After reading some of the reviews on this website (and other places) of Fort Strong, I can completely understand the frustration of those looking for a place to live. After all, I was in this same spot when I moved into Fort Strong last year. I searched Craigslist for apartments all around and in the DC metro area. That said, I will start by quickly saying that I live in a 2BR, top level unit here in Fort Strong.
Overall, Fort Strong is a decent place to live for young professionals on a budget getting that first job out of college or for singles. I wouldn't say there's any sense of community, which would make me think that families would look elsewhere.
What makes it good' First and absolutely foremost: location. Easy access to the GW parkway, metro bus across the street, 10-minute equidistant walks to Clarendon nightlife/metro and Courthouse. Suffice it to say, for those without a car or those who do not prefer to use one all the time, you certainly don't have to if you live here. Others have mentioned groceries just down the street at the Giant/CVS/ITALIAN STORE complex, which is decent for basics. Personally, I'm not too thrilled with the Giant there, but it is what it is. You're better off taking a walk to Whole Foods for better groceries. You can also walk to Ballston or into the city across the Key Bridge, which is about a 25-30 minute walk from the front door to Georgetown.
So clearly, the location's very good.
I mentioned that this is a good place for people on a budget. That's not to say that the value is that great. My roommate and I pay $1,450 per month for a 2BR here. It's nice that utilies (heat, electric, gas, trash, water) are included. Still, with cable TV/internet, you're looking at $1,550 for a 2BR. That's not a price that would wow me, personally.
The apartments themselves are in need of some cosmetic and functional updates. I get the sense that different apartments are in different stages of updates here, as they really only do necessary things when something goes wrong, rather than regularly servicing the units without request. The walls are your typical, mundane white, painted and painted and repainted after every move out. The lack of AC in the units is a big drawback, though they do allow window units, which helps the main rooms a bit. You're allowed to have them in bedrooms too, as far as I know. I've seen people complain about the heating - it's an old, radiator style heating, so you don't have control over the output. People have complained about it getting too hot, which is really amusing. Here's a solution: OPEN THE WINDOW. Ta da.
Cooking isn't the easiest in these places, as the gas ovens are rather dated, but it's certainly not impossible. I've made some nice meals and my roommate cooks a lot, so those who complain about that are doing so out of frustration for other things, in my opinion.
The fixtures, plumbing, etc...you get the idea, things have been around for a while here. If you talk to either of the management, you get the sense that nothing about that will change any time soon. More on the management a bit later.
Safety and cleanliness: These apartments are very safe. Neither my fiancee or I have ever, ever felt at all unsafe in this area or in our walks around the neighborhood. It's a nice, generally quiet place. I have had very minimal problems with bugs (a bug in the place every couple of weeks). My roommate, who has been here longer than I have, tells me that he used to have a couple of roaches from time to time in the kitchen because of the Indian family who lived directly below him. Let me tell you something: seeing roaches is enough to make me want to move out. No joke. So the fact that I tell you that bugs are not a problem here should count for something. I don't have issues with them, and if you're sensible and willing to do the necessary things to keep them out, you won't either. We're not neat freaks, either, so don't assume anything.
I have two complaints: first and foremost, parking. Many times, the lot near the front of the complex is full. They seem to issue tags liberally here, so I don't think there's a maximum on the number of vehicles per residence. Could be wrong there. Street parking is hit or miss, though it is available without that pesky Arlington Zone 6 permit. There is a lot at the bottom of the hill in the back of the complex, but it's a ----- to park there in the winter, as it's a chilly walk up the stairs back to the front, where I live. Second, the washers/dryers. Good Lord. There are only four for the complex, and the washers are small. Doing a normal load of laundry requires three of these things for me, and at $1.75 per machine, per wash cycle, ouch. Dryers are $1.75, too, so you're looking at $8-$10 to wash and dry. Better machines (and more of them) are badly needed.
While management was pretty cold to us when we informed them that we'll be moving out (I'm moving to a 1BR with my soon-to-be wife, and my roommate is moving closer to Georgetown with his girlfriend for work), they weren't unprofessional. The standard 30 days, etc.
There you have it. Hopefully this sheds some light on the usually useless reviews on this site that either gush or act like the place is hell on earth. You could do better, but I promise you, you could also do a lot worse.

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