Keep in mind that some buildings are worse than others and that we go completely out of our way to avoid any contact with management, which everyone seems to have a problem with. My roommate and I are in #107.
The good:
Rent well worth the great location and decency of the apartment. Great size of bedrooms. Nice neighborhood. Very quiet. Low crime. Close to everything. Right next to Rt. 50, I-395, and I-66.
The conditions are livable and will not interfere with your life as with a nightmarish apartment, house, landlord, or neighborhood can cause. Not many kids either.
The bad.... oh mercy.... the bad:
*Roaches come and go as they please. They only get more furious if you stomp on their friends or spray them.
*The tiny, tiny, tiny, and uncleanable bathroom and kitchen. Old, flaky stains resist even the most devastating of cleaning agents ever manufactured. The tiny little spaces between the walls, appliances, sinks, toilet, etc. are virtually impossible to reach. The kitchen and bathroom are impractical and damn close to unusable. Hot water is only warm (at best), no dishwasher, no garbage disposal.
*Thin walls and ceilings. Lucky for me and my roommate, the girls upstairs are respectable and well behaved. Unfortunately, we can hear their every move. We almost feel like Big Brother. We know the songs they listen to, we know if one of them is sick or has allergies, we know if they are on the phone or have friends over, we know their cleaning habits, we know their work schedule, we know if they are in a good or bad mood, we know all without ever meeting or even seeing them up close. We know. No, we are not stalkers or even nosy. It's just that every step they take resonates through our ceiling and the entire building knows when someone opens or closes a door. It really is that bad. If you have ever been in a W&L building, you must already know.
*Lack of any basic amenity. No pool, gym, patios, balconies, picnic areas, nothing. Not so bad though, but the essentials like laundry, parking, closet space, etc. are of trailer park caliber. Watch out for merciless tow trucks that tow for no reason and try to avoid the dungeons that contain the laundry machines. Speaking of which, my roommate once got his clothes stolen from one of the machines!!!! Unbelievable....
The Verdict:
I really cannot in good conscience recommend W&L to someone looking for a "nice" place. If you want a decent and cheap place to live, W&L will deliver. The location is also amazing. Right down the street from Clarendon, and ZERO traffic lights to downtown DC. Okay, one light if you take 50 east just as you exit the complex...but that doesn't count because it's always green anyway. Only a 3-minute drive either way!
I say pay the extra few bucks and get a nice place, but if you are a little bit resilient, need the extra cash for other stuff, and MUST have a great location, go for it. Good luck!

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates