When the rent is above $1700 (before utilities, internet access, and parking) for a one-bedroom apartment in a location 15 to 20-minutes walk from the Metro, grocery stores or shopping centers, I have to evaluate my decision by comparing the pluses and minuses of living in Avalon at Foxhall (previously named 4100 Massachusetts Ave.). I do not think the rent justify for so many hidden problems that one may discover only after moving in. Hence, I share this information with potential tenants, hoping to help them make an informative decision.

On the plus side:
(1)The apartments were recently renovated and the interior look quite impressive. Based on the reviews I have seen, this seems a main attraction.
(2)Most staff members at the concierge desk and the leasing office are very friendly and helpful. For instance, they offer free coffee and some muffins each Monday. They throw parties at least twice per semester (attended mainly by undergrad students). They also post important announcements (such as reminders for rent due dates or explanations for malfunctioning parts of the building) in the elevators.

On the minus side:

(1)TWO false fire alarms within approximately TWO weeks. The first alarm sounded off around 5AM Monday morning (on Feb 2, 2004) and the deafening sirens lasted for approximately half an hour, 10 minutes after the fire trucks arrived. The second alarm sounded off around 11:30PM on Feb 15, 2004 and lasted for approximately half an hour, as well. No explanations have been provided as to the cause. Obviously, there is not even the slightest guarantee that it won't happen again.
(2)The elevators are EXTREMELY slow. Of all the times I can remember, at least one of the four elevators is not in service. Often only two elevators work. A five to ten-minutes wait is not unusual.
(3)The hot water in the shower is quite unstable. For a 10-minute shower, one may expect, on average, two or three cold-hot cycles.
(4)The water pipes broke THREE times in about two or three months (because of corroded pipes and not because of the winter weather), and each time the water had to be shut off for several hours around dinner time.
(5)The garage exit door broke down TWICE in less than a month and was not able to be fixed for a couple of weeks.
(6)The thermometer in the living room reads at least two degrees lower than the accurate reading. I talked with several neighbors and this seems a common problem. Granted, if you do not care about the heating bills, this is not a problem.
(7)The charge for the trash fees is mandatory 10 dollars per month, and tenants have to take the cardboard boxes down to the dumpster first floor themselves. Then it turns out the dumpsters often do not stay in one place. One cannot help wondering why there is so much extra energy around while the above problems exist.

My overall recommendation: Do not be fooled by the beautiful interiors and sweet talks at the leasing office. Avalon at Foxhall is WAY overpriced!

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/06/2009
I agree. One cannot help but fall in love with the beauty of Avalon, but the apartments are far overpriced. You can easily be seduced into renting here only to regret it later.

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