Halstead Reston

Current Resident 756258

Resident • 2013 - 2014

Multiple break-ins and break-in attempts. Street complex located on, according to public records, has highest rate of crime in Reston. Greatest difficulty is Fairfax County police who are slow to react to 911 calls. This is a shame because Donna, the property manager is good and apartments are nice. And in fairness, I haven't bothered to report the incidents b/c the management company has no control over the FCP.

cynthiaparrish

Resident • 2012 - 2014

I have lived in St Johns Wood for almost two years and have no plans on leaving. the property mamager shannon is great and responded to an issue i had promply and professionally. Vanessa, the maintenance coordinator, is an absolute pleasure to deal with and goes above and beyond to assist residents. A plus guys!

halonastraus

Resident • 2009 - 2016

Living at St. Johns Wood is more like living in a condo community than the traditional apartment complex. Neighborhood is convenient. Friendly neighbors and excellent management staff.

Volant-8

Resident • 2012 - 2013

Lived in St. John's Wood only for 15 months, but enjoyed every day of it. I shopped several communities in the Reston area before selecting SJW. It made the most sense for what I was willing to spend, and the time I lived there proved I made the optimal decision. I am sorry to leave, but it's time to buy a place, so we part on nothing but the best of circumstances. The units are nice overall. Although the buildings are a little older, they are nowhere near as old as other housing stock in Reston at the same or similar price point. Age really isn't an issue as the community is very well kept and the units were retrofitted in recent years, consequently the cabinetry, stove, W/D all are nicer than expected. My unit - as with most or maybe even all units that are not on the ground floor - has a wood burning fireplace, for which the management company provides complimentary firewood. (Thanks!) In addition to the quality of the dwellings, there are lots of positives to tout about this community, among them... Location: A great shopping center is right across the street, (Hey, let's walk to Starbucks!). Parking: Lots of it, and no predatory towing to worry about. Staff: Nothing but friendly, smiling, convivial relations with the management and maintenance staff. They've been responsive to every question or need. I think they're top notch. Seriously. The walls might be little thin, the windows might be a little drafty, and the bathroom fixtures might show some age. These are complaints that apply to just about about every complex. Your mileage may vary - depending on your sensitivity to apartment living, the location of the unit, and the neighbors (mine were universally quiet and courteous). Overall, STJ compares favorably to most communities in the same market, and I would recommend that anyone in the market for a place to live take a close look.

Iamjleeds

Resident • 2014

My wife and I have been leaving here for three years and are very impressed with the curtsy and professionalism of the entire staff as well as the high level of attention paid to maintenance and facilities upkeep. For example, our heater broke last night (2-28-14) at 2:00 with temperatures at 17 degrees and I called maintenance. The friendly professional and highly skilled technician came out in the middle of the night, brought us a temporary heater, and fixed the mechanical problem in a few minutes. Refusing to even except a tips, the staff here are outstanding. While expensive, St. John's Wood is well worth the price in providing top quality living accommodation, world class customer service. I know it sounds like an advertisement but the reader is welcome to contact me directly at iamjleeds2@yahoo.com for an elaboration.

ariamoon

Resident • 2012 - 2013

St. Johns Wood was a great community and we were sad to go. We left because I didn't want to stay in Reston and frankly the rents in Northern Virginia were getting to be as bad as DC. The management staff were always attentive and helpful, the maintenance crew always fixed things on the first call (unless they have to order parts) and I only needed to call maintenance twice in the 14 months we lived there. We lived in a 1 bed/1ba. that was fine. It was a little small for us, but we made it work. The grounds are lovely and even living by Reston Pkwy, there was not a lot of noise. All in all, a great community that I would recommend to any one. I miss Eddie! He was great in helping us with whatever we needed.

RentingNRich

Resident • 2012 - 2013

I truly enjoy my apartment, but of course, there is a catch. I am in the one bedroom with a den. The bad: Carpet had a large brown stain (looks like it's from a planter) next to the door when we arrived. We have 3 outlets that do not work, a half useless screen door, a completely useless light switch in the den, tiny water heater, but worst of all a smoker. Girlfriend wants to say that the kitchen is small. (I will tell you they are very practical and get the job done, but she does cook and bake daily) The apartment one over and a floor below us is a smoker. One would never have thought that someone who only shares a one wall and is below us, could cause this problem in an apartment with a completely separate and internalized hvac system. That is the major flaw I have found with this apartment complex. It is 2013, if you allow smokers, there is NO way they should commingle with nonsmokers on an apartment campus of 10 buildings. Due to the high housing prices in VA there are quite a few families here, some worse then others. The good: Great HVAC unit (not powerful enough on the top floors)besides the fact that it is just shoving cigarette smoke around. The water pressure is on par with the best of country club showers. The stainless renovated kitchen appliances do well though the sink is the typical too shallow and cheap made faucet. Overall noise level is low but the sliding doors and windows allow plenty of screams from the Indian family below. Pet friendly for friendly pets (respectful owners clean up after their pets as well). We do have silverfish walking around, but they're rare and overall not a bother. It is very safe here, look at the crime reports info and you will agree. The complex keeps up with maintenance requests and sprays for bee's and insects often. Beautiful wooded view from our porch (on the other side of the parking lot) and our deck is a great size. The spaces are very practical, don't let the one or two angles walls scare you away, a mounted tv works very well over the fireplace. I have gone to management about the smoking issue three times, the fourth being today. So far I have had one visit from maintenance where they taped up the gaping holes in the apartment along the wall on the side above the smoker. So now every time i go into a cabinet or into the laundry room I get to stare at huge wads of duck-tape. . . In summation, I want to love this apartment, but I can't breath half the time. I have two grandparents that died of smoking and I am an asthmatic. It is ignorant that local ordinance allows smokers to commingle with nonsmokers, and even worse that the complex is so short sited that they don't have dedicated smoking buildings. After all of this, yes I would still recommend this complex, just live on the first floor and pray you aren't near a smoker. UPDATE: After the most recent visit, there was an obvious attempt to seal up the apartment! As I said in my initial review (or I should have), Eddie is great and the maintenance staff has always responded in a timely manor. With the A/C off, the foam sealant has been effective. The smoke smell was obviously creeping in due to cutting corners on the renovations.

marmatosan

Resident • 2012 - 2013

You will love this place! I recently renewed my lease because I love this place. The staff is wonderful, especially Donna and Eddie. They are always extremely helpful and patient when I have questions or need assistance. The gentleman that has come in for maintenance is also great as well. I feel safe in this apartment and I really didn't in my previous one, so that is a plus. You can't beat the location, everything is close. The grounds are well kept and very pretty. Very quiet. The apartment size is perfect for me and I love my fireplace, which I never thought I would use. I love how pet friendly they are. They have done community events although I've never been to one and they have also done cute things like candy for Valentine's day and on my birthday. I feel at home, which is the best possible recommendation I can give.

Dineshpandurangan

Resident • 2011 - 2013

We just moved but I wanted to leave a review for one of the best communities that we have lived in. Any community is only as good as the management company and the staff and the bozutto management folks at St. John woods are surely one of the best. Right from the day we took the tour they were professional and friendly. We actually booked our apartment online and completed the formalities remote without any hassles. The maintenance folks are excellent and very responsive. Very nice community amenities and upkeep. Highly recommended.

Denisey

Resident • 2011 - 2013

I moved to St.Johns Wood in 2011. I was told that the decks were being replaced before I moved in. My experience with management as been great. Yes, there has been maintenance needs in my apt but any problems have been fixed quickly, always by the next day. I love the wooded area outside of my new deck area. It's usually quiet and relaxing to sit outside. Management is always good about notifying me if there have been the rare crime issues, I am thankful for that. Donna and Eddy have always been helpful and friendly to me. Close walking trails and a carwash area are a plus for me. I chose St. Johns based on the value for the area and I can say I am very satisfied!

Current Resident 884742

Resident • 2010 - 2012

The pros: good location, spacious layout, large patios, dogs allowed (& residents pick up after their dogs),grounds are kept well, parking is never an issue The cons: Overpriced, Outdated and small fitness room, Poor management, Maintenance only works business hours during the day and will not enter an apartment to fix something if you have a pet, fixtures and appliances in apartment are cheap and break easily, Management is not as approachable (read, stiff) as they should be I've lived here almost two years and the first year was terrible with all of the construction going on. When I went to lease the apartment, there was no mention of renovation of the entire complex. Having loud construction workers outside my bedroom window at 7:00 a.m., constant banging, and disheveld grounds for a year made living here a terrible experience.

valentino46

Resident • 2012

I have lived in St. Johns Wood for about 6 months. I came from a condo/town house community so didn't know what to expect in an apartment community. I have been generally pleased and will recommend the complex to others. The front office staff is great, the location is convenient and the complex is well manicured. Any repairs that I have needed are usually completed within less than 24 hours (service staff is great) I live on the top floor and my unit does not have many shared walls so it is really quiet! There's always parking available and you feel generally safe in the complex (but always use common sense at night). I don't know how the complex deals with snow but I hope it's on par with the way the take care of the grounds. If you want to find an apartment that doesn't really feel like an apartment complex, then check it out. It's not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for.

ladybug2442012

Resident • 2008 - 2012

I have lived here for nearly five years and will definitely miss the community. The office staff and maintenance staff are top rate: I have never seen better. They are all very professional and friendly and quick to help with any issues or questions. I have lived in various apartment complexes in Alexandria, Arlington, and McLean since 1990, and this is easily the best of the bunch. The units are large with plenty of storage space. If you have a dog, this is the place to be as you will meet other nice neighbors with dogs, and there are great trails for walking. Location is great with a nice shopping center just across the street, and pools and tennis courts all around. Very nice!

Current Resident 999413

Resident • 2011 - 2012

Although I was only there for a short time, I loved the apartment. It was our "tree house" as it felt like we were nestled in the tall cherry trees. The apartment had new appliances, carpeting, and paint. I had one noisy neighbor, and the manager dealt effectively with the problem. Any time something needed attention, it was resolved within 24 hours--often the same day. The manager and staff are some of the nicest people I've ever met--I dealt mainly with Eddie and Donna, occasionally with Renae. I would also like to put in a good word about the maintenance staff--they were also very pleasant and helpful. If I had planned on staying in the area longer, I would have renewed my lease. It was a very good value for the money, considering the zip code. There was only one drawback, and that was stairwell noise and slamming front doors (which you can't help but let slam because of the springs). I don't think there was much that could be done about any of that.

Current Resident 248820

Resident • 2011 - 2012

Good experience

The office staff, especially Donna, was a decider in my choosing St. John's Wood, as was the new appliances in my 2nd floor apartment. The balcony/siding work was not fun, but now that it is almost done quiet has returned. The parking is plentiful and North Point village center is an easy walk.

Current Resident 246960

Resident • 2012

Great place to live

I was nervous moving from a large detached house to an apartment in the city. However the office staff have been very generous answering all my questions and very responsive to any requests. Donna has always made me feel like she is only there to help me. We have had some issues with old pipes but any maintenance requests have been responded to within hours if not minutes. I am glad the staff are so animal friendly and my neighbors are all very nice. I would recommend this complex to anyone.

Current Resident 826974

Resident • 2011

Reasonable rent sucks you into badly managed apartment

Rent price is reasonable for the area but I have now realized that rent price should not be the deciding factor in choosing a place to live. The construction here has been going on for 6 months and starts at 8 am and ends at 7pm. Basically all early morning until the evening. Not only is there constant hammering and sawing, but loud workers hollering outside your window. How would you like the sounds of yell men be your first sound of every morning before work? Horrible. They don't even tell you when you move in that construction would be beginning and it would last so long. Horrible. The management office is great when you are looking to rent and when you first move in, but eventually they will start sending you letters of continuos complaints, demands, and notices that maintenance is coming into your home once again to check another thing that is not working properly due to the old age of the building and appliances. Horrible. On top of the construction noises, the walls are paper thin and you can hear your neighbor talk through the wall and those above you walk, not even run, across the room. The ceiling fan shakes when they walk. Horrible. There is enough parking available, but be careful just in case someone decides to break your car windows. Horrible. I would NOT recommend this apartment to anyone, ever.

Current Resident 802050

Resident • 2011

Horrible mgmt staff, loud construction, BAD OVERALL

Mgmt staff is completely rude and does not take into consideration anyone's needs except money

Current Resident 426611

Resident • 2009

Great management, great place!

We loved our 2 years at St. Johns Wood apartments. We had a gorgeous 1 bedroom plus den, with vaulted ceilings, fireplace, updated kitchens/bath, ceiling fan, his/her closets, and double entry into the master bath. The management could not have been better -- any time we needed something fixed, we got an immediate response. We even locked ourselves out of the house twice and they had someone come after hours to let us in within 20 minutes!! And once my finance needed his passport number at work, and they went into the house for us (with permission of course) to read him the number over the phone. We would not have moved but my finance's parents gave us their condo to stay at, otherwise St. Johns is the best complex in Reston. Great close walks to the lake and dog park, and a slightly longer walk to the Town Center (just over a mile).

magikkeeper99

Resident • 2010 - 2011

Nice place to live.

These apartments are well maintained and I have enjoyed living here over the last year. I have had only a few problems with maintenace and the windows are old and a bit leaky. However, when there are problems they respond quickly. The local schools are great and the neighborhood is safe. I never have trouble getting a parking spot close to my apartment. The walls can be thin but they are on par with other apartments I have lived in before. I agree that this place is a bit too dog friendly at times. Some VERY large dogs live here. Owners are always being reminded to pick up after their animals and threatened with fines if they are caught not picking up.

Current Resident 611809

Resident • 2009 - 2011

WAY TOO DOG FRIENDLY

I have lived at St. John's Wood for a couple of years and am totally disgusted by the amount of dog waste I find all over the complex. It has gotten out of control. It is so bad that one of my neighbor's is thinking about calling the County to find out if there are some health code violations occurring. It is awful. I know that the office has sent out letters in the past requesting that dog owners clean up after their pets, but obviously this is not being enforced because it is not happening. Not only is it all over the lawns, but I am now seeing it on sidewalks as well. I am so disappointed about this as it had initially seemed like such a nice clean place to live.

stjohnswoods2011

Resident • 2010 - 2011

Dog friendly and helpful staff

I have been for about 1.5 years and I really like living here. It is very dog friendly and the staff is very helpful and attentive to your needs and concerns. Maintanance staff come out to fix your requests within 24 hours. If you have a dog, there are a lot of walking trails around the area in addition to the dog park. You are also close to Reston Towne Center and North Point Shopping center (which was very helpful during the "great storm of 2010". Rent is a little pricey but competitive to the area. Well maintained, except the doggie bags finish so quickly. They need additional stations.

Current Resident 556788

Resident • 2006 - 2011

Stay Far Away

I have been here a few years, this place has the worse insullation ever. If you like $300.00 to $350.00 electric bills in the winter,which goes along with the field mice that stay in your kitchen, then this is your place. Also in the summer dont drop anything on your carpet the spiders and ants will surely fight you for it. While this place looks good, you can tell it has been neglected once you move in. What ever the temperture is outdoors, thats what it is inside your apartment. I have to put plastic up over the old windows because the wind just blows the cold air right through. And the new thing I discovered this year, is even though I covered the windows, you can still feel the cold coming through the walls under the window, which means that either there isnt any insullation, or it needs to be replaced along with the windows. The front office staff are nice when you first move in but trust me, Donna Dawson will tell your business if your late on your rent, or even laugh in your face when your late on your rent. They are quick to hand out 5 day pay or quit notices, but cant give you any help with the mice, ants, loud neighbors, and spider problems. Also that 300 dollar electric bill is the largest I have ever had. And one more thing, there is an outlaw on BBQ grills, they have one smack dab in the woods behind the pool, it is so small it only fits like 3 hamburgers at a time,there is no clear path to it, you have to walk through dead tree branches on your way to it. It is the only one on the grounds, so if you live in the front part of the complext you have to carry your charcoal and meat across the complex.Even though the lease says 17 feet from the building, they still tell you that you cant cook on your personal grill, I had to cops called on me for this reason. The walls are so thin you can hear you neighbors having conversations, and if you are on the bottom floor and the people above you have bad kids, you can forget about quiet, you hear everything. Stay away, for the high rent you pay, it is not worth it.

Current Resident 372712

Resident • 2008 - 2010

Balcony and Patios

This complex is so nicely maintained by the maintenance and landscaping teams. HOWEVER, management does not insist that tenants keep their outdoor space (patios and balconies) well. People are allowed to use their outdoor space to store whatever they don't want to look at in their own apts. They pile boxes, storage containers, paper bags and all manner of trash. When we moved here two years ago this was not the case. Once the management changed, there has been a steady decline to the point that it is beginning to look like subsidized housing. We have now begun to look elsewhere because we are embarrassed to have people come to see us at the complex.

Current Resident 364435

Resident • 2005 - 2010

Cluttered Balconies

We have lived at St. Johns Wood for several years and love the staff and have had very few problems. Unfortunately, several residents store all of their junk on their decks and management doesn't seem to do anything about it. Once in a while a flyer will go up asking residents to keep their decks clean, but it isn't enforced. One of the first floor apartments in our building has old plants, bicycles, containers and garbage on their deck. It is to the point where we don't want to have people come over anymore because of this.