 2005 - 2007

Not quite sure what to say!

I have been living at the ASPEN for 4 years, and my husband has lived here for 7 (3 before we met), and I can honestly say that I am extremely surprised by the bad reviews. Let's be honest, people are correct that the building is old, and not at all luxurious, like living in Pentagon Row, and yes, the appliances are circa 1975, but what do you expect for the rent. We've lived on the 16th floor in a studio and now live on a 2/2 on the 9th floor. Roach problems? yes, I've seen them, but not to the point to call it an "infestation". I have seen a couple, a couple of times a year, but nothing to say that they are a permanent fixture in my house. And I am one of those who doesn't take the garbage out everyday!<br>Parking problem? Other than yes, not being able to park near the door, I've never really had an issue with parking, plus it is free. We don't pay utilities and the place is pretty safe. Yes, there is a small "Hood" a couple of blocks down the hill in one direction, but there are very nice homes and wonderful families on the other. You can also walk to DelRay for an array of nice restaurants, nothing like The Palm, but affordable, clean, friendly and delicious places. As for the staff, while I have had some issues with some of them becasue they sometimes seem not to have good people skills, they tend to be pretty responsive to getting things fixed quickly and well. It has never taken more than a couple of hours for them to fix anything that is broken, and they just finished changing all the windows and sliding glass doors. Like I said, it is not a luxury place, and it is true that some people go a little over board with their spices when they cook and stink up the halls, but it is quiet, clean, with good security and the service staff are very helpful and friendly.

Current Resident 292935

Resident • 2006 - 2007

I have notice my low rent has resulted in poor service.

Positive - Low Rent<br><br>Negative - Roaches, Weeks before issues are resolved by maintenance, Appliances are now in bad shape, Manager will not return calls, Leasing staff is not educated on how deal with residents and usually have a deer in headlights look.<br><br>You can rent hear, save rent money and pay money for bug spray, super glue, carpet cleaner, and cell phone minutes because you will be on hold that long.<br><br>GOOD LUCK... I am out of here.

Current Resident 848484

Resident • 2000 - 2004

Honest Opinion...

I used to live in the Aspen from 2000-2004 and I'd have to say that my overall opinion of the place is around slightly below avg. to avg. One of the huge positives that attracted me to live there was its location. At the time I was working in Annandale so I wanted to find a place that would be a reasonable drive to work and also be really close to DC (I was driving against the traffic on 395 so my commute was a breeze). And to boot I was able to get into an approx. 1200 sq. ft. one-bedroom for under $1k. I also loved the little convenient store and workout room as well.<br><br>However I do have to agree with the majority of the posts on here that complain about the roach situation. Luckily I was able to move out before my apartment became heavily infested, but I did have to take on the role of exterminator more times than I would have liked to have. There were times where 10 - 15 min. would go by with me turning the lights off in the kitchen and waiting a few seconds so that I could lure them out and take care of them.<br><br>But I think the one thing that I am the most happy with not having to deal with is the parking situation. When my fiancee and I first started seeing each other it was a pain to have her come over and park. If I wasn't lucky enough to remember to reserve one of the limited guest parking passes for the evening, I would have her drive through the gate and leave her car in front of the main door, then have her wait inside for me while I parked her car on the street. Most of the time I could only find a spot at the bottom of the hill, and while walking back I always found myself looking over my shoulder to be safe.<br><br>So to wrap things up I wouldn't ultimately say not to live there, but there are definitely some things that need to be taken into consideration before signing your name on the lease.

Current Resident 562042

Resident • 2006

The real low down

I have lived at the Aspen house since March of 2006 and here's my honest experience so far;<br><br>First of all, this used to be a luxury complex when built in the late 60's which is evident by the spacious apts and HUGE windows(new apts are not made this way). They are also virtually sound proof except if you're in the hallway. <br><br>Second of all, I think it's safe to say that any bug problems are confined to the lower level apts (below 5th floor).<br>I have seen one or maybe two whithin months and can tell they just crawled in through the hallway, they seem disoriented (hardly a pest issue). <br><br>I've only had to call twice for repairs. My sink clogged once and another time there was a small leak under sink. Both of which were fixed the same day (honestly). <br><br>The neighborhood - It should be noted that this building sits on a hill. If you go three blocks down the hill, there are section 8 apts with many immigrants & lots of cops. However the immediate area around the building is actually a nice neighborhood with families, people walking dogs, jogging etc. Anyway, it's not Pentagon row with nice shops under you but it is much, much quieter. You must drive down the street instead if you want to stroll to shops etc. <br><br>My apt has a nice view of the river and some DC which is one of the pluses for me. I don't know about other apts, but my kitchen is nice with new dishwasher, new cabinets and built in microwave. Anyway, that's it, nothing so special but it's a great price for what you get. Trust me. <br><br>

Current Resident 891107

Resident • 2006

Overreaction

I have lived here a month now and I love it so far. A lot of people have complained about roaches, vandalism and parking and the dangerous neighborhood. Give me a break. I live on the 16th floor and have not seen a single roach.<br><br>Also, the "crime reports" are a bit deceiving. Close to W. Glebe, sure. This building, though, is tucked away in a very quiet community with nice homes and pleasant people. Reviewers make it seem like theres crack-rock being sold in the lobby. C'mon. You're being ridiculous. <br><br>Parking? Yeah, there are SUVs parked in the Compact Car spots, but tell me where else you would find something different. The furthest you have to walk if you get a "bad spot" is probably about 60 yards. It's about a 15 second walk. Get real. <br><br>The apartments are very affordable for great views and utilities are paid. The management has always been pleasant. The people are friendly. The building is a little old and the cabinets and bathrooms are dated, but find something better at this price. They are making updates where they are needed. Great new windows and doors leading to the balconies. This place is a fabulous deal. <br><br>Also, you're right down the road from Mount Vernon, which is pretty hip. I've seen some other places and I'm really not impressed. On the surface, some of these places look nice, but definitely not worth the price. <br><br>Also, in response to the last poster...The zip code here is 22305...not 22304

katiedyer123

Resident • 2006

I Don't Live Here but that is because of the Bugs...

I thought the location was great and really liked the price but the roaches in both the Kitchen and Bathroom of BOTH apartments had me running. The older lady who showed me around acted as if they bugs weren't there and danced around the question of Pest Control Service.<br><br>The Views are fantastic, though the apartments need some updating - kitchens are a little worn. Still just the thought of a roach crawling across my foot or worse face is not worth the lower price of living here.

Current Resident 474186

Resident • 1994 - 1998

Amazing View of DC, Monuments, Potomac and DCA

Loved living here. Had the penthouse with a knockout view. Worked at the airport so very convenient for work and metro to DC. Generally safe with security guys who get to know you, same for maintenance.

Apple01

Resident • 2006

What to Move in DEC

I;m thinking about moving to this complex. Overall is this an OK place to live? Are the Roaches REALLY BAD? I hate ROACHES. The price seems right for the location. Please advise.

Current Resident 728820

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Convenient location, reasonable rent, good experience > 2 years

It's far better than many apartments in Alexandria. I've never had issues with parking. I've never had issues with the staff. The buildings are well-built so that noise is minimal. There are laundry rooms on every floor. We got all new windows last year. It's a good value. The Environmental Engineer is quite lazy (needs reprimanding and more observation) but otherwise I have no complaints. If you see an occasional roach, well, break out the Combat roach motels. They'll go away. I've not seen too many in 24 months. I do live on a higher floor. It probably helps. I'm tired and bored by seeing the complainers on this site. Hey, if you really hate it, leave. Go elsewhere and see if you can get as a good a deal for the price. The comments about the neighborhood are not entirely truthful. Russell Road and Holly Street and other nearby streets have nice homeowners who take care of their property. Take one look at those homes and the cars parked there and you know you are among some money. Granted, there are also lower income apartments and non-native speakers nearby as well in Arlandria. It's Alexandria - that's par for the course - some affluence and some less fortunate together. Crime happens everywhere. Not just in Alexandria. The majority of reviews you read on this site will be by people who are not happy. People who are satisfied usually don't take time to write reviews. We're too busy being happy with life in general. If we were unhappy, we would leave. It's that simple. If someone complains, consider the source. Visit the place yourself. Make your own decision.

movertoAlex

Resident • 2006

What's it like here?

I am moving to area in 3 months, and have read ALL the reviews here. Besides the usual 'mngr' is A-hole and never fixes my problems...blah blah, The consensus seems to be that the lower apartments have a huge roach problem and mold problem....would this be accurate? Also, is the Aspen in a rough area? Lastly, there were a few mentions of the mngr getting caught 'defecating' in the parking lot...is this true?!?!?!?

blue59595959

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Poor management

These apartments are ok (well except for the terrible problems with all kinds of bugs, as well as mold growing on the airconditioner vents). However, the management team is just awful to deal with. The younger girl with glasses seems nice, but the two older ladies are to be avoided at all costs. They both have been extremely unpleasant to deal with. <br><br>Also, don't expect to get your security deposit back. Even if you never moved in to your apartment and kept it sealed shut the entire year, I'm sure the Aspen would find some reason to not give you back your money.

thereareworseplacesindc

Resident • 2004

Pretty average for area

I only lived in the Aspen for one year. The nice part was that I could have my cat for no extra charge, they had storage on the premises and I liked the restricted access in both the parking lot and the building. While I was considering renting, the office staff was exceptionally nice and helpful.<br>HOWEVER:<br>I quickly learned that the 'storage' was suspect, although admittedly, nothing happened to my things, the door to storage room was often left open and with only chicken wire and two-by-fours, I didn't feel as though my grandmother's crystal was exactly in Fort Knox. The 'restricted access' really didn't restrict anybody or anything, given that anyone who came to see me was able to get in usually without even a call to my unit - this included the pizza guy. I can't say the office staff was quite as attentive after I moved in, but I never had any horrific problems with them. I DID however, have HUGE problems with roaches. I was on the third floor not far from the garbage/dumpster room and didn't dare go inside the door after roaches dropped on my head while putting garbage in the chute. My cat did have some fun chasing them around the apartment, but that was about it. Maintenance was okay, nothing stellar. The A-hole who lived down the hall liked to play his music loud enough that pictures would fall off my wall and management didn't feel it important enough to address with him.<br><br>All in all, here's the thing: if you're looking for decent rent, it's good. D.C. is on a swamp, so there are roaches in many apartment buildings, businesses, etc. A friend of mine lived on the 16th floor and didn't see one roach the year he lived there. You get what you pay for. If you don't mind a little inconvenience or are there for a short time, it's not the worst place in the area to live.

Current Resident 240351

Resident • 2006

there's worst thing in life

i live here for about 4 months and is not that cheaper but not to expensive it's alright

Runningnotwalkingaway

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Forget It

My lease ends in 30 days and that is not soon egnough. Yes the rent is cheaper here than others in the area ut it is not worth the headache you suffer in the long run. Poor Pest Control, unanswered services issues and unproffesional management equal UNHAPPINESS.

Current Resident 763162

Resident • 1994 - 2004

Postings Removed here

Why are so many postings allowed to be removed by the manager?

rpm14

Resident • 2005 - 2006

convenient, nice enough

I spent a week doing nothing but looking at apartments last summer when moving, and couldn't find a place that comes close to the Aspen. I live on a lower floor, and have only seen a couple of roaches around the trash room (not exactly shocking in any building). I've had no problems with management or other tenants, and some actually stopped to help me when I was locked out of my apartment without my phone during off hours. I've also called ahead, and management has stayed open late for me in the past. The pool and work-out room are both reasonably nice as well. Another complaint was car insurance, but I've moved from Detroit to the Maryland side of DC, and now to NOVA, and my insurance has dropped dramatically with each move. My only complaint is now with being in a studio. Rather than changing buildings, I want to find a roommate to take a 2 bedroom with a balcony...

parkingForgetaboutit

Resident • 2005 - 2006

badparkingataspen

Hi,<br>Been following the posts....tried to get a parking pass from the office for a visiting friend....really bad experience. No passes in advance. I work long hours (so I can pay my rent on time, no?)and the office is not open when I return home. The staff was rude, rude, rude. I'm pissed off enough that I won't renew my lease (4 months out), not that I think that the office staff cares.<br>PS-why is someone putting So Much effort into defending the jerks in the office?<br>Sounds fake.<br>Also, what did the tenent do (in a mentioned in a previous post) that was "so horrible" and they Didn't get evicted?

Current Resident 983880

Resident • 2005 - 2006

interesting..

Hmmm, I find the below back-and-forth postings to be interesting and a tad suspicious. I've been at the Aspen for a year now and have not had a single problem (well, minor problems like not getting parking close to the particular door I prefer to go in/out of). I'm curious about what the previous poster means by "management issues" because I personally know of a situation with a tenent that did something pretty awful and they did not evict her. I mean, I know of people in this building who have demanded absurd things of the management and were also not evicted. I also have a pet and I also don't have to pay pet rent...do you people know that many places actually charge their tenents for parking...and it's free here. <br><br>I guess there are 2 sides to every story and I can only speak of my experience but I'm happy here! People keep to themselves, I have a great view and I can use the elliptical in the gym for free...

ReallydontreccomentAspen

Resident • 2003 - 2005

Fairness in Posting

Hello,<br>I lived in the Aspen for several years. I ALWAYS paid my rent on time, was quiet, and never caused any problems for my fellow tenents. I did complain to the owners over a couple of management issues.<br>I was EVICTED. If any of you think that the owners or management of the Aspen are at all reasonable, you are mistaken.<br>While I lived in the Aspen, I noted numerous postings delated by the management.<br>Perhaps this, combined with the all-too-gushy praise, really ticks off some of the tenents. After all, everyone in the Aspen has had, or knows someone with an Aspen management Horror story. The manager has made herself nortorious in the NOVA rental community. <br>So, "I-love-it-here-is-so-perfect-and-they-don't-charge type posters, don't be surprised if we think you are fakes.

Current Resident 12431

Resident • 2004 - 2006

Yeah, I agree with the last posting

I've been here for almost two years and love it, I've had a couple of small complaints like not getting a visitor pass when I needed one because they were out of them...but that's it. I also don't know why some of these people freak out about what appears to be minor issues. My view here is one of the best around, clear unobstructed view of the Potomac. My balcony is massive and I have a pet which I did not have to pay extra for. it's also close to all of the major roads, there's a pool and a gym. <br><br>I'm sure I'll be accused of being the Aspen management.. which I'm not...it appears this person accuses EVERYONE who says anything positive of being the mgmt, but whatever. I actually think it's kinda sad that someone out there has nothing better to do than patrol this website for positive apartment reviews just so they can bash them. Here's an idea...get out of the house, get some fresh air, get some perspective and realize that there are bigger issues in the world to complain about.

Current Resident 183024

Resident • 2003 - 2005

Do People Think This is the Freakin' Ritz??

These reviews are amazing to me! I've been in the Aspen three years now and have never once experienced what some of the other postings complain about. I will admit that I live on a very high floor so I do not have a roach problem and I do believe the problem is much worse on the lower floors. I also have not had issues with the management but I pay my rent on time. Not only that but I had to call maintainence on a Sunday about a month ago and the guy was knocking on my door within 15 min and fixed the problem (it was semi-minor toilet issue).<br> If people expect to have 5 star living accomodations then perhaps they should go somewhere and pay the rent that goes along with that...otherwise get a grip on reality and stop acting like spoiled brats! I too have a little bit of mold on my AC and sometimes the 5th floor door doesn't lock when it closes...umm, I'm not losing sleep over it. My view is fantastic, there's plenty of parking, quick access to everything, a gym, a pool, etc, etc, so what if the freakin' door doesn't latch every time it closes, get a grip. <br>