I have lived here for about a year and a half now. I live in a studio and at the time of writing this the rent is $1220, with that prince range up and down a bit for other studios depending on which floor it is on. Overall it is has been a very good experience and I will go in depth about it:


Quietness: Im what you would consider an extremely light sleeper. I had a friend over once who was text messaging in the middle of the night. Just the pressing of his buttons without any audio beeps was enough to wake me up. Yet this apartment has been a dream. My apartment faces the 12th street side which is by far the noisiest side of the building. Yet even with this I sleep wonderfully. The building across the street and the one kiddie corner to M Street towers seems to have elderly or disabled people in them and fire trucks and ambulances are dispatched there, not often, but more often than is normal. You can breifly hear them of course while their sirens are blazing but I would say that while these incidents do occur, I would say only about 1 time every other month do they occur at night to the point where it bothers me and wakes me up. So this isnt a problem. Additionally the walls are made of sturdy, solid, soundproof concrete. I have literally never heard my neighbor and I doubt they've ever hear me. I talked to another tenant who has subwoofers and blasts his base and he has never recalled his neighbors complaining to him, nor him hearing anyone else either. Occasionally you will here someone above if they drop something rather heavy, but thats rare. You will not hear footsteps from the apartment above you. The apartments are all carpeted too so this helps to mitigate any stomping around beyond what the structure already does. Probably the least soundproof thing is your door, but the tenants here are pretty good and Ive never had a problem with loud people in the hall.

As a side note, Im not sure if theres any proof to this at all, but Ive always felt a little safer in a building that is solid concrete and as sturdy as this one. Id imagine it would have a hard time burning since its practically one big concrete block.

Space and quality for the price: So I live in a studio but Ive seen my friends studios around DC, they suck compared to mine. They are more expensive, they are smaller, the appliances are junkier, and they have bug problems. My studio has a main room, a kitchen to the side of it, 2 closets and a bathroom. My main room is a little less than 12' x 20' which is rather large. My kitchen, after factoring the space the fridge, sink and oven take up, it has remaining floor space of 8' x 7'. My walk-in closet (which has a full closing door on it ) is about 4'6" x 6' with lots of shelves , you can store a TON in it. The bathroom is about normal size with a tub shower combo, and the second closet is a coat closet which is decent size also. Overall I am definitely getting a good deal for the size and quality of the place compared to other studios especially since electricity and gas are already part of the rent. Right down the road is the 1210 Mass avenue apartments. Their studios start at $1855, $600 more than M Street and Im not even sure if that includes utilities like M Street does. Though to be fair many of the 1210 Mass studios have washer and dryers in their units and are bigger, around 500 - 600 square feet, compared to my M Street one which is around 400 square feet. My appliances work great, the stove is gas and the refridge seems pretty new. There is no microwave but I bought my own.
Additionally after my first year my rent got raised by about 2%, or $25 per month. Ill be honest this is extremely reasonable. They have authority to raise it by up to the CPI 2 additional percent. So just a flat 2% increase I thought was more than fair. On the flipside I looked at my lease and saw what prior year increases were. Some of them look as high as a 100 per month increase per year in previous years. That seems ridiculous to me, but that was also during the housing bubble which we all know now was fake. So maybe their property taxes were going up causing this. I will continue to monitor this, but so far my experience has been that they arent gouging and raising rents at any chance they get. If anyone from the management is reading this it would be nice to know at least why rents go up when do. Higher electricity' Property tax increase, etc'

Staff: I studied about 20 apartments before settling on this one. I read all their reviews here on apartment ratings and staff usually always topped most peoples complaints at other places. Id have to say the opposite is true here. Of all the minor complaints I might have (which Ill talk about later), staff doesnt even top the list. They are efficient, friendly, down-to-business and helpful. This has been true even through 2 building managers so there is probably top level corporate influence to keep things this way. The building manager is here 5 days a week during business hours, there is a guard at the front desk 6 or 7 days a week (not sure if they are here sunday), and usually they stay until about 2am. Additionally there is always some maintenance person available. Some of the local staff and maintenance live in an apartment on the basement level so if you have a maintenance emergency there is always a way to quickly get a response. So far Ive had to utilize them a few times and they are very responsive. If its something that requires them to use tools they usually get to it within the day. Once they came right up when I told them I was having an issue just to diagnose it. They have always been quick fixing things.
Furthermore receiving packages here is great. Anything that comes for you, the staff will just drop off right inside your apartment and it will be waiting for you inside when you come home. I order a lot of stuff online and this works out great. I was considering living in a townhouse previously but if you do this most times UPS and the post office will not leave packages out front and you have to go to the post office to pick them up. So this is definitely a good system they have worked out here. On a side note I have heard this makes people uncomfortable having the staff always going in their place to drop off packages. Ive never had an issue with this though. Their maintenance people seem like they've stuck around for awhile so I dont believe they have any incentive to take advantage of this. I really like this service, but if it bugs you, you could talk to them about it I guess.

Utilities and facilities: [UPDATED 07-15-09: From what I hear utilities are no longer covered in your monthly rent, but previous tenants that had this have been grandfathered in. On the flip side the new units seems a bit cheaper to compensate for this.] So one of the best things about this place is that all your utilities are included in your rent. One of the worst thing about this place is that utilities are included in your rent. The reason being that when you dont have individual control over your utilities, you also dont have individual control over when your A/C and heater turn on. This is fine for about 10 months out of the year, for the other 2, ill be frank it sucks. For about one month in fall and one month in spring there will be a period when it is warm enough outside to really make the apartments (which seem to trap heat quite well) get pretty hot, yet at the same time, its not warm enough for them to justify turning on the A/C. The result is a sauna-like living experience for that 1 month in spring and fall which I guess is good for the skin but rather uncomfortable. I'm mixed about this personally. This is actually my number 1 dislike and complaint about the place. But Im forced to weigh it against the overall cost of electricity which is probably much less than if i were paying individually. Dont get me wrong though the A/C is on all during the hot summer months and I will admit its awesome. It works great, is powerful, you can leave it on all the time, and if it starts to fade or break they will look into fixing it pretty quick. Im personally not very good in the heat though and this lack of control for that 1 month in spring and fall was one of the main reasons I was considering moving out. But after considering the cost of not only moving, but of how much more expensive other places are, I think I am just going to buy an under $200 portable electric A/C unit on wheels for those times period. I might as well make use of that free electricity. If you plan to stay for say 2 years or more, I think this is a very cost effective solution to this problem. Or for those 90% of you who arent as wimpy about the heat as I am a simple $20 dollar fan will probably get you through these in-between weeks in late spring and early fall just fine.

Also the inclusive electricity also helps compensate for other things. For example I wanted a balcony mainly to have a small apartment garden. Well this place has no balconies but its nice to know I can blast grow lights all day with no increase in my monthly bill. [UPDATED 07-15-09: This is no longer relevant for new tenants.]

I wont comment on the heat at all. The building traps in heat unusually well and I only had to use the heater unit a few times for the entire winter. Ive talked with other people though and this isnt the case with them and they have to use thier heater more often. It works really good when I have used it. I rarely have a problem being cold here.

Hot water is good and plentiful. There is a central boiler in the basement and even at rush hour in the morning when everyone is showering, ive rarely ever ran out of hot water. I guess the downside of this is that if the boiler ever breaks, everyone is screwed until they fix it, but that hasnt happened since Ive been here and again with how quick they are at fixing other smaller things, im sure this would be a priority if it ever broke. Sometimes on super cold days in the winter the showers which seem to run on different pipes than the sinks are cold. To remedy this it requires you to let it run for 5 mins or so. This happens rarely though.

The elevator is my number 2 complaint about living here. There are two which is great, unfortunately they are both notorious for breaking down. Again i have mixed feelings on this. While they seem to break down often, the maintenance people are usually right on it fixing them just as quick. But it can get rather annoying if you live on the higher floors. Usually one is always working but even then its slow trying to catch it if the other is broke. I will say though that just recently they replaced the doors on both elevators which is what was causing all the issues in the first place. So maybe this is going to resolve itself going forward and wont be a problem anymore. I dont know but its a good step forward but still enough of an issue that I feel obligated to make people aware that occasionally tenants do get stuck in them. But again they are quick at resolving things even though that doesnt justify having to deal with it in the first place.

The washer and dryers work good. They are laundromat type industrial strength ones in the basement. You get a laundry card which you put money on in a machine they have down there. I think it costs like $1.50 or 1.75 per load, I forget. They work good and there seem to be enough units to accommodate the population of the building unless you wash sunday afternoon which it seems like everyone does. In reference to the above paragraph though, occasionally its a pain when the elevators break down and you need to haul a bunch of laundry. Not much else to say here.

There is a trash shoot on every floor which is convenient and if you have big garbage like furniture or large boxes you just put them in the basement hallway and they take care of it. There are also recycle bins there.

The kitchen is my number 3 complaint about the place. While it is large in floor space, it is small in counter space. But ive made up for it by utilizing the extra floor space with kitchen islands that have nice counter tops. So just keep that in mind. [UPDATE 07-15-09: Ive seen some other studios in the building that have more counter space built in so apparently it varies per unit.] My studio has no dishwasher but ive never been big on them so its not an issue for me. The garbage disposal works good and oven gets hot quick since its gas. The fridge is a full one with a freezer.

There is no fitness center in M Street Towers. I think there is a bike storage in the basement.

Ive never had major problems living here with mice, bugs, roaches, or rodents of any kind, and I'm pretty messy. The management also regularly sprays for bugs as a preventative measure.

Location: Probably the best part about this place, and again considering the cost you cant beat it. It seems like if you go 1 or 2 blocks closer to town rent prices are 50 to 100% higher, so this seems like a good balance. M Street Towers is located right next to nothing, but is within walking distance of everything. Chinatown and Verizon Center 15 minute walk, Dupont 15 minute walk, U street 20 minute walk, White House 20 minute walk, National Mall 20 minute walk. The Green/Yellow metro line is a little more than a 5 minute walk away and once there you can go quickly up to Columbia heights with the new Target and Best Buy or go right to Reagon Airport. The red line via Metro Center and the blue and orange via Metro Center and Mcpherson square are both about 10 to 15 minute walk away.

As for retail places there are 3 large grocery stores which are about 15 minute walks away. Giant grocer is to the northeast, Wholefoods is the same distance but to the northwest, and a little further than each is the new Safeway to the Southeast near Chinatown. So plenty of selection there. Also right on the doorstep of M Street towers up on 11th street is a local independent grocer. Its a little run down with a small selection, and I dont really shop there, but it is a real grocery store and is great if you just need something quick or forgot one ingredient or something. I can literally walk there in about 3 minutes. there is a convenient store even closer, a 24 hour CVS near Thomas circle 5 mins away, and another CVS on 10th street. There is a liquor store right next to the independent grocer and a fancier wine and spirits place further west on M street by the convention center. Closest starbucks is about a 7 minute walk on 14th street past the 24 hour CVS and a small independent coffee place on 10th street by the other CVS and one down further on M street next to the convention center across from the wine shop. There is a Barnes and Noble about 15 minute walk straight down 12th street past Metro Center with a huge Macys there also, and of course both Dupont and the Chinatown area are littered with interesting stores and restaurants. The national portrait gallery is also right by Chinatown.
As for quick food, within a 10 minute walk there is a Subway by the convention center, a Quiznos on 13th down a few blocks, a Mcdonalds on New York and 13th, a Mongolian grill and sports bar even closer located in the convention center retail spaces, along with some bakery.

There are 3 gyms I know of which are close. Thomas circle sports clubs I believe is the closest, it is right down from Thomas circle, about a 5 - 7 min walk away. It is a full gym with weights, classes and lots of cardio machines. I currently have a membership there and it costs 50 bucks a month. The Renaissance hotel close to chinatown is about 10 min walk away and it also has a gym for hotel guests but which I believe the public can join. I dont know the cost, I use to be member through an affiliate organization and back then it was reasonable, like around 50 a month also. It has a little of everything but is much much smaller than Thomas Cicle sports club,,, think hotel gym. On the plus side it has a small pool. There is a Vida gym which is new and close to the whole foods, so probably 15 min walk away. I dont know much about it but i think its a luxury gym, so probably more expensive than the others but probably nicer and more stuff also. A little further away is a Results gym right in the new CityVista complex where the new Safeway is at. A solid 15-20 min walk away. There is also a Washington Sports club in Chinatown. I saw some random dude on the corner of 13th street once handing out fliers for some new gym opening up so maybe there is even another one close by now, or maybe he was advertising Vida, Im not sure. Also most people dont know this, but the most convenient pseudo-track is located nearby if you like to run. Running is a pain in the city cause you always have to stop at lights and worry about cars. About a 5 minute run south youll find the big convention center parking lot that comes before Chinatown. Its huge and has a wonderful wide sidewalk going around the whole thing. I use this as my track and you can run around for miles here without having to stop at lights and only have to dodge a few people here and there. The city of DC public rec center, Kennedy rec center, is real close northwest about 15 minutes. I dont go there though since ive never had a good experience with public rec centers, but who knows maybe its nice.

Safety: This neighborhood is in "transition" as I like to call it. There are $600k condos right down the street and run down boarded up houses across the street from those. I have never had a problem. the area is well lit and honestly up until the last block or two walking home you are basically in the city. There are always a number of locals hanging about and they seem fine. I bumped into a pimp offering his girl's services once, but that only happened once since ive been here and it probably happens around DC occasionally anyway. I feel really safe and there are a fair number of young women who live in our building and Ive never heard any of them complain about safety walking home or going about. With the convention center built and the super expensive condos being put up, the area is definitely on the upswing. This probably sounds sexist but I think a good barometer of the safety of the area is how many single white women you see jogging out in the local neighborhood in the streets during the day and evening. Like canaries in a mine, they are the first to go if things get dangerous. And since I see a small but moderate number of them,,, based on that totally unscientific measurement I feel pretty safe and secure here. M Street also has a secured entrance so only tenants can get in, usually. There is also a guard too at the front door who is there until pretty late. You can call cabs or catch one not far down the street on 13th by the Comfort inn or by Thomas Circle. You do see a fair number of pan handlers now and then though. I also see a number of disabled people across the street so one of those buildings might be public housing or strict rent control. Im assuming if they havent had problems trekking around in their wheelchairs, then Im probably ok too.

Demographics: Most of the M Street tenants are young professionals or mature students, with a couple families mixed in. The local neighborhood is different though. Its predominantly black along with a large number of Hispanic mixed with the younger white professional condo buyers who are moving in the area. There is actually a spanish grocer up the street on 12th, a lot of predominantly black churches nearby and even the Honduran consulate is oddly located right above the convenient store on 11th. I make no judgement on what any of this means, just wanted to point it out. Its definitely not the ghetto, but its not Georgetown or Foggy Bottom either (which can be just as annoying but in other ways, in my opinion). In summary I like the mix and feel of the area.

Overall: Excellent, 4 stars out of 5. Its nothing spectacular, but the value of the price, square footage, quality of the apartments, and location cant be beat. The same company that owns the place also manages it so there is an incentive for them to take good care and maintain the place for the long term and be responsive to tenants. Of the three major complaints I noted above 2 can be addressed by taking measures on my own (kitchen counter space and in-between months on the A/C), while the third one (elevator) the management has recently tried to take measures to fix for the longrun but its too soon to determine results. I dont have a car and have no knowledge of the parking situation. mgFDbN4-dhkSMZ7zRmVH

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/23/2009
Thank you so much for your detailed description of the apartment complex. You've answered many of the questions I had about the apartment. Although I wont be able to move until October, I will definitely put M towers on my list.
From: keeshi	Date: 07/15/2009
wow! what a great review!

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