The Aspen

Current Resident 86131

Resident • 2001 - 2002

Very satisfactory

My wife and I moved into the Aspen August 2001, and have been very happy with our two-bedroom apartment since. The balcony is sizeable (5´x20´, plenty of room for a small table, chairs, plants, etc.) and the view is incredible -- from the 16th floor, we have a panorama of D.C. that is great on the 4th of July! The apartment itself is in pretty good shape, with a nice walk-in closet in one bedroom and other large closets elsewhere. The apartments are completely sound-proof -- no exaggeration there. I can´t remember the last time I heard my neighbors (though I´m told it´s a bit different on the lower floors). <br> <br>The neighborhood is sketchy but improving; Warwick Village, which surrounds the Aspen, is evolving from rental rowhouses to young marrieds purchasing (starting in about 2001). The location is great for access to 95, Rt. 1 and Old Town. Shopping nearby. <br> <br>The staff is sufficient; the maintenance folks are very timely. Parking is available, though getting parking passes for guests can be bothersome. <br> <br>Overall, we´re very happy with the place. We pay a bit more than we´d like to rent, but it serves our needs now. I´d strongly recommend the building, with this advice -- the higher you move in the building, the more you´ll pay (naturally). But I get the sense that it´s well worth it.

Current Resident 358621

Resident • 2001 - 2002

Staff Rude & AC does not cool

Parkings OK, Views are nice, Workout rooms very basic. Don´t have a roach problem like some posters but I´ve heard others have. The people I know who moved out did so because the management suks. Crime in the neighborhood is a problem - I can see crack dealers from my balconey. Police and Fire Sirens wake me up all the time. They got green doors with pink trim in the halls and some ugly green leafy carpet that makes me dizzy walking on it. Did I say management suks - the mailmen who service this building jam the mail in my box(small top loading)so every thing is smashed to the bottom - they also mixup mail so I get other renters mail in my box and end up losing some credit card statements every month, never saw anything like it before. <br>

Current Resident 359396

Resident • 1996 - 1998

FEELING..HOT, HOT, HOT

I LIVED ON THE 5TH FLOOR, IT WAS UNBEARABLY HOT IN MY APARTMENT, SUMMER A/C DIDNT GET THE APT. COLLER THAN 84 NO KIDDING, IN WINTER NEVER HAD TO USE THE HEAT AS A MATTER OF FACT I HAD TO LEAVE MY WINDOWS CRACKED OPEN AT ALL TIMES. THAT APT. STAYED A CONSTANT 85 AND AS LONG AS YOU DIDNT MOVE OFF THE SOFA AND HAD A FAN BLOWING ON YOU AT ALL TIMES IT WAS OK. GOD FORBID YOU HAD TO COOK, OR CLEAN YOU WOULD BREAK OUT IN A TERRRIBLE SWEAT. <br>WHEN WE MOVED IN WE HAD FLEAS I HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR ALL THESE HUNDREDS OF FLEA BITES ON MY LEGS, HERE´S THE KICKER, WE DIDNT OWN A PET! I CALLED LEASING THEY WHERE VERY RUDE, TOLD ME I HAD TO WAIT A MONTH BEFORE THE EXTERMINTATOR WOULD COME AND TOLD ME TO BUY A BOMB, GIVE ME A BREAK. HOW RUDE IT THAT, SO I LIVED THERE LIKE THAT FOR A YEAR AN A HALF, THE STAFFING WAS TERRIBLE. <br>THEY HAVE A WANNA-BE POLICE MAN WORKING THERE WHO´S JUST FLAT OUT NOISY. HE IS SUPPOSED TO WATCH THE AREA, WHAT A JOKE EVERYONES CAR WAS BEING BROKEN INTO. <br>YOU LIKE ROACHES????? MOVE IN HERE. FOUND ONE IN MY O.J. AS I ATE BREAKFAST, HERE´S THE CATCH, I HAD ALREADY DRANK OUT OF THE GLASS, NOTE: THIS WAS IN THE FRIDGE. <br>THE PARKING CODE EVERYONE KNOW´S HOW IS IT PROTECTING ANYONE? <br>TOILET WAS ALWAYS CLOGGED. <br>RUDE STAFF. <br>FAUSET IN BATHROOM CAN OUT OF WALL WOULDNT FIX FOR A MONTH COULD SEE 2 FEET INTO THE DRYWALL/HALLWAY. <br>SMELLY PEOPLE LIVE HERE, YOU LIKE CURRY? MOVE IN HERE. <br>GYM WAS A JOKE IT WAS ALL THE EXERSIZE EQUIT. THEY FOUND IN THE TRASH AND BROUGHT DOWN THERE. <br>POOL HARDLY EVER OPEN. <br>LAUNDRY ROOM, NASTY. <br>NO CLOSET SPACE. <br>LEASING SIGN ON DOOR WOULD SAY OPEN 9-5 NO ONE WAS EVER EVER IN THERE. OUT TO LUNCH 24/7. <br>TRASH DROPS ON EACH FLOOR SMELLS LIKE THE MONKEY HOUSE AT THE ZOO. ROACHES ON DOOR KNOB TO GET IN. <br>FIRE "DRILLS" EVERY TWO WEEKS, KIDS WOULD START FIRES DOWN THE TRASH AND WE WOULD HAVE TO EVACUATE THE BULIDNG AT THREE AM. <br>PARKING AFTER 10 PM? GET READY TO WALK INTO THE GHETTOS OF ALEXANDRIA, RIGHT IN DELRAY. <br>RUDE STAFF <br>RUDE STAFF <br>RUDE STAFF. <br>I WOULD RATHER LIVE IN MY CAR THEN HERE AGAIN.

Current Resident 388753

Resident • 2000 - 2002

awesome views

I moved in here 2 years ago and love it. The views are awesome off the huge balconies. I have read some of the other reviews and I must say I have never had any roaches in my apartment. The maintenance problems always get fixed right away when you ask. For the price I can´t beat it. And I love it that all utilities are included because then it makes it easy for me to budget all my bills. One other good thing I love about this place is that the apartments are sound proof. I never hear my neighbors, which I love. I highly recommend the building to everyone.

Current Resident 399014

Resident • 2002

where are the roaches?

just moves in last month and i´ve yet to see any roaches.fantastic apartment and great views with quiet and respectful neighbors

Current Resident 448707

Resident • 1997 - 2002

Great place for the $$$

Believe me The Aspen is not roach infested. I have lived here for 5 years and have not seen a bug in my apartment. In a building as big as The Aspen there are bound to be some problems, but not to the extent that is being verbalized. The new renovatons of the gym, front enry and hallways are great. The size of the apartments and cleanliness of the building far surpass the bug whining. This is a great place to live for the $$ and close to shopping and DC.

Current Resident 575466

Resident • 2002

don´t give the bugs a rest!

of course we shouldn´t give the bug problem a rest. <br>who wants to live in a apt. w/ bugs???? I know I sure don´t! The $$$ is cheaper than some of the other apartments around the same area but the bugs have to go! I hate opening up my cereal box morning after morning to find roaches (big and small) enjoying MY food. The building is old but I know of older buildings thats never experienced bug problems like this.

Current Resident 513652

Resident • 2002

Not Bad

Bugs have been the main problem, but the only reason it does not bother me so much is because about 2-3 of them a day are lady bugs. So I feel lucky to find them. The roaches and spiders are a different story.

Current Resident 523851

Resident • 2000 - 2002

Good Choice

I´ve lived in this apartment for 2 years and I´ve had very little problems. The management is very friendly and helpful. All my problems have been solved within 24 hours. There´s a fitness center, pool, sauna, and grocery store. I always find parking no matter what hour I come home. I found a few roaches over the past two years, but other than that I had no problems. The noise level is very low and the people are very friendly. It´s in close proximity to 295, 95, and route 1 . I definitely recommend this apartment.

Ehankerson

Resident • 2002

Just Moved In

The day I moved in, I saw roaches. The building is great! I love it! But the roaches aren´t. I asked them to exterminate and they scheduled me for one but made no attempt to even act concerned. It has all the amenities of a luxury apartment but the bug problem has got to stop. There are other older buildings around this metro area that don´t have problems like this!

Current Resident 567902

Resident • 2000 - 2002

Great apt. if you take away the bugs

I loved living in this apt complex. The fitness center and pool were great. There is even a little store near the lobby area for essential grocery items. <br>I want to highly praise the maintenance staff. They were usually there the day you called, and would return repeatedly until something was right if needed. <br>The one drawback was the bugs we saw in our apartment. The complex sprays every Tues., and will in your apartment if you ask, but I think it just pushes the bugs from apt to apt. <br>I am no exaggerating when I say there were roaches that were 2 inches long. <br>Repeated attempts to request help from the management were replyed to with a copy of the section of our lease that says they are not responsible for insects or rodents. <br>Overall, I recommend, but make sure you are armed with bug traps.

Current Resident 631855

Resident • 2001 - 2002

A Nice Place to Live

I really must say that I enjoy living in the Aspen. For $935 a month I have a one bedroom apartment on the very top floor (17th) with a panoramic view. I have a view of Old Town Alexandria and parts of Arlington. It is absolutely beautiful. <br> <br>I am close to 395, Old Town Alexandria, and DC. What more could you ask for? Comparably I cannot find a better deal for the amount of money we pay for our apartment. <br> <br>The other reviewer is right--there is a lot of drama sometimes with the surrounding neighborhood and sometimes within the drama. I have been awoken by somebody that thought it would be funny to pull the emergency alarm (3 am in the morning). I have ran down 17 flights of stairs only to find that some prankster was only having fun on several occasions. <br> <br>The one thing that surprised me about the Aspen was how friendly everyone is with one another. I lived in Fairfax in 2000 and I never once spoke to any of my neighbors. <br> <br>Also, FYI, yes there are quarter machines for the laundry facilities. However, you do not need to go to the bank to get quarters. You can get them at the local Giant down the road on Glebe:) <br> <br>I am renewing my lease with the Aspen in August because of all of the above mentioned reasons and more. <br> <br>Happy Hunting!

Current Resident 677053

Resident • 2000 - 2002

i recommend

the building is older but in great shape. They are always improving the property in different ways. I love the fact that I have never heard my neighbors when I am in the apartment. <br>The rents are reasonable for what you get and the area that it is in. The aspen is close to 495, 395, dc and alexandria. A central location. <br>The one downfall is that there is no bus stop at the front door it is down the hill about 2 blocks. <br>The apts. are in good shape and have alot of closet space and large windows which are great. <br>

eljugo703

Resident • 1999 - 2001

Really good choice

The Aspen was my first apartment and I was very pleased with it. We had a 1 bedroom on the 15th floor with a beautiful view of Alexandria (very calming green in spring and summer, great foliage in the fall). The apartment is pretty wide open, so you can move stuff around easily. Bedroom closet was a little tight for 2 people but it worked. Kitchen was extremely tight with one drawer, but a little add-on rack or cart from IKEA makes it useable. I loved the gas cooktop! Maintenance was awesome! They responded within 24 hours, and quickly in an emergency. There can be some dramatics living in a high rise (generator/power issues, fire department responses at 2 AM etc.) But I think it was worth it. Parking is on a surface lot and we had a car broken into. The surrounding neighborhood has its ups and downs. The rents are competitive but like the others they were climbing steadily when we left ($765 in 1999, $805 in 2000). Give this place a chance and you wont be disappointed.

Current Resident 696242

Resident • 1995 - 2002

Well worth considering

With a few exceptions, I found living at the Aspen House to be a good experience. <br> <br>The apartments aren’t luxury and do show a bit of wear and tear, but each apartment has the basic amenities, such as dishwasher and microwave. While the one bedroom that I lived in had only one kitchen drawer, there was a sizable pantry that made storage easier. There is a large hall closet, a very large walk in bedroom closet and a linen closet. <br> <br>The apartments (other than studio) have huge balconies. The outside living room wall is all window, over 90 inches high and wall to wall. There are some spectacular views of DC, Alexandria and the Potomac river. <br> <br>The building features separate saunas for men and women, an exercise room and pool. There is also a social room with a resident supported library. <br> <br>The area is serviced by Comcast communications. Comcast offers digital cable, high speed internet and low cost telephone service. <br> <br>There are laundry rooms on every floor with three washers and three dryers in each room - no time restrictions so night owls like me had no competition for machines. A minor complaint is that the machines still require quarters rather than a card that you can add cash to using bills. You have to make special trips to the bank to get rolls of quarters. With limited bank hours, this means either leaving work early or making a special trip to get to the bank while it is open, and many banks now charge fees for teller services such as this. <br> <br>Maintenance was a snap. I would drop a note by the office on my way out to work and invariably when I got home what ever the problem was had been fixed. The staff is very professional and friendly. <br> <br>For the downside, the heating and air conditioning are switched on and off for the entire building, so if you get some hot days in early spring or late fall, and yes this does happen, you are stuck because the whole building is on heat. The convectors that transfer the heat or air conditioning to the apartments are hard to keep clean, the constant air flow and summer damp will make them grubby and worse, moldy at times. In addition, they are very loud. I was forever be turning up my TV when the convector began to blow. At night I’d keep it turn off in my bedroom so I wouldn’t be woken up by the noise. <br> <br>My other main complaint is that in the last few years, the rents were jacked up substantially each year. In just two years my rent went from 785.00 a month to 970.00. The increases were far more than inflation could account for. If you want this to be a long term home, make sure you have some padding in your budget to allow for a big rent raise. <br> <br>Despite these complaints, I would still move back if circumstances found me back in the rental market.