Okay, so I just moved into The Phoenix less than a week ago. I moved into building 5800, which is being renovated.

1.NOISE
Some may complain about the noise of the renovations, but unless you are directly next door, it isn't much of a bother. But the noise doesn't last for long; it seems as if the workers complete the job within days. Noise from neighbors is scarce. i think i heard a baby down the hall, but only after sticking my ear near my front door. The walls are thick enough to shield conversations; i can't even hear voices of my neighbors unless they shout (which, of course will happen during a Redskins game) Like I said, I live in a renovated apt, so all the appliances are new and whisper quiet, especially the central air (must be careful w/ it because it's so quiet that you may forget it's on and run your bill up)
2.ELEVATORS
There are two newly renovated elevators. Don't be fooled by the scribble scrabble on the inside, which may make the elevator appear older and worn. If you look down the elevator shaft when the doors open, you will notice new equipment/machinery. Think of it like this: you have a 15-year old car in which you had everything under the hood replaced (engine, transmission, etc), but you hadn't gotten around to taking it to someone who does upholstery to restore the inside. The car runs like a beast, but just isn't to pretty.
3.MAINTENANCE
Haven't had to call maintenance once, and don't anticipate it either. Every appliance is new, so I don't expect anything to break (i'm naive & I know ---- happens). But just in case I do keep maintenance numbers on hand, including after hours numbers.
4.SECURITY
There are 2 guards-1 armed/1 unarmed that patrol the grounds. Like the average employee who isn't completely engrossed in his/her job, you can find them conversing w/ people in the parking lots. BUT they don't sit on their asses all day doing nothing. They are approachable and while in the process of moving, I have seen one or both officers in and out of different buildings and all over the grounds. There are 10 floors in each building (if i'm not mistaken), 3 buildings, and their 4 feet. Don't expect them to see EVERYTHING; it's not a gated community. Take the same precautionary measures that you would take anywhere you go-rich neighborhood or poor (i see no need to list names of neighborhood to demonstrate that point) Use common sense: lock your doors, car and apartment. It is controlled access, but it is YOU who controls others' access. You have a key that opens the front door. If someone is at the door as you are coming in or leaving, you don't have to open it for them. I'm not saying to slam it in their face, but remember, if they live there-they have a key too. You can simply let them pull theirs out first.
5.PARKING
I have never not gotten a parking space. But after two days, I was smart enough to figure out that on the direct front of the buildings, spots will not be abundant after around 4-5PM. Obviously people like to park where they can see their car. By the way, if you don't get a spot directly in view of your unit, don't fret. There are no dark corners where you will end up. They have tall, bright lights that illuminate the lot at night.
6.PESTS
Have only seen one roach, a baby, and it was at the front door. The units are adequately sealed & insulated with one exception-the front door. The space between the floor and the bottom of the door is slightly larger than I desire. Easy fix: buy that brown thing they advertise on tv for insulation-the draft guard. I also noticed that they have extermintion on Wednesdays. But obviously it helps if you keep your place clean. There are trash chutes on every floor right before the elevator so there isn't much of an excuse.

OVERALL
I believe that this property may have had some bad publicity because of previous management, but I think that it is changing for the better mainly because of the renovations. I have live in Washington, DC and know what the rental rates are like. After a few months of searching newpapers & websites like Apartment Guide, Apartment Showcase, Rent.com etc, I decided that The Phoenix had the amenities tha I required to live comfortably for a fair market price. One thing I do dislike is that they no longer offer ALL utilities inthe rental rate. You now have to pay your own g e, which I don't mind since I don't use much of either when I am away at work during peak hours. I do recommend this property (if you can afford a renovated unit) but encourage people to do your research. Make a list of everything you can and cannot live with & stick to it. It's your money, so decide wisely.

Once I get my furniture moved in I may upload pics

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/17/2008
i lived their for 5 yrs and finally left back in december of 07'. i you plan on sharing your apt with a bunch of infested roaches and mices . then go ahead to each its own i caught about 5 completly and 1 was in my night stand. and when i moved i left all that stuff their. so it dont matter how ---- and span your place will be(and its about to be winter too)but anyway maintenance never comes you have to curse them out before they finally come to fix anything. also the trash shut always pack up so it will smell like trash. elevator always broke and with a bunch piss in them. my next door neighbor shot hiself in the head, it wa a man going around in the lobby flashing people he ask me for the time and when you look back and tell him he have his private out and thats the honest truth because thats what he ask me. also i been stuck in the elevator plenty of times and if you ask someone how often the firefighters come out cause people trap in the elevator. also hope you have a wheel lock for people stealing or breaking your windows out, or they towing your car for stupid reasons. ican go on and on. but dont forget what looks good on the outside !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/17/2008
-lived in the 5800 bldg -experienced the backed up trash chute multiple times even though we lived on the SEVENTH floor (which is saying something) -rarely saw a roach -had one Mickey sighting & we had to go because we had a baby in the floor at the time - Management is really not interested in your wellbeing - That bird problem will REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY begin to piss you off- HAVING to ride to a car wash every morning to powerspray the LAYER of poop off your car so you can SEE gets tiresome and yes its REALLY that bad. - Coming home to a pissy elevator EVERY DAY- new piss!- gets to be depressing and embarassing and I'll just not say anything about your cohabitants to be. So sure move in there if you plan to be away a lot or don't have kids or friends. I mean having stated that you READ the reviews, that you're even still questioning is amazing. NO ONE ON HERE HAS LIED- well except the great reviews the mgmt ofc periodically posts up here to counter the truthful ones. But its your money.
From: TheGospelTruth	Date: 08/17/2008
I rented Apt #913 in the PPT 5800 building from April 2006 to April 2007. Being on the ninth floor certainly had its advantages and disadvantages. I never experienced a "backed-up" trash chute on the ninth floor. But when the elevator wasn't working I had to hike it up nine floors. In the beginning it was a chore, but after awhile I got used to it. My unit was awesome. I never had a mice problem EVER. I did experience the occasional roach. And it never was an adult size, it was the size of an ant and perhaps found its way through a small crevice in the front door. I never had a problem with bedbugs either. I kept that place in top shape and I even did a better cleaning of the carpet than what was given to me. My only problem being that high up was the strong wind currents. The windows then were very poor. They didn't fit into the grooves properly. I had to put a sock in between the window and window frame to keep it from banging and I put up huge black plastic lawn bags to keep the water out of my bedroom when it stormed. Of course you'll experience a lot of noise. That's a given. I had earplugs and a fan in my room to produce white noise that canceled out most of the clatter. There was a Latino Mexican club in the shopping strip opposite the apartments that would draw rowdy patrons at night. They always had the police over there. And I've experienced at least three car burnings while I was there. Despite keeping a clean house I was cheated from receiving my full security deposit. Management said I was late on one payment and they deducted around $100. Albeit I proved my case and cause for argument was valid, they refused and I lost $100. It didn't matter really, I was glad to move from PPT and finally have my own home. I left PPT just before they started renovations. I hope they've addressed all the negatives and made changes. Good luck! Don't forget to inspect before you agree to your lease. Move the stove and fridge away from the wall and look for mice holes. Inspect the inside of the kitchen cabinets. Go in the bathroom and look for holes near the pipes. Have everything plugged and chaulked.
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/29/2008
I have lived in 5800 on the 7th Floor for about 8 months now and all in all it has been a good experiance. The Management is always very respectful, I have only seen a couple of baby roaches but as soon as I do I call the office and have them put me on the exterminator list (they come every wed.) I have a renovated apt. and it's really nice all of appliances work really well and the bathroom is pretty nice too except that they opted to use that cover thingy for the tub and they did a bad job of installing it but that i can live with. I moved in right before they started the utilities not included thing so the price is fantastic! The overall look of the common area's leaves something to be desired but they are a work in progress. Parking is never a problem the area is a little bit "ghetto" but I haven't had any problems. Overall its not a bad place to live and if you can afford it and don't mind some of the ruder neighboors that aren't very friendly and some other's that in all honestly would complain even if it was perfect then i would say go ahead and check it out i will not be staying but that is because i want to get a dog and this place doesn't allow pets.
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/20/2009
I currently live in building 5802 "The Rental Office Building". I moved in on April 2008, I have a "Partially" renovated unit. Living here I have learned that looks can be very deceiving, they only renovated the first two floors in my building.I have not had a Mickey problem, but the number of roaches that i am seeing is slowly progressing. I live on the 3rd floor and the trash smell is all in the hallway and elevators, my neighbors above me are horrible noise up and down the hall, the laundry room is like a crap shoot, and not to mention expensive.My bathroom tub is cracking (not I do not use cleaning products w/bleach), my intercom to my apartment has not worked since I moved in, the tile in the middle of my kitchen floor is lifting, and the renovations that the property manager iformed me that would be finished 2 months from my move-in date ar still in progress.Parking is not an issue for me (as long as I dont park under the balconies-two days after I got my new car I came out to find cigarette butts and ashes ontop of my "Brand New" car. In the light above my vanity it looks as if something is growing-that was one of the things that they were supposed to fix before I moved in. The only reason that I got my tub fixed within 2 weeks is because when I went into the rental office to lodge my 5th complaint they had prospective tenants there. Now to add insult to injury if I chhose to renew my lease I will have to pay utilities. I wish I would even consider renewing my lease. It's like living in the building from "Good Times". The next time I go to the rental office Im going to ask where is Bookman. DO NOT MOVE HERE!!!!!!!!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/04/2009
I too live in the "rental office" and they are going through the renovation stage. My mother came to visist for xmas, we said our goodbyes and 15min later she called me because her and my little brother was stuck in the elevator! I get up at 6am every morning before my kids and I saw mickey running from under my couch I keep my place CLEAN, my son and aunt was watching tv in the living room he came running in the room because minnie ran out the kitchen, another night my kids were in my room sleep and another mouse ran from behind my dresser to the front door! Roaches arent my problem its the MICE and I am searchin for a new place now! I moved in here Dec. 08 its time to go. Looks can be deceiving.
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/11/2009
SERIOUSLY, I have been living in the rental office building,, which is 5802 Annapolis Rd, and it has been terrible. Everything that everyone has said negative IS TRUE! I have seen roaches everday for the past 13 months all over my apartment. Not just one or two, I'm talking about at least 10 a day. In my bathroom, on my bed, in my sheets, on my dishes in the kitchen, the living sofas, the jacket closet near my front door, I mean pretty much every place in my unit -- there are roaches in it! If you move here after reading all of these reviews, which are not ironically all negative for nothing -- THIS IS FACTUAL INFO and if you move here you are seriously a BIG FOOL! I never received my referral fee of $500 from the rental office, the maintenance sucks and they take months to fix anything, security is not consistent. I mean, anything that you can possibly think of that you wish could never happen living in an apartment HAPPENS HERE! Serioulsy, it's probably worse than "Good Times" because unlike JJ and Penny, there are NO GOODTIMES living at the Phoenix. The rent is ridiculous -- now starting at $40 shy of $1100 for a one bedroom. Utilies ARE NOW BEING CHARGED FOR EXISTING TENANTS WHO RENEW THEIR LEASE AND NEW TENANTS! The worse part about it -- you are not being charged for actual usage instead it is supposed to be based on how many people live in your unit and square footage but this is NOT the case b/c I have spoken with several people who have complaints that their bill is from $200-400 and it's like this whether you have a one or a two bedroom renovated or not! JUST RIDICULOUS. DON'T MOVE HERE. I don't have mice but roaches are a disturbing issue...it's like there are millions because they never stop coming I swear. They are even in the dayum elevators for God's sake...RIDICULOUS! And the leasing consultants are rude and unprofessional to the highest degree. I can't wait until my lease is up because I am getting the hell up out of here immediately. P.S. The laundry machines do not work 9 out of 10 times and people are still pissing in the elevators. They finally just changed the carpet on almost all floors in the 5802 bldg. but things are still not improving. POOR COMMUNITY, POOR SERVICE, POOR QUALITY. The Donaldson Group -- I will never rent from you again!

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