Alister Arlington Ridge

CountryClubTowersBITES

Resident • 2004 - 2006

WORST PLACE EVER!!!!!!!!!! DON'T BE A FOOL.

I actually searched for a place like apartmentratings.com where I could voice how bad I hate this place. I signed a year long lease for a unit on the top floor. But come moving day, I arrived to find out that the place wasn't ready for me. So they broke the lease and then said they could put me in another unit. So I stupidly agreed not knowing where else to go.<br><br>Parking is minimal. I paid the extra $50 a month for an assigned spot, which bites. But then construction began and my vehicle was constantly covered in cement dust. <br><br>Construction is never ending but that doesn't keep the rent from continuously increasing. And this, in my opinion, was just dehumanizing. <br><br>The elevators are faulty. This may seem like a small thing till you have to use them everyday. When you want to go up, the elevators often times takes you down to the first floor. I even got stuck on the damn thing. When I complained to management, they just shrugged it off.<br><br>I know of two occasions where Management and/or Staff came into my apartment without any prior notice. They may have even come in more often for all I know. Nothing was taken but it still is troubling to know that people are going through your things when you aren't there. So I complained and asked them to call before hand, and they just shrugged it off.<br><br>I frequently received letters from WRIT (the management company) stating that I owed them money, when I didn't. Evidently, there was a communication problem between the local management at Country Club Towers and the upper management, which means that you are responsible for sending letters to WRIT explaining to them such things like you won the parking raffle and don’t have to pay for parking this month. <br><br>On numerous occasions the laundry equipment was broken. One washing machine was broken for over a month. I notified management and was told that the tenants are responsible for calling the maintenance men. <br><br>And I could go on and on, but I hope you get the point. DON'T LIVE HERE YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!!!!! <br>

Current Resident 246990

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Disgusted with WRIT

Be warned... Country Club Towers has been a loud and inconvenient construction zone for nearly a year now (see previous reviews for details) Now we have received notice from the management letting us know that they are going to be digging up the main lobby of the building for the next 6-8 weeks (which in my experience means 3-4 months) for repairs. Furthermore, they have advised us that they anticipate the vibrations from this project to be substantial and recommend essentially "earthquake proofing" our apartments (i.e. removing breakables from shelves, securing less stable furniture). Call me crazy, but I find it inconscionable that this company continue to charge full rent (not to mention rope poor new residents into leases) when the building is in such a state. Did I mention that they are also planning to close portions of the garage (parking is already a nightmare) and likely the business center as well? Of course they won't tell you about any of this before you sign the lease...<br>It's not worth the headache (literally!) of living here, folks. Look elsewhere.

Current Resident 223213

Resident • 2006

Front Desk Staff Is Pain... Rent out if u are willing to let down by poor customer service

I stayed for 3 months in this complex. Right from signing lease to vacating the apartement, I got poor customer service from frontdesk. The staff will not care about you, or your appointments...and will not make any effort to do so. If you wish to deal with unfreindly staff, feel free to rent out there. On 2 fronts I will give them 5 star - gym room and overall cleaniness, Well managed. But customer service is poor.

arlingtonmove

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Not so great .. ROP

I moved in almost 2 years ago, because it was affordable. The fitness center is great. They keep the building clean. Laundry rooms are good. Hardly any neighbor noise - built with concrete. They've done a great job with maintenance requests. You have to be patient with the front desk staff if you want your packages-they're a bit weird. <br><br>I wasn't expecting luxury. However, I wouldn't recommend moving into this building until the renovations are complete. I left my window open one day during Spring, came home from work and the entire apt had an inch of concrete dust from the construction. Even with the windows closed the dust seeps in and it smells bad too. I have garage parking, so not so bad, but it's been really rough on tenants and visitors parking outside - at this moment the building is offering zero outside parking. The balcony's are now being installed and it's looking OK, but they need to paint the outside. As you drive by it looks tacky. The construction noise during the day is awful - they don't work Friday's, which helps. Not sure what's up with the pool because they renovated last year and it looked nice, but they just closed it down for repairs again. I don't have to deal with office staff much, but they appear rude when I see them around. From what I hear, the property manager has been there forever. They don't replace bathroom light bulbs anymore. Construction will begin next year on new condos across the street, so that'll probably be a new headache. So, beware, because they'll tell you anything to get you to sign the lease. Also, ask them about the carpet cleaning fee - they won't tell you about it upfront, but stick it to people the day they sign the lease. Basically, it's an agreement you sign saying you'll pay a fee to them or clean the carpet yourself when you move out.

Current Resident 620263

Resident • 2006

Worst place ever

I actually would like to give 'minus five' point for the rating, but the lowest option I can choose from is 'one'.<br><br>Anyone who is interested in living here, I have to tell you - after you sign the lease, you're in HELL.

Current Resident 614838

Resident • 2006

HORRIBLE

Don't live here!! They promised us our deck would be ready by mid june when we moved in around may and it's not even close to being finished they haven't even started on it. They closed the pool in the middle of the summer for "repairs" yet I haven't seen anyone working on it. Parking was suppossed to be free but know that they are doing construction on the garage the "free" parking spots will no longer be available and now we have to pay for garage spots that we dont even want. They have a coffee machine downstairs and that is about it but they are so ---- they pay someone to remove all the coffee packets from it at 10:00am on the dot on weekends even. I mean really are they losing that much $ just because maybe like 5 people get coffee after 10?? Management has an excuse for everything but never does anything...they are also very rude as well and just shoe you off. They make promises they cant and know they wont keep so they'll get your money and just blame it on the construction workers and the weather...I could understand a few rainy days but 3 months later still no deck that I am paying for????? At least give me a discount but no way would that happen. Everyone Ive ran into in that building cant stand the managemant and are very angry with the customer service and the promises for decks, a pool , and free parking that aren't even true or even exsist.

Current Resident 609382

Resident • 2006

Stay away!

The management people can turn your stay into a nightmare. They will cause you big trouble out of every little things and details. They'll do anything to get your money, and once they get it, you're just an invisible person.<br><br>Parking is also a nightmare.

happytobehere78

Resident • 2006

bad

crap

Current Resident 405774

Resident • 2006

DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T

It is very close to I3395. The building is well kept. The room is ok.<br><br>BUT........................<br><br>1. The management people who seems very nice to you before you sign the lease, will change into a totally different person after that. They'll be hard to get along with. If you ask them for anything when they're showing a prospect-tenant around, you'll be practically invisible. If they even listen to you during any occasions, they'll just ignore what you say. For instance, one of the computers in the business center doesn't work, just because they give us the wrong password so that we can't logon. All they have to do is give us the correct password, but it's been month now and they don't do anything. The printer is out of ink for weeks; we keep telling them a zillion time but they don't do anything.<br><br>2. It's noisy the entire day.<br><br>3. When you sign the lease, they'll force you to sign an agreement that you'll have to pay an extra $75 for them to clean the carpet when you move out.<br><br>4. They'll start to charge for ALL utilities after this December.<br><br>5. If there's a parcel sending to you when you're not home, you'll have to claim it from someone they hire to sit at the front desk after hour. This person is useless and doesn't take good care of your stuff. (I don't know why they hire him. He just sits there doing nothing. Even when you're carrying things and cannot open the building entrance door, he just sits there and look, that's all) They even state in the lease agreement that they hire this person as a ‘courtesey' to you, and they will not take ANY responsibility if your stuff is lost or broken. And they mean it.<br><br>6. After you sign the lease, they'll not give you the key to your mailbox until you turn in the form that you have to note any defects in your apartment unit. So you'll have to rush to survey such defects and then find out later that there're a lot of defects that you should've noted in the form.<br><br>7. Parking is HELL. Parking space may seem adequate if you come during the day. But after 6PM, don't even think to find a parking spot. There <br>actually is some free space but they won't allow you to park. You'll have to end up parking in the street which is very very close to a bad neighborhood, at your own risk.<br><br>6. Your guest can't stay over. Even if your visitor can manage to find a parking spot during the day, they'll have to move their car out before midnight, or the car will be towed.<br><br><br>If you're thinking of becoming a resident here, think again.<br><br>

Current Resident 270461

Resident • 2005 - 2006

I initially enjoyed my time at Country Club Towers (I moved in last summer). However, since January living here has become intolerable. Jackhammering in the parking lot starts at 8am during the week and continues with little break until about 4pm. As a college stundent who also works from home, I have had to resort to wearing earplugs all day (which really only take the noise level from "ear-splitting" to "extremely loud"). Moreover, by the time they finish the construction on my side of the building, my lease will be up and I'll be faced with a rent increase and have to pay for all utilities. Also, I understand that they are closing the pool in July for construction... meaning more jackhammers, I'm assuming. If you plan to be home during the day at all (or think that you will ever want to sleep in a little or stay home sick during the week) this is not the place for you.

Current Resident 495895

Resident • 2005 - 2006

the manager is scary

the manager of the building is an odd-behaved, ogre of a person with no social skills. (kind of like a warden) Everyone avoids her. The building is nice though, and so are most of the people who work there. Definitely clean, despite the fact that it's pretty old.

Current Resident 59043

Resident • 2004 - 2006

overall good place except for the staff

I have lived in the Country Club for over 2 years. Overall I have enjoyed my time here, Parking is normally not a problem except for right now. They are doing all kinds of construction on the place and it has made it ridiculously hard to park!<br>The apartments are old but clean. The building has been renovated and the common areas are nice. Things breakdown often (ie. disposals) but maintence is wonderful.<br>The only person who is a pill to work with is Laila the property manager! Ask anyone they will tell you the same.

Current Resident 9939

Resident • 2006

Upon first moving into the complex, I found my initial experience enjoyable. I myself don’t have much to complain about the leasing manager, maybe I just haven’t experienced it yet, however the rest of the staff I can’t really say the same. Though there are a couple exceptions with one particular lady who works mostly on weekends at the front desk, whom I might add is incredibly friendly and a delight to talk to, I can only wish the older gentlemen at the front desk, not to mention the remaining leasing agents were more attentive and be as helpful as this one particular lady(Tasha) that used to work there, yet for some reason left. Maybe there were things she knew that just couldn’t take it any more. Regardless I have found my stay here as sub par. Location is good, I love Arlington, I hate the parking here, the majority of the staff, construction is atrocious, not to mention untimely, rent goes up every year, utilities are to change from included w/rent to additional monthly costs. Needless to say, I have saved my pennies long enough and it’s time for me to own and stop wasting money, once my lease ends, .bye bye Country Club Towers… Well..that’s life.

Current Resident 516419

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Honest opinion

Not a super fancy place, but has charm and rent is fair. They are undergoing renovations in the garage, outside parking lot and balconies. I feel very sorry for those who are home during 9-5 as the noise is deafening. Most work estimated to be complete by Summer, but who knows. Rent currently includes utilities, but in the Fall they will begin billing tenants around $47 for utilities. Overall, the building is well maintained. Fitness center is great. They have someone working the lobby desk most evenings so you can pick-up packages. I don't suggest renting a unit facing back of building - too loud with sirens, etc. The windows need to be replaced - they are old and don't control noise or drafts. Neighbors are nice and keep to themselves. Units are solid concrete, so rare to hear anyone. My only sore spot is with the leasing office - they lack decent people skills.

CGreene

Resident • 2004 - 2005

The building is nice and well maintained. The price is great for what I get. The service of the property manager is disappointing to say the least. She has often times been rude and nasty, and not at all concerned about customer service. The rating of the property is positive, the rating of the property manager is NEGATIVE!!!

Current Resident 323913

Resident • 2005

the person down there probably is the manager

I lived there for a year pre-garage construction and DEFINITELY felt very unsafe. Yes, there was a church. But a church does not make a neighborhood safe. I definitely saw a couple hit and runs to parked cars, etc.

Current Resident 253237

Resident • 2004

Good Review......Pros and Cons

For the price, I think it's a good deal. It's an older building that has been well-kept and has charm with shuddered doors, boxy kitchens and subway tiles in the bathroom. <br><br>I moved in a month ago; unit was clean and move-in ready; no bugs or rodents in-sight. Laundry rooms are always clean and available for the most part - weekend mornings are busiest; the building hallways and lobby area are spotless; quiet building and thick concrete walls prevent noise from neighbors; fitness center is great; I paid extra for a garage spot, which is great as I noticed that the outside lot gets filled up by 11pm during the week. I watch the tow-truck drive thru every night. I mainly take stairs, but elevators seem speedy. Tenants vary from yuppie, elderly and students....you have to like multi-cultural environments. Easy access to 395 and shopping center right down the street, which is really convenient.<br><br>Neighborhood is OK. Not safe to walk around. Rumor is that the city is planning to remove EconoLodge and build new townhouse/apt. complex across the street. The windows are flimsy, outside sirens, honking is pretty hard to ignore - they need to install better windows; the property manager is kinda spooky/unapproachable - the leasing agent is better. The day I moved in they made me sign a document stating I would pay a hefty carpet cleaning fee, since my unit got brand new carpet. Very sleazy; that's something they should have told me upfront. <br>

paul8539

Resident • 1982 - 2002

Good old place; Bad old place

I stayed there for quite a few years. I have been reading some of the other responses, particularly the problems, and in many cases they are right. The Manager's son is nosy and complains about anything. When I first got there, the roach problem was just about out of control; their roach powder didn't work. I bought some Combat Roach cookies, planted them, and from then on, only saw maybe 4 or 5 roaches a year. I have never had a problem with mice.<br><br>Parking: I had my own place underground, at an extra $30 a month. When my father came to visit for a couple of weeks, he had to rent an additional space for a month because they have only 4 visitor parking places after 5PM. Visitor parking is almost non-existent. If you get a visitor and the 4 places are filled, they have to park out on the street.<br><br>Noise: I got some noise from the street frequently. Sometimes, I could hear the neighbors on one side cavorting in the shower. Nothing from the neighbors on the other side. The fire alarms can be heard loud and clear in most cases.<br><br>Grounds: Usually well kept. Once when a brick wall of the first floor patio fell over in a thunderstorm, it took them a week to clean it up; and over a month to replace it.<br><br>Safety: There were a few car thefts in the garage over the years. One murder in the building (a hooker by a john). Some assaults. When I first got there, they had a night security guard. When the new manager came, she got rid of him because she didn't think he was needed. After several years, they installed a 'night desk'; the individual there just watched monitors and passed out packages. One night when I came to complain that someone was parked in my assigned place, the woman there (been in the US for less than a year, little English) didn't understand what I was saying. The building itself is located at the edge of a bad neighborhood. Two locks on every door.<br><br>Construction: The building itself is strong steel and cement; not the wood tinderboxes that you see being build now. Pre-stressed concrete floors. The elevators sometimes are very slow.<br><br>Maintenance: Here is where I had the problem. I would sometimes have to complain more than once to get something fixed. An electric socket took 4 months; a light switch a year (the assistant/sales agent just kept telling me to change the bulb; it wasn't the bulb). The dishwasher broke down, and they said they would replace it; it was broke for over a year when I moved out, and still was not fixed. In the bathroom, the unit above me frequently leaked, and broke the overhead ceiling plaster. They kept having to replace it; and once when they did, they broke the toilet seat (standing on it); two days to fix that. The faucets would start to leak after a few months of being fixed; one I asked them to replace several times, but they didn't think it needed it; it finally was.<br><br>Office help: The manager was somewhat aloof, but tended to get things done. Many of the other comments are exaggerating a bit, but the overall impression is the same. The night desk personnel were nearly useless, and sometimes gave me the wrong package. They had several maintenance personnel over the years; some were better than others. The Manager did throw some good Christmas and Halloween parties.<br><br>Laundry: one room on each floor, 2 washers and dryers apiece. About once a month, I had to go to a different floor because they were all being used. Cost was 5 quarters each. Had to babysit the laundry so somebody doesn't steal something, or toss something of theirs in your dryer, and dry their stuff on your money.<br><br>Utilities: all included. This is one of the best things about this building.<br><br>Location: near I-395. They used to have a rush hour only bus route that went right by the place, but that was discontinued not quite a year ago. Nearest bus stop is in the bad neighbornood, 2 blocks away; or walk to Shirlington (3/4 mile).<br><br>Overall: There are better places. I was out looking for other places a few times after they ticked me off with large rent increases. The rent is above average; the maintenance below expectations. This place is not a dump; no where near it. However, suggest going other places first.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Current Resident 23124

Resident • 2003 - 2004

great place

i have been here for a year now and i feel that all the complaints that people have are just because they are the type of people that have nothing better to do than to complain. i have loved my stay here at CCT. this is a very well kept place and the management is great. they finally got rid of the old assitent and got a new one. the staff there is great respond very fast and are friendly as well. they always have smiles on their faces. i will tell anyone who is looking for a place to rent to come to Country Club Towers, this is a great place to live especially now that they have done the common areas.

Current Resident 947484

Resident • 2004

People..let's take responsibility

First of all, let's just say you can't please everyone. I believe management has worked very hard to keep consistency @ our community. Those who are complaining are the ones who do not adhere to rules and regulations. Buy a home!! <br><br>If you have problems in your apartment, contact management. Utilize management...they are here to provide us customer service. Why would anyone want alcohol on the premises. Our community looks great and when alcohol is present it attracts the unwanted.<br><br>As any community that has done construction, you will get pest. I belive management has been consistent and sypathetic to our needs in resolving this matter. It is not infested!! There is a problem, no doubt, but I believe management has control of the situation.<br><br>These problems can happen anywhere, even through homeownership, then who will you blame then?<br><br>The manager is consistent, stern, policy driven but yet she addresses the needs of the residents. I would rather of this in a manager rather than someone who will let anyone destroy our community, our home.<br><br>Country Club Towers, keep up the good work!

blank202

Resident • 2004

Management is misunderstood

I think you are all being way too harsh on the manager. So what if she likes to wash down her turkey with a gallon of milk for lunch. As long as she can do her job, that's all I care about! I think she is kind of cute!

Current Resident 27187

Resident • 2004

Nasty Management

I moved here a year ago. I will be leaving when my lease is up. The Manager here is <br>terrible. I am not sure what her name is <br>but she has a son that runs through the halls eating food and is quite a character. <br>The manager is always eating also. I am so upset about the parking for my guest...there is none...if you have a visitor for the weekend forget about it. I work at nights and would sure like to use the the workout room. I guess the big manager has a problem with people that are heathy and take care of there bodys. She really doesn't have to yell at people when they ask her a simple question. I know the bagel with cream cheese is in front of her and she wants to be left alone so she can inhale it...she shouldn't take things out on other people when she is hungry and that seems like it is all the time.

Current Resident 630759

Resident • 2004

Bad experience. Not worth it. Look elsewhere.

On the up side, the other tenants were real nice and the lobby looks nice. But overall, not worth it. Real nasty manager. Office staff is generally a real pain to deal with. Avoid the obese manager at all costs, she's the meanest. If you have to deal with her, speak softly and slowly and use simple words. They close the gym and rec rooms at 10pm so if you work an evening shift, or want to finish a workout or a movie or a game of pool after 10pm, forget it, they kick you out. Your friends have to pay a $35 deposit and $5 a day just to park and visit you. Unless you are willing to pay extra for the garage, you won't always be able to park in the lot. Street parking is terrible so be prepared to walk a ways into an unsavory neighborhood. Your guests will not be crazy about this, so be forewarned. Firetrucks, ambulances, police sirens at all hours. I had a package sitting in the mailroom for a week before the night watchman called me. They are supposed to leave a note in your mailbox, but don't count on it. Guess what was in the package: stale cookies, hmmm thanks a lot. Some mail just vanishes into limbo, your friends ask if you got their letter, forget it. The wallpaper in the bathroom has been peeling off the wall for three months, no action. Cracks in the walls, older building. The door to the balcony won't lock. The door to the broiler doesn't seem to even fit the stove, so forget broiling, buy a George Foreman before you move here, or better yet, don't move here. There is no fan in the bathroom so smells, shall we say, linger. They have a funky old vent that links with other people's bathrooms, disgusting, I'm amazed it's even legal. I get to hear some guy and it sounds like he's barfing about every other day. Not a real pleasant experience. They'll tow you or your guests car in a heart beat, so don't even take the chance, it's not worth the hassle. I only had one relative and a few friends visit and somehow management managed to treat them all like crap, incredible, they're batting 1000. The concepts of courtesy and professionism mean nothing to these folks so be prepared to battle for basic tenant rights. See the other notes for more horror stories. Look around, you can do better than this place, otherwise don't say I didn't warn ya.

Current Resident 200324

Resident • 1986 - 2004

My stay

I have lived at CCT for many years now and have become familiar with the staff and the building. I have enjoyed the building. The management is consistent and does not become easily influenced by the residents. The management is not partial and tries to help residents understand regualtion and will even show them that they signed a contract stating the same. My only problem is that it seems residents like to blame the management for their problems. We recieve updates on changes or need to know things and the residents disregard them.

Current Resident 843142

Resident • 2000 - 2004

cons outway the pros

Relatively cheap. For driving, good location right near 395. The surrounding areas are a little questionable. Half a block away the shops have barred windows and doors(see parking below). Good extras like gym and social room but strict rules to follow while using them. Heat/AC isn´t a problem until springtime when weather is less predictable. Management determines the date that heat being pumped to the apartment turns to A/C. In my opinion it´s easier to bundle up on 50 degree days than cool down on days in the high 80´s. A few years running they´ve waited too long to switch to A/C. Unless you want to pay extra, parking within the complex is NOT guaranteed. Expect a long walk in the cold if you?re parked down the street or take your chances with being towed at the hotel next door, whether it be you or your guests. Careful if you do find a spot on the lot; what I thought was car theft turned out to be towing by management. After just missing the renewal date for my county sticker what would have been a $25 ticket on the street became a $90 impound fee. Careful if you´re expecting any priority packages; the rental office staff during the day will refuse to give them to you, without exception. It is the job of the front desk shift which is only there at night. One plus is they do offer storage for a fee. The newly renovated areas look very nice and I dont know if there have been renovations on other apartments, but my bathroom and kitchen are outdated and years of repainting leaves a caked on look with ugly chipping. From the outside it?s a beautiful place but management, parking and mail have inspired a search for new surroundings.