Review History for anonymous

Good and Bad

I could write a novel analyzing this apartment complex. As you can see, almost all of the postings are negative about the management. I will get to that in a second. First the positive. The apartments are huge, and all have brand new appliances. The view is incredible of DC, and the apartment is in a great location. Walking distance from the pharmacy, grocery store (which is going to be completely redone soon), dry cleaning, movie rental, mechanic, salons, coffee shops, and some of the best restaurants in the entire DC area. The buses to the Pentagon and Pentagon City metro stops come ever 2 minutes during rush hour. Close driving distance from Pentagon city, DC, Ballston, Clarendon, Rosslyn, Georgetown, pretty much anywhere. The weight room was recently redone, and while small is very useful. I work out almost every day there and love it. The best part is the price, while usually from 1,000-1,400 for 1 and 2 bedrooms, that includes all utilities, the weight room, one parking spot (garage for 2 bedrooms) pool usage on the roof, internet in the lobby with a fax, etc. The security is decent, with someone always at the desk 24 hours. Almost all apartment have huge balconies, and you pay more for the higher and better views of DC. For what you get the price is the best in the entire area, and believe me I looked everywhere. Plus the security deposit is extremely small (250 usually, compared to one month’s rent like most places in the area).<br><br>Now, that sounds like an unbeatable combination doesn’t it? So why am I going back and forth as to whether I will stay when my lease runs out at the end of the summer? There are a few minor negatives such as the fact of the older building (but is mostly negated by the new appliances and quick responses from maintenance). There have been some problems with the A/C and water leakage from other apts. But the older building is built very well, with think walls (and the fact that a lot of quiet old people live there). It would also nicer to be within walking distance of the metro, especially on weekends when the buses don’t come all that often. But you have to pay tons for that sort of thing. <br><br>So, I bet you’re still wondering why I’m wavering on my decision to stay? Seems pretty obvious that this is quite possibly the best apt. of all time right? Well, now we get to the real problem, the management. Everything you can read in the other posts applies here as well. Many of the specific examples used by the other postings happened to me. I’ve had a car towed from the apartment that was properly marked (and was scratched as a result), they lose paperwork, they are unfriendly, rude, annoying, any other negative adjective you want to use. They just don’t care about their tenants. I’ve had many problems and their answer is always they don’t care. Everyone in the building hates the manager Marieta, it all starts with her. The rest of the staff might as well have down’s syndrome. Completely useless, and Marieta herself admitted that to me once. You might ask, “well I just want need to involve management that much in my life, how much trouble can it cause? It can’t possibly outweigh all of those positives.” Well somehow it can in many instances. Anytime anything breaks, you have a question, anything happens (cars have been stolen and damaged in the parking lot, with no “security” help. Just a too bad for you comment from management), you need to leave the apartment, are trying to get an apartment, have a visitor, really anything ends up involving management. It’s like I’m in a bad marriage. Weeks pass and everything is going great, I’m enjoying the pool on the roof, working out for free, eating my meals out on the balcony overlooking DC, and then WHAM! My friend’s car that was signed in properly is towed from the visitor lot (which is at least 20 spots too small for the size of this building). Guess who’s paying for that one? Then I curse their name and promise to leave. A few more days pass, I slowly forget, it’s like the old days again before I knew about this management. I’m on vacation, and then, WHAM! I get an extremely important call from the apartment telling me I urgently have to do something. You’re not even in the state? Well who cares, we’re towing your car anyways!! I’m not a good writer, more of a businessman so I cannot accurately portray here how horrendous this management is. Just believe me. So this leaves me at a crossroads. What should I do?? What should you do, person looking for an apartment in Arlington? I wish I could tell you. Maybe make one of those list about your life priorities and rank them to decide what is most important for you. Lame I know, but I really cant think of any other way to figure this out. Flip a coin? Rock, paper, scissor? It’s up to you.