Fairmont Plaza

First tenant in early 1990s at Fairmont Plaza

From: -Anonymous-
Date posted: 5/18/2006
Years at this apartment: 1993-01-01 - 1993-01-01
4 responses

Ok. YOU MUST READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW! First of all, I lived at Fairmont Plaza before I was married. I had a one bedroom on the 7th floor. The apartment was brand new. The building had a vacancy rate that was too low by the bank's standards. My sister's law firm did the legal work for the building developer, and she went with me to look at the apartment. She negotiated 2 months off and free parking for the first year. The second year, I managed to get 1 months rent off, despite that the vacancy rate had dropped substantially. I also got the free parking. A young couple living in the building, both attorneys, asked me to join forces and "demand 1 month's free rent or we would all leave." They left. I made a side deal with the apartment's manager! I bumped into the couple later that year. They were shocked I was still in the building. Dog-eat-dog world!

Anyway, the location -- at the time -- was great. This was Bethesda pre-Bethesda Row, Barnes & Noble, etc. Now the area has changed, however, it is still fine. The triangle area is going to see some major renovations. Fairmont Plaza had a number of different managers while I was there. The first gal was nice and accomodating. The second gal was a bit of a skank and would -- supposedly -- sleep around with some of the tenants. Hey, the skank factor was a turn-off, though many nights of returning from Tako Grill (sushi bar) drunk I did think about knocking on her door...but I digress. I had two other friends, Japanese brothers from Nagoya, I believe, Tako and Seiichi Hiramatsu, who shared an apartment on the 8th floor. Both were studying in DC before returning to Tokyo. They also thought the apartment building was nice, though they had the view of a gas station, which is now a 7-11!

Now that the building has gone condo, I suspect most of the mechanicals have been changed. At the time, the kitchen was nice, gas stove and oven, plenty of counter space, washer/dryer wasn't bad, everything was GE -- mid range.

Well, this review has been more like a blog entry for me. By the way, the two attorneys moved to an apartment building in Rockville! It must have been disappointing for them. She was a cute, educated Bolivian (?) and he was in China studying when Tiaman protests began. Wait, there is more! The attorney couple was friends with some other couple, also latin. The husband went to AU for MBA, and the wife was totally hot and thin. I used to have both couples over for dinner and hope the husbands would leave. Ah, to dream.

I stayed in Bethesda, got married, bought a house, and watched the property values climb. I remember my days at Fairmont every time I visit Athenian Plaka on the first floor. Excellent Greek food. I wonder whatever happened with the skanky gal...

Bethesda rocked then. It rocks now.

Recommended: YES Overall Rating

Parking: Maintenance: Construction: Noise:

Grounds: Safety: Office Staff:

I'm the author!

Lived here?

I'm the manager