I've spent a lot of time on this site the last few weeks looking for a new place and decided to check the ratings of my current building, the Hudson.

I was really quite surprised at the 73% rating as I've yet to run into anyone that doesn't love this place. There is often a waiting list for apartments. I've been here just short of 3 years now, which makes me a veteran in this young building with high turnover. The only reason I'm leaving is to move back into VA to save some money. Since this will be a very positive review, I feel that I should state I am in no way affiliated with the Hudson, SJG Properties, etc. and have not received any sort of compensation for it. I will try to include as much positive and negative helpful info that I can as these reviews are much more important than restaurant reviews:

1. Parking
2. Noise
3. Grounds
4. Safety
5. Construction
6. Maintenance
7. Staff
8. Public Transportation
9. Building Amenities
10. Neighborhood
11. Closing


1. Parking:
If you rent a parking spot in the Hudson's underground garage ($235/mo), parking is quite convenient. Elevators will take you directly to the lobby or your floor. The garage is also shared with the DeSoto (its neighboring sister building) and the Cooper Lewis Condos on the other side. Each building has its own section of the garage. The entrances to the Cooper Lewis and DeSoto sections are separated by a remote controlled parking gate (with barrier arm). Each section has its own access-controlled elevator to its respective building. However, the fobs for the DeSoto work for the Hudson and vice versa.

Security in the garage has improved. Prior to 2009, there were only security cameras pointed at the entrance of the garage, and at the access-controlled doors to the elevators. In 2008, there were a series of break-ins throughout the three sections of the garage, resulting in iPods, GPS, sunglasses, etc. that were in plain view being stolen. Since then, signs, cameras, and an LCD monitor have been installed throughout the garage and there haven't been any other problems. The cameras are monitored 24/7 by the Hudson front desk.

If the parking is too expensive, the lot is full, or you just choose not to get it, you will be stuck with street parking on a side street. In the Logan Circle area, this can be quite a challenge, especially at night. Street parking isn't abundant as it is, but you must compete with fellow area residents, visitors here for the local establishments (clubs, bars, restaurants, theater, Logan Hardware, etc.), as well as people going to the Whole Foods across the street that decide not to park in their garage. Unless it's after 2am or so, you can forget about planning to park on this block of P Street. The spots there are also metered during the week. Expect to look on 14th, Church, Q, or further north or east. Parking enforcement is active.


2. Noise:
One thing I do wish was better at the Hudson is the sound dampening. If you are talking at a normal level as you walk through the hall, you should keep in mind that anyone listening in their apartment can hear you as easily as if they were in the hall with you. It is nearly as bad if you are walking through the hall and someone inside their apartment is talking to a friend in their apartment or on the phone. I usually take my calls in the bedroom. The sound through walls of neighboring apartments is not as bad. You would be able to hear something that was quite loud, or some particular noises such as a cabinet or microwave door being slammed, the garbage disposal, etc. The back wall of my bedroom is opposite the trash chute and I can sometimes hear that. I might just be used to it now, but I can't remember the last time I noticed it. The ceilings and floors are 1.5' of concrete, so you don't need to worry about sound above or below. People are cognizant of this and, in my experience, usually keep things pretty quiet. It does vary from floor-to-floor. The majority of the building has dogs and I know there have been tenants on other floors that have complained about barking in the past. I've only very rarely heard any barking, even with a lot of different dogs from various tenants in the last few years. It has been very short and usually followed by the owner frantically trying to get the dog to stop. The DeSoto's walls are apparently thicker.

I will echo a comment made by a previous reviewer regarding noise in the alley. During the construction of the Metropole condos, there was a lot of noise. Fortunately, it is finally over. I probably live in the noisiest apartment in the building -- 2nd (lowest) floor, facing the alley, and directly above the garbage area (more on this later). There are a lot of deliveries and trash pickup, and if you are a light sleeper, you will probably not want to live facing the alley or at least be on an upper floor.


3. Grounds:
The grounds are great. Everything is maintained daily both inside and outside. Alba does the majority of this and she is one of the nicest people around. I know she offers some cleaning/laundry services for individual units, but I've always taken care of it myself.

Even though I live directly above the garbage area outside and on the lowest floor, there are no bugs/mice/rats in the apartments. I think I've seen about 2 bugs (of any size) in 3 years. The only exception to this is if I leave my balcony door open for awhile, I usually end up with a gnat or two.


4. Safety:
I've always felt very safe here. The entrances are secured with a fob and front desk is staffed 24/7. Some residents are bad about piggybacking, but the front desk usually keeps a good eye out and asks questions if they don't know someone. During that time in 2008 when they had garage break-ins before the added security, they brought in extra security guards just to patrol the garage. The alley behind the building is pretty well lit going out to 14th Street and has a lot of cameras. I use it fairly often and have never had a problem or seen anything suspicious. The building is safer than the DeSoto due to the front desk.


5. Construction:
The quality of the fixtures is great. The apartments have stained concrete floors, exposed ductwork, stainless steel GE Profile appliances in the kitchen, stacked washer/dryer, marble counter tops, etc. What you would probably expect. Supposedly, the building was constructed with small pipes and people trying to put certain things down the garbage disposal can cause a backup that winds up in your sink/dishwasher. Again, the sound dampening could definitely be better. I haven't had an issue with heat insulation, and I love the layout/design.


6. Maintenance:
Ravi is the man. He seemingly never stops working, but I guess that is why everything works so well. Any time I've ever had an issue, from a light bulb being out to adjusting the heat of my dryer (I've never had a major problem), he did it quickly and correctly. He's a really nice guy too.


7. Staff:
There have been 4 property managers in just a couple of years. All except the first one were great, including the current one (Brandon). At least 2 of these property managers moved into the DeSoto while working here. I don't have too much to say about them other than whenever I had a question or request they took care of it. The front desk staff has a fairly high turnover rate, but when they settle on someone after wading through the temp pool for awhile, whoever they bring on is very good. The overnight person during the week is Andrew. He has been here for a couple years now and does a great job.


8. Public Transportation:
The Hudson is virtually equidistant (0.5-0.75mi) from each of the Metro rail lines: McPherson Square (Orange/Blue), Dupont Circle (Red), U Street (Green/Yellow). It's a little bit of a walk if you don't take the bus, but it's not too bad. There are bus stops going east/west a few feet east of the building, going south just around the corner from that, and going north across the street and 1 block down from there (14th & Rhode Island). The block is also very easy to pick up cabs on, due in part to Whole Foods.


9. Building Amenities:
Due to the construction of the Hudson, there are not very many amenities you might expect at a luxury building. There is no pool or fitness center. There is no dedicated business center, though you can use the equipment at the front desk if you ask. There is also no common area in the building. There is simply just no room to put any of it as the first floor is used for retail space (Logan Tavern, Starbucks, The Written Word, Blink Optical, etc.). The rooftop deck is fairly large though, has a great view, and is used to hold Hudson/DeSoto resident parties thrown by the management such as on the 4th of July. The fireworks on the mall are indeed visible from the rooftop.

Hudson residents do have access to the DeSoto though, and they have an indoor lounge on the roof, though it's not very large. The fitness center issue has been somewhat remedied by the opening of Vida Fitness on the west corner of the block (15th & P), but membership is expensive and the discount for being a resident isn't that much. Even though there is a dry cleaner's across the street (and plenty more around the corner), they have an agreement with Soapy Joe's where you are assigned a bag, drop off your dry cleaning at the front desk any time, and can pick it up from there at any time once it is done. I haven't used this service. They also have/had a free movie library, though it has been moved into the office from the front desk. The intention was to reopen it in the front as a self-serve station, though I don't know when/if this will actually happen. It was a project of the previous property manager.


10. Neighborhood:
I guess I saved the best for last. The neighborhood is the real reason you move into the Hudson. You're directly across the street from a Whole Foods (w/built-in Raku Japanese restaurant -- not great), 24-hour CVS, Logan Hardware, cleaner's, art gallery, yoga studio, and liquor store. You share the street with Starbucks, Vida Fitness, Stoney's (restaurant & bar), Halo (--- lounge), Vegas Lounge (jazz & blues), Commissary (restaurant), Logan Tavern, The Written Word (custom printing and gifts), Lululemon, Wachovia, PNC Bank, and Blink optical... and that's just the stuff on the short distance on P St. from 14th to 15th. Around the corner on 14th Street, there is an awful lot more. Some great restaurants, shops, bars, the Studio Theater, and a ton of art galleries. Check out Google Maps Street View and Yelp for details on all these places. Of course you're right down the street from the 17th Street corridor, Dupont Circle, and U Street. If you have the money, I don't know of a better area to be in.

Previous reviewers were pretty accurate about the people in the Hudson (and really the neighborhood in general). People tend to keep to themselves. They are concerned with their own work. If you do talk to someone, it will invariably begin with, "What do you do'" This is really more of a DC thing. People are here for a reason, they're dedicated, and they're good at what they do. You shouldn't expect people walking by you to look you in the eye, make a gesture, or say anything. They're on a mission. However, when contact is initiated with someone, they tend to be amicable.

I should note as well for non-locals that this area has a very large and visible --- community. For example, you will have a popular --- lounge in the retail space in the adjacent DeSoto building. If this is a problem for you for some reason, Logan/Dupont Circle is certainly not the place for you. Beyond sexual preference, diversity is quite low. Residents are almost exclusively white, Ivy League, and in their 30's-50's (weighted to the younger). There have been no children or adolescents in the building, except for a couple recent newborns -- though one of those families left soon after. There is a high turnover rate for residents as many of the units are used for corporate apartments.


11. Closing:
I hope this was useful as it took me quite a while to write. After spending so much time reading reviews in my own search, I really thought I should spend some time to give back to the site and help other people trying to make an important decision. I'm sure I'll check back in here, so if you have questions or comments, just add a response.

User Responses
From: SJGProperties	Date: 10/16/2009
Thank you kindly for your response. I work for SJG Properties and am happy that your experience at the Hudson has been a pleasant one. I appreciate your positive remarks regarding the staff. They all work very hard. We try to hire nice people and then allow them to treat our tenants well. I hope we can continue to improve the building. Your comments will help in our efforts. Thanks again and good luck with your new apartment. We are sorry to see you go.

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