Potomac Towers

Current Resident 405193

Resident • 2017 - 2019

ATTENTION: As of Jan. 2019 the pictures you see are digitally created mock ups.. this is not reality!! What you will find instead is open hanging wires, holes in the wall, trash rooms closed, elevators shut down. If you want a 'luxury' building go elsewhere. Here is where you can find painted over mold, roaches, and disrespectful staff. Please check out the yelp reviews if you don't believe me.

Cjmyster77

Resident • 2019

I've lived here for almost two years. Aside from the constant (large) cockroaches and spiders I had to deal with in my apartment on the second floor, the renovations are the worst aspect so far. Management has not been transparent with everything these renovations would entail. They describe their renovations in phases, however that is very disorganized. Phase 3 is happening in my apartment now without phase 2 ever happening which has been an even bigger nightmare for some residents. The original timeline they gave to residents has been changed and many residents have voiced their frustrations to management and have been ignored. My husband and I have taken on extra costs due to the renovations and we have had to buy hanging racks for clothes since one of our closets is no longer accessible to us for the next 3 months. This is not a place I would recommend to anyone.

Current Resident 382532

Resident • 2019

Do not live here, the rent is certainly not worth the poor living arrangements and mistreatment by the management. I did not receive any notice of when the construction in my apartment would start or end and when I asked management for a timetable, they frankly did not care at all about how a unwanted renovation in my apartment would effect my living situation.

mshann01

Resident • 2019

I lived in this apartment for about 3 years. I made the choice to move out recently. If amenities are your thing then this could be the place for you in the future. However future residents should be warned that there is a lot of construction going on and if you have pets babies or telework this is not the place for you. I have always loved the maintenance staff and the folks at the front desk. But it seemed since the renovations started that the customer service was lacking. I still have emails that were unanswered and issues left unresolved so I just gave up and moved out. If you are someone with a physical disability this place is no longer accessible. There is no laundry room access on the first floor, no trash disposal either so you will have to wait a really long time for the elevator or take it out back and in the snow and ice that just not easy. My biggest problem was the communication and that really no one took the effort to ask me what I needed or tell me in advance that these changes were on the horizon.

Sabbytsaj

Resident • 2019

I've lived here for almost 3 years. Since the fall of 2018, Potomac Towers Apartments in #Arlington, #Virginia (#DC) has undertaken a massive renovation project negatively affecting all residents. In the elevators and hallways, I often hear my neighbors share harrowing stories of how they have been (mis)treated by the apartment management. Construction projects without consent from residents (these #renovations are neither "necessary" nor "agreed upon") are taking place in our lobby, business center, gym, basement, hallways, apartments, private spaces, etc. Some common recurring themes that I've heard from fellow neighbors about the management office at Potomac Towers run by Bell Partners include: -The lack of transparency and communication; -Bad customer service (the worst!) -Deteriorating trustworthiness under Bell Partners; -Disregard for resident quality of life and privacy creating massive inconveniences; -Violations of lease terms; -And criminal activities such as theft. We had our internet modem stolen during the ongoing renovations and aside from asking the construction team about it, the management office did nothing to address this. In addition to the long list of management problems, the building is old and has increasing mold and leakage issues. We had #mold in our apartment. While the maintenance team treated it by scraping the mold and painting over it, we were never given a response from the management about mold testing and levels despite asking almost 10 times. Mold can cause serious health issues and needs to be taken seriously! Unfortunately the apartment management did not. Make sure you look elsewhere for an apartment!

Current Resident 27458

Resident • 2018

Moving into this building is the worst decision I have ever made. I signed my lease two months before they announced massive renovations which will take over a year to complete. I was never informed of any renovations upon move in and would never have signed up to live through this nightmare. One of the main features of the building stressed to me upon inspection was how quiet and safe the building is, however I haven't needed to set an alarm for the past 5 months due to my 830am jackhammers wake up calls. Unauthorized and unwanted construction members have walked into my unit unannounced on multiple occasions and there is trash all over the halls. I do not feel safe here. I can't sleep here. I want my money back.

Current Resident 212352

Resident • 2016 - 2017

I have lived on the first floor of this building for about a year and a half. This building falls seriously short of offering a baseline of acceptable housing. Pros: -Great Location -Ample parking and pretty reasonable price to get closer spot near front door Cons: -$1500 a month buys you the following: -Roaches: These photos are just a taste of what you can expect. We have seen at least a dozen massive roaches during our year and a half here. Always during the spring/summer. Roaches carry feces and disease, of course - this drastically reduces our quality of life. The response we've received from management makes us feel as though it's not a priority. "Pest control comes once a week" is the response. This makes us feel like we are talking to an employee at the DMV rather than a company trying to earn our business. We've seen roaches cruising in through the loading dock (where the doors remain wide open at all hours). We've seen them in stairwells. And of course, we've seen them in our apartment, in the bathroom, near the A/C. The understanding by the pest control person is to place roach traps near the A/C unit, which tells you where this problem is emanating from. I can only imagine the number of roaches living in this building based on just the number we have seen. -HVAC: Speaking of the A/C. It seems like a device that is designed to spew humidity rather than cool air. Without the dehumidifier that we purchased with our own money, the humidity would regularly be well over 70. We have to empty it every day when everyone is using their A/C in the building. No wonder the roaches like coming in so much: they feel right at home in this humidity. Also, there is no way to clear humidity out of the bathrooms because there is no fan installed. My understanding was that code required there to be a fan installed in bathrooms. Part of the reason we purchased the dehumidifier. -Customer service: there are two people in particular who offer great customer service all of the time: Chris and Shawn. However, when I first moved into this building, I got there early to sign my lease and one of the office employees asked me, "Why are you here so early?!" like I did something wrong. "Just trying to sign my lease and move in so I can overpay for housing, thanks!" That is when I should have run, not walked, from this place, thinking back. Also, fire the lady who works weekends. She is utterly useless.

Current Resident 516900

Resident • 2014 - 2017

I moved from Florida to VA and during the search for an apartment I found this apartment to be the best choice. The staff is very professional and have always been courteous. The property is ideal for folks who like to walk and use public transportation. In addition there is plenty of groceries stores, restaurants, and social public places within walking distance. The property provides nice looking apartments and plenty of parking.

Current Resident 496657

Resident • 2013 - 2017

Serious issues going on with people from other apartments coming over to use the back are of the apartments. I have sent several emails and complaints to the staff with zero change. People from other apartments bring their dogs over. That's fine if they are coming with people who live here. 99% of the time they are coming on their own and letting their dogs off leash to go to the bathroom and not cleaning it up. Unacceptable that they are even allowed on our property. I understand enforcing this is difficult but the staff isn't even trying at this rate. Please consider fencing off the back area (where you need to use fob to get through) to keep non-residents out. I live in the basement and do not feel safe because there is no enforcement keeping only residents in the back area. There is a Bernice mountain dog back there every morning that barks and wakes up the whole apartment (they do not live in this building). If people want to use the property, they should live at Potomac Towers.

John W_D

Resident • 2013 - 2017

Would not recommend living here. Kids on the 9th floor play soccer in the hallway every days. Every time you call the front desk they say they are 'sending someone' to look at it. Kids continue kicking a ball into a metal door at the end of the hall and none of the staff do anything about it. One of the washers on my floor has been broken for six months. They 'repair' it and take the broken sign off it and its filled with water the next day, not draining. If you live below the fifth floor you will find cockroaches in the hallways outside your trash room. If you walk through the basement lobby before 7 or 8 am you will see them there too before the cleaning staff comes through. The gym is also not worth it. Half the equipment is broken.

Current Resident 970308

Resident • 2012 - 2017

Serious elevator issues- 1) one elevator has been broken for almost 3 moths - I have waited over 10 minutes several times (especially when someone is moving, then down to 1 elevator) 2) other 2 "working" elevators have issues - 3 times in the past 2 months all lights in elevator have shut off and elevator has shot down to the basement 3) many of the buttons' lights are broken in the elevators 4) no status on fixes for the elevators have been sent to residents Trash issues- 1) dumpsters are always overflowing, with black trash bags all around the back entrance 2) worried it's going to attract mice and other rodents and then they will come into the building 3) smells and looks bad I understand this apartment complex has cheap rent, but these 2 situations have been terrible lately and really hindering many tenants' views of the new management. Cheap at a cost to our santity, health and safety. Hope it all gets better soon

jenkaylee

Resident • 2003 - 2016

I have to write a review about this place because it was home for 13 years. I've been through management changes, policy changes, upgrades, improvements, renovations, moves. I've seen Clarendon go from a place no one would care (or dare?) to walk around at night (sometimes in the daytime either) to a booming, glitzy, swanky, place-to-be. Potomac Towers seriously rocks! Over the years, I considered moving and looked around and still came back to feeling lucky I lived in PT's. There really isn't a better deal in town for the amenities, proximity to everything, the sq. ft per apartments, parking, pool, convenience store, laundry (on every floor that works, is clean, available), dog-friendly (but see policy on dog restrictions now), and people friendly :-). The apartments are clean, always freshly painted and updated, cleaned before move-in, beautiful parquet wood floors, big windows, clean working appliances. If something does't work, call maintenance and they are practically at the door before you hang-up or have the request submitted. The chief maintenance personnel, Salvatore and Jose, are awesome! All the maintenance and service people are dependable, courteous, efficient and work hard. Chris and Daryl in the front office are soooo helpful and fun to talk to. I can't say enough about their overall supervision of the building operations, tenant issues, etc. I'm going to miss everyone. Security is on the ball. Like anywhere, there will be noisy tenants. One call to the front desk to complain or report an issue, and security is up and looking for the noise and/or asking/warning the tenants about the noise. The back park is huge! Lots of green space to play with kids, have picnics, play with dogs. Lots of great dogs and owners - I had a lot of fun watching my dog play with her friends. If anyone complains harshly about this place, it could be they tried to break a rule, get out of something, or broke a rule/policy and was confronted about it and is pissed. It's on them not the building/management. Anyway - I'd have stayed, but family needs me in Reston. Hope you enjoy living there as much as I did!

Current Resident 661215

Resident • 2014 - 2016

I have been living in this building for 2 years now and its been wonderful here. The maintenance staff, cleanliness and the area around the building is excellent. No complains at all.

Current Resident 253416

Resident • 1999 - 2015

I have lived at Potomac Towers since 1999. This is a nice place to live. They take good care of the building. It's quiet except for an occasional airplane.

Current Resident 71074

Resident • 2014 - 2015

I've had an amazing year here at Potomac Towers. I love my unit, itself, and the grounds. I definitely feel safe with the complex and the neighborhood. I'll definitely be extending my lease! Like a few other reviews here, I am unhappy with the utilities company and how expensive it costs, but in the scheme of things, it could be worse.

tombstone1906

Resident • 2003 - 2015

I have been here for over 10 years and thoroughly enjoy it!!! The staff is friendly and the maintenance is on point. I am moving on with my life and will be leaving Potomac Towers very soon. I am moving because I am purchasing a house and my closing date is almost here. The only issue that I have are the utilities. The utilities sub-metering seems unfair and the water bill portion is about $60/month which is extremely high for an apartment. Even with that, I will miss my time here, but definitely will recommend this to anyone!!!!!

Johnny Cleaver

Resident • 2014 - 2015

I am a current tenant at the Towers. This is the best value in the area - hands down. My friend lived here before me and told me the price was hard to beat given the location and parking situation. I did my due diligence, researched for a few months and sure enough, he was right. 10 minute walk to Courthouse metro and parking is included without reserved spots. You can park wherever and there are always plenty of spots. Yes, that means no hassle/free parking within 10 minutes of a metro stop in Arlington which is enough right there to justify the price of this place. Great customer service, especially Chris. They are always very responsive and were able to modify my lease when I changed my mind on how long I wanted to stay. A year later and I am about to renew. Some reviews I just read complain about the gym and rooftop. Yes, the gym is subpar, but you are paying around $1,600 for a single or about $2,000 or less for a double so let's be real, you get what you pay for. Also regarding the comment about the rooftop being open for 3 hours a year... that's completely false. I'm up there all the time ;) One thing I will say that I have seen in other reviews is the utilities issue during the winter months. Apparently they can't tell who is using what because I didn't turn my heat on ONCE during the whole winter and somehow the bill was higher than it is during the summer...that is the one negative truth on here some people have noted. However, like I said before, you get what you pay for and this place is the best value around. I am always looking and I can't seem to leave the Towers. The place is legendary and a few tenants know how to have a good time from what I've experienced.

1288812

Resident • 2013 - 2015

As long as you don't have to interact with the staff at this building, it is a decent apartment. I love my living space, but I find the staff are not well-informed and are completely not empowered to make meaningful decisions. Often when I ask questions I'm left with the answer, "I wish I had an answer for you."--then there is no follow up. The rent keeps changing every year as Potomac Towers tries to compete with surrounding complexes, but their amenities cannot justify the price increase. The gym is a joke--it's super small and the machines constantly creak. Instead of updating the equipment, the building renovated a new open space in the basement. They seem to be putting money into cosmetic improvements rather than upgrades that would actually impact my quality of life in this apartment complex.

Current Resident 500552

Resident • 2014 - 2015

As if the holidays aren't hectic enough, I had the stress of moving to Virginia in mid-December. My transition from my previous property to Potomac Towers was seamless thanks to the staff. Chris issued the lease quickly and was responsive to all questions. Having lived in the community for two months now, I really have no complaints. The front desk staff are very nice. All maintenance requests have been addressed within hours. I really appreciate the Court House neighborhood and the building's proximity to the Custis Trail. You really can't beat the value for the price.

RebeccaBW

Resident • 2012 - 2014

I've been very happy living in Potomac Towers for about 2 years, and my husband lived here a year or two before I moved in. The open kitchen is great, with plenty of cabinet space, renovated just before we moved in. I think the refrigerator is ¾ size, but it's fine, and the dishwasher works well without pre-washing. We're in a 1-bedroom, 700 square foot apartment which feels spacious. The convenience of both free parking and being able to walk to the metro in under 15 minutes can't be beat. Building staff are friendly and professional, important maintenance requests are handled promptly. Common areas are well kept and neighbors are generally quiet, although during the day there are times when construction noise is annoying. Convenient laundry rooms on every floor, as well as trash rooms, plus a small store with dry cleaning services in the basement. The fitness center is the only area I think could be improved, it's small and only has a handful of cardio machines. On the other hand, we are right next to a walking/biking trail. Never had an issue with bugs or rodents here. I feel perfectly safe in the building and the neighborhood in general. The building is well-insulated; we rarely turn the heat on in the winter. It's true the heat/AC switch happens late, but when we asked about it, they said it had to do with county regulations on needing to provide heat until a certain time of year, so the reviewers who are complaining about this need to take that into account. It's a relatively minor issue. I think the reviewers who are complaining about the cost of rent here are unrealistic. Perhaps long-term residents haven't researched the price of housing in a while. I've done a lot of shopping around and Potomac Towers is a good value, on the low end of prices for high-rise buildings in walking distance to the Orange line in this area. Utilities are just a cost of doing business, it's hard to find a building now that doesn't charge you separately for them, so I feel some people are overreacting about them (if $50-80 breaks your budget, you've got bigger problems!). We are only moving because we are having a baby and want a more spacious 2-bedroom than this building offers. I would readily recommend the building to friends.

potomactowersunhappy

Resident • 2011 - 2014

I am a current tenant in the building. Management: The management of this building is dishonest. This past month our utility bill was 4 TIMES what it normally is. The management told all residents to file all complaints with the utility metering company "Studebaker Submetering". Upon contacting Studebaker sub metering we were told that "The property ran out of their heating source and had to purchase oil for the use of heat for the apartment. The property is just now receiving these bills for that purchase, which is why you see it on your bill now. The property instructed us to break the cost down for three months. Meaning the next two bills will have an increase in HVAC." $180 a month is RIDICULOUS for utility charges for a one bedroom apartment! Even more ludicrous is that the management KNEW this increased HVAC charge was about to be dumped on all the residents for THREE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS and didn't have the decency to at least warn residents that it was coming or explain what was going on. They tried to pawn all responsibility off on the utility metering company. Completely dishonest and unfortunately an accurate representation of how the rest of this building is managed as well. On a separate note the maintenance staff is very responsive however the HVAC units in the building are very old. The unites are covered with mold every summer when the AC is on and despite filing multiple complaints with management and the maintenance staff they do not replace them they simply keep cleaning it off every few months. Location: The location is fine but there is a lot of noise from route which runs just behind the building. Amenities: They are over valued by the building. The "gym" is small and has very old equipment that barely works and no free weights. The roof patio is NEVER open except for 3 hours on July 4th every year to watch fireworks. The pool is nice though is not heated and often too cold to be comfortable. Overall I would NOT recommend that you move into this building.

bobbill576

Resident • 2011 - 2014

The utilities are billed by a company called "Studebaker Submetering". The algorithm that the company uses does not accurately asses the use of HVAC and we were slammed this month when the building has the heat on but it has been so warm that our windows are always open and the heat is off 100% of the time. The algorithm records our temperature as being the 75 degrees that it is outside and our HVAC portion of the bill was ridiculously high. This company borders on scamming tenants. They are always late turning on the AC in the spring which is BS considering that everyone pays utilities. The amenities are mediocre and overvalued by the building. The gym was recently repainted but the equipment is ancient and half of it does not work properly. There are no free weights, only 3 weight machines.

Nawfi

Resident • 2013 - 2014

See the video in this link : http://youtu.be/IMvYYLpdaNY I've been in the area for quite some time, and this is by far the worst building I lived in. It's old, smelly and surrounded by all kind of noise and pollution sources. If you have allergies (like myself) this building and its surroundings will just make it worse. The building is overlooking the highway (I-66) and Route 50 (Lee Highway). It's also right underneath the path of planes heading to DCA airport, which can be very unpleasant and noisy (it's worth noting that studies have associated airplane noise with many diseases such as infertility). The noise factor from the Highway can be also very disturbing, as half the building is facing the I-66. In my case, I can't even open the windows given the surreal noise I get. The AC system in the units is old, outdated and represents a health hazard. The amount of allergens it releases is just alarming. I once opened the upper cover of my AC unit and was shocked to see that its home to numerous little insects. Same story at the kitchen. You can't even leave a bag of flour in the cabinets. Last time I did, it was also full of insects. Plus, in the spring and fall, when temperatures get warmer, the AC would still blow hot air and you can do nothing about it even when you shut it off. The only relief from the stuffiness and heat is to open the window. And then you get the welcoming sound of car noise coming from the Highway beneath. The appliances are outdated and very bad quality. My fridge broke twice in the space of 4 months, including one time I was away on holidays. When I got back, all the food had perished and the whole apartment was smelling like hell. One neighbor even alerted the management thinking that there might be a dead body inside, given the smell that found itself to the hallway. The dishwasher is also a joke, dishes come out of it pretty much the same as they entered. The walls have cracks all over, and those by the window are getting water stains from the rain and not surprisingly mold also. The management of the building (Virginia Management) is all about profit. Move in fees ($300 non-refundable), pet fees ($500 non refundable)... and rent increases. Don't get fooled by the smoke to the eye renovation they did to the hallways and elevator, the true fact every resident knows is that it's an old, falling apart building, with units that need complete renovation and redoing. - Pet Policy : You can't really call this a pet friendly building. They don't allow "visiting pets". So if a member of your family or friend has a pet and wants to visit, they won't allow it. If you decide to have a pet, they'll charge you a $500 non-refundable fee, and increase your rent. - Parking : It's only outdoor and free (for now) but be aware. Your car will be damaged if you have an SUV or a large Sedan. I had to get rid of my Ford Edge because it was collecting scratches and dings all over in the parking lot. - Bike storage : it's smelly, dusty and non safe. My $600 Mountain Bike front wheel was stolen (lock broken), and another bike near by also stolen. The management did absolutely nothing about it. They simply don't care. - Maintenance : The maintenance people are doing their best, but again, they can't do much about such an old, breaking apart building. - Move in / Move out : If you're moving in, you'll have a crazy time moving your large furniture through the narrow floor hallways and through the tiny doors of the apartments. If by any miracle you manage to get them through, you'll probably have to leave them behind when you're moving out. They won't go out through the tiny narrow door. Advice : keep looking and move along! There are several other decent and affordable options in the area.

Current Resident 750224

Resident • 2010 - 2014

I've lived in a 2 bedroom unit with various roommates since 2010, and have been nothing but satisfied. They started directly charging us for utilities last year, but gave ample notice and also didn't raise our rent that year, so it wasn't a big problem. Maintenance is crazy fast, and the people at the front desk are great as well. The walls are cement, so not a lot of noise comes through unless it's really loud (ie child having a tantrum type thing). It's priced lower than a lot of comparable places in the area, and is kept up very well. Really not sure what some of the bad reviews are talking about.

Current Resident 62740

Resident • 2011 - 2013

The ONLY media option in this building is Comcast whose customer service continues to deteriorate and whose prices continue to rise. If you want competition go to a building that offers choices. When I moved here in 2011 my rent was $1600 including utilities for a 1BR. In June 2012 my rent went up to $1680 and my lease went month-to-month as I had understood it to do after I did my first year in contract. In 2012 (two weeks before Christmas) the company announced their intent to start charging for utilities. The notice provided few details about how that would be implemented and left many questions. Many tenants, including longtime tenants, moved out. In addition to the utility charges the company also changed the provisions on the lease so that you could not longer stay in your month-to-month status without a premium ($100) attached to your rent. This was apparently their way of locking people into a lease that required utility payments. I chose to continue month-to-month and pay the penalty. When I got my first utility bill it included $50 (read FIFTY DOLLARS) for water charges. I had been conservative with my AC the month prior thinking that the bulk of my utility fees would come from the electricity, which I can control through usage. The water bill is based on a collective use for the entire building and tenants have NO CONTROL over how much other tenants are using. As a result I am paying FIFTY bucks for one month of WATER in a single-occupied 1BR unit. My total bill was 80 bucks, but think about this: If you like using heat or AC without needing to be conservative with either one, your bill will most likely be higher than 80 bucks. If you live in a 2BR or larger, your WATER bill will be higher than 50 bucks., I don't consider this a luxury building. It's pretty old, my unit has hardwood floors and the renovations that were done were not extravagant by any means. The bathrooms weren't upgraded and are still the same old style as prior to renovation. I'm staying here temporarily as I'm trying to move out of the area and don't want to move twice, but I will move soon either way.