Now I have only lived here a few months, but I haven't had many complaints - at least not those mentioned elsewhere. I do see the following:

1. While the lobby is lovely, the hallways are not at all impressive - the doors look positively industrial.

2. The elevators get used for moving and so are all beat up - very tacky to bring people into elevators with huge chunks out of the formica.

We were considering renting a two bedroom apartment when our lease is up but decided to go someplace where the elevators and doorways/hallways look like we are paying $3K.

3. The laundry is obviously a profit center for management and I resent having to pay $3 per load (wash and dry). We are looking at places with in-room laundry. I do have to say the laundry facilities are clean and our machines work well. I have never had any competition for machines on our floor.

4. I don't quite understand all the parque floors in DC apartments, but they are better than worn or stained carpet. Our floors are in good shape.

5. We have a renovated unit with new kitchen and bathroom cupboards and appliances. The stove and microwave have alot of non-basic features, and the fridge has an auto-icemaker. There is room to put an island, small table or even a small freezer in the kitchen, which is pretty incredible. The only problem is that the cupboards are already delaminating. We have glued ours but I imagine others are tearing them off, which will be pretty ugly.

6. The water pressure and availablity of hot water is impressive. I love the shower!

7. The only time I hear my neighbors is when they are partying out on their balconies or talking as they walk by. I hardly every hear anything from within the building though - I love how well built this place is.

8. The rooms are absolutely spacious. We looked and looked and at Van Ness South, you get more for your money than anyplace else.

9. There also isn't a more Metrorail-convenient place in town, except perhaps in Arlington, where they build apartments over the Metro stations. I love the very short walk outside to the Metro.

10. The staff really put in a lot of effort to put on social events. However, they don't market them well - usually the signs go up the day before. Very few people go, which is a shame. The Thursday and Friday night film events are well done, as were special event parties I have attended. Immature residents write on any sign - especially in the elevators, so maybe that is why they put up such late notice. Someone's kids ruined an expensive glass table in the social room over a month ago and it still has the the masking tape on it. I certainly wouldn't pay to rent the room with the table looking like that. Stupid kids/parents!

11. I haven't had time or reason to get to know the staff but those I have encountered have been extremely pleasant and fairly efficient. I had one problem and it was fixed immediately. I only wish they would put something in your mail box to let you know you have a package.

12. They have this wonderful coffee machine that brews a cup at a time. For whatever reason, there usually aren't packets of the coffee out, which is irritating. It may be cheapness or people might be taking them - however they can only be used in those machines, so that doesn't make sense.

13. Basically I like it here very much and would stay if the halls and elevators had the ambiance due a $3K apartment. But they don't, so we will be moving to someplace that does. They almost make it too easy to move, if you stay within the same management company's properties. When we do move I will miss Van Ness South and hope we can someday buy a condo at Van Ness North, which apparently has the same floorplans. I need to check out their halls, doors and elevators first though...

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