I forgot to mention all the inconveniences.... Here goes:
Maintanance is great- functions in the apartment are bad.. wiring often on the same outlets meaning the power goes out often in the apartment... they have come up to fix 2x and the same thing occurs... Water leaks from apartments above... need I mention the medieval air/heating system in the bldg that costs a fortune based on splitting it by all the tenants. The most expensive electric bills I have ever seen!!!
The units are too expensive- they don't even have laundry units.. Elderly people in the bldg are disregarded- too many bldg blackouts, management blames Arlington... then writes notes slipped under the door and avoids all responsibilities to clients...
Doormen lose packages..
Carpeting in the halls is old and embarrasing.. as is the new bldg lobby decor. truly tasteless- feels like you live in a gray cell block, furniture- is tacky.
The only great thing about the bldg is the night manager who is wonderful and should be commended.
Do yourself a favor and don't move in. I plan to move out in 3 mos. thank god!! I have spread the word around.. will do what I can to discourage all future tenants...

User Responses
From: gel03	Date: 07/04/2006
I'm actually planning on signing a lease soon at this apartment and found the leasing agent, Joseph, to be really helpful. How much did you end up paying for utilities, out of curiosity? They told me it would cost about $50/person/month. Is that true?
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/29/2007
Crystal Square has a wonderful new owner and management company and they are planning to make improvements. The company is called Bainbridge. My friensd lives in one of their apartment communities in Alexandria and is very happy.
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/31/2007
the last positive about bainbridge is clearly written about the new management. bainbridge has failed to send us adequate notice on new policies for the remainder of our lease. the management seems clueless compared to the previous management, who were mostly rude. oh, and the previous management, who were also tenants here, conveniently gotten out of their leases and left crystal square for other charles e smith apartments without notifying the current tenants to give them a fair opportunity to void their lease.
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/06/2008
I agree with the Anonymous writer. The new owner of Crystal Square, Bainbridge is by far the worst management company I have seen. They rank below my last landlord who I thought no one could top. Currently due to some water leak, two out of four of our elevators are broken. They have not sent us a notice on when they might be fixed. I still don't know who is truly in charge of our building and the lovely rent-a-cops they have at the front desk, only one speaks English, the rest babble at best and are ruder than the old crew. I greatly prefer Charles E. Smith to these bumbling fools at least they set a standard and maintained it.

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