Pros: Friendly staff, low rent, monthly community meetings where problems are addressed directly to the managers, new appliances, allow pets, 0.7 miles to the ballston and virginia square metro, cheap utilities, lots of children playing outside.

Cons: building not well insulated from sound, parking not always close to building, some buildings have had cockroach and bedbug problems in the past which have been mostly addressed.

If you are looking for a garden style apartment complex close to Ballston and Virginia square for a low price, Gates of Ballston is a great place to live. Unlike much of Arlington's apartment complexes, Gates of Ballston is a community with lots of diversity, most likely due to its mixed housing status. I truly enjoyed living in this community and would recommend it to others.

The staff at Gates is very accommodating and will respond to noise and other problems related to other house guests. After I moved in, I had a noisy disrespectful neighbor I reported to the management office. The management responded by issuing a cease and desist order to this person. A building was vandalized with spray paint, but was dealt with immediately.

Parking can be tricky just as with all rental properties. It can be difficult for people to drop in, but there is street parking close by, and guests can always park in the ballston mall - a close neighbor to this property.

Keep in mind, this is a garden style community, and these apartments have all been updated with brand new everything in the last 1 to 3 years, but these buildings are still older, and have older building problems. I never experienced any bug issues, but I know that there were some issues around the complex.

The market-price apartments all have a washer and dryer in unit, but the income-qualified units do not. There is on-site laundry.

For Low-cost housing in a hot area, I would recommend this complex.

RECOMMENDED TO: people looking to save a buck. people who want to be close to ballston, but not pay ballston prices. people who want to know their neighbors. people who want to walk to the grocery store, bar, and metro.

NOT RECOMMENDED TO: people who are trying to cut corners and demand a luxurious complex. people who have 8 cars and lazy friends. people who consider themselves "not the tidiest."

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