Let's get the minimal positives out of the way first.

1. Location - The location really is awesome. Pentagon City Metro station is right outside the door, you can walk to the grocery store, mall, everything, very easily.

2. Moving In - The entire leasing process, moving in, and the first week were great. The staff was nice, helpful and communicative.


3. Penthouse - The Penthouse area was redone about a yearish ago. The gym is brand new, also new party rooms and a business center. This area is really nice. The pool is clean and well taken care of (I wish that the hours were not so strict, and that at least adults could swim w/o lifeguards but, such it is). The view from the top floor is just amazing.
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The bad stuff.

1. Noise - There is virtually no noise from neighbors here, the rooms are pretty sound proof. Outside is often loud because of the street and a firehouse near by, but that isn't the apartment's fault, and like I said, the location is awesome, and sometimes you have to put up with general traffic noise to live in a convienent area. That being said...for the past few months they have been doing remodelling on the apartments people move out of. The noise is constant, on a near daily basis (including weekends). Sometimes starting before 8am. Waking up at 745 on a Saturday because of something that sounds like a jackhammer is NOT good. The noise from the remodels is seriously insane. If you work at home do NOT move here, at least until they are DONE with the entire building. They finished an apartment above me, and I was so relieved, only to have an apartment next door be worked on immediately after. The noise is so horrible, and I haven't gotten a break in months. The WORST part about it is that there was NO notice from the management that this was going to be going on. Months now, and no comment, no fliers posted, no sorry excuse our noise, nothing.

3. Elevators - There are 3 elevators total for a huge building (16 floors, plus 2 underground parking levels). Because of the remodel, one elevator is constantly out of use. That leaves 2, only one of which will go down to the parking area. There are LONG waits for the elevators. Often you'll have to get off in the lobby and wait for the elevator that goes down to the parking garage. A 5 minute wait is pretty average these days.

4. Water - Within the past few months, the water is shut off about once a week from 9-5. They do at least give notices for when this happens. Often times it will go an hour past the time it was supposed to be turned back on. Again, very inconvienent.

5. Heat/Cooling - I read another review here that said the heating and cooling rarely needed to be turned on, but I don't find this true at all. In my former apartment I turned the heat on two times all winter. This winter I rarely had the heat off, which sucks now that we have to pay for all of our utilities. The AC has been turned on for most of the summer also. This place does NOT retain heat or cool well at all. The radiators also have mold coming from them, literally. I wish that I could post a picture, but the vents get clogged with mold and I have to clean them about once a week. I'm sure that isn't a good thing to be breathing. Also, often the heat/cooling will not work. Usually the air coming out is very cool, but occasionally (and again, with no notice from the staff) it will be shut off or broken and only lukewarm air will blow out.

Appliances - The appliances in the apartments are antiquated. The tiles in the bathroom are falling down, the washer, dishwasher, and sink all leak. When you call the maintenance staff they say they can do nothing about the bathroom tiles (or they just caulk on top of old caulk, which immediately falls down). The leaks in the kitchen they fix by strapping towels around the leaks. The refrigerator and freezer doors don't close all of the way. The washer and dryer are very small and extremely old. It takes 2 hours plus to dry a small load of clothes. The dishwasher does not get things clean, and I have gone to washing everything by hand. The range is very old and doesnt work well.

Outlets - Several of the outlets in my apartment do not work. I have asked to have them fixed, but the staff says that nothing can be done about it (how nice...).

Closet Doors - The folding closet doors are old. Mine have fallen down several times, and will not close all of the way when they are up.

Parking Area - I mentioned above the problem with the elevators and the parking area. This is a particular problem when you have a lot of bags or something, and are waiting forever for the one elevator that goes to the garage. Also, you have no assigned spots, and they don't allow you to park even one car free. It's 65 a month for one car, I'm not sure on additional cars. The parking area floods often, and large areas cannot be used. The doors break and are left open a lot.

I think that is about everything, good and bad, about this place. I'm not writing this out of anger, I just want everyone to be fully aware. I'm sure there are better places in the area. If nothing else, at least wait until the remodel is completely finished, then maybe this would be a better place to live.

User Responses
From: gigglebit	Date: 08/28/2005
hope they fix this soon....
From: SouthNWest-	Date: 06/26/2006
Oh My, you live in a trap!! Come over to Crystal Towers on So EADS and 15th. Even though you read some people's negatives about CT. we are living in a much better place. Over all, our 4 elev. work very fast and all go to the garage, the lobby and click cafe are constantly cleaned as well as the elevators and hall carpets. Our apt is beautiful, 2 BR, 2 baths all new and the kitchen sparkles with new tiles, sink appliances and all work... new carpet and a 20'x7' balcony. Yes, we too have the fire engines..going to help someone in need......

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