This is my first apartment, and I know it's helpful to read reviews online but alot of them are unreasonable. So here's my attempt at being totally honest and unbiased.

Rent costs:
It costs an arm and a leg to live anywhere in the dc metro, but I've found that Summit Square is very reasonable. It was the cheapest we'd found out of the ones we looked at, and I dont think the place is dumpy. Its not brand new and beautiful, but it's definitely not trashy.

Community:
Although 66 is just on the other side, you feel like you're out of the way a little bit. It's pretty darn quiet here for the most part (sometimes you'll hear a stereo outside, or a siren now and then). Theres a park down the road, and its a nice area to take a walk in. I feel safe going out for walks by myself and feel safe when I come home at night.

Other renters:
People here tend to keep to themselves and don't really talk to you at all, but I definitely feel safe around the people that are renting as well.

Apartments in general:
For the most part, I love my apartment. It is very open and spacious, and I love the big windows. The carpets are clean, I have a big laundry room with shelving, fireplace (even though I never use it), and a cute little balcony if I ever choose to go outside for a bit. The wallpaper in my bathroom is ugly but hey, its just the bathroom. Not like I have to stare at it for a long time! Cupboards, kitchen and bathroom floors could use updating and appliances look old (no problems with them or anything, just outdated I guess).

Noise:
The only thing that we don't like is that we can hear our neighbor upstairs. We affectionately call him bigfoot. It sounds like he's wearing lead boots. I understand it's an apartment and that you'll hear people walking, but sometimes they scare the crap out of you if they get up in the middle of the night (sounds like he fell out of bed). We had a noise complaint once about us running around at all hours of the night--but I don't know what that pertains to. We go to bed at about 10:30 since we both work. And yes, we may get up in the middle of the night for a drink or to use the bathroom but... I THINK thats my right. So expect to hear your neighbors. We can hear our neighbors phone ring VERY clearly. But haven't heard them make any other noise or talking. Sometimes you'll hear a few drunk people outside late at night.

Maintenance:
Since we've been there (about a year), the maintenance of the grounds has gone down hill a little. It seems that they keep up with it the least amount possible. When it rains, the sidewalk will flood and dirt and mulch are everywhere and you have to tiptow through some nasty deep puddles to get to the steps sometimes. They finally got some people in to make the yard look nice, but they hired people to do the roofs (reshingling) and their bulldozers totally ripped up the yard. theres hardly any grass left by the back building and the tire tracks are DEEP. What a mess. Its not as nice looking as it used to be. Also, we had a problem with our heater on the coldest day of the year, and they came and checked it and said that nothing was wrong--we should just turn it up higher. Well I think that was a little ineffective. Our auxillary heat was on for most of the winter. Also--management used to give us a few days to a week of notice that our apartments would be checked, but under the new management, they just did run throughs again last week and told us the night before. I'd at least like time to have my place semi clean, but they didn't let us have that this time. I woke up to pounding noises last saturday and I had no idea what was going on. I thought someone was fixing something but they were fixing the roof. Then we got a paper saying that the workers would be there from 9-4. No problem right' Wrong. They've been there till 6 or 7 quite a few nights, and when I get home from work, it would be nice if I didn't have to listen to more noise (especially when we are told that they wouldn't be there). I know other residents are upset about this as well (there have been notes from disgruntled renters posted by our mailboxes).

Staff:
We had no problems at the beginning. When we got our complaint about guitars and drums playing and running around at all hours, we definitely wrote them back a letter. First off, we don't own drums. I own an acoustic guitar with no amp and it had never been taken out of the case since I moved in. And like I said before, it's my right to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. They seemed to be very nice at the beginning, but as time went on, they acted bothered with anything you needed. (well, mainly just one person). Also (this is the main complaint we have) I had a friend that liked my apt and she recommended it to her boyfriend. So they came to the office to check out the place, and they told them that they aren't renting out apts anymore, they're turning them into condos. Wait, what' Yeah, thats what I thought. They never told us this. And when I called to ask, they just said they aren't renting out apartments anymore. Then my fiance called and confronted them and they said they don't know whats going on. They had just switched management too. So everything seems a bit shady. I'm sure they're going to send us a letter 30 days before our lease is up saying that they aren't renting anymore and we need to find another place to go. In this area its pretty hard to find a place in a month within your price range while you work a full time job. They probably don't want anyone to leave (which I'm sure everyone would since THEY'D be the ones breaking the lease and we wouldn't be entitled to pay the rest of the rent). I just dont like the fact that they're probably lying to all their renters. Not cool.

Parking:
Parking never seems to be a problem for me. If you come home late at night, you may have to park around the corner from where you usually do, but there are always spots open somewhere.

A few last words:
We have been happy here until very recently. We actually wanted to stay here because it's a pain to move out, but since the management has changed, it's gone downhill (who knows, could be just a rough transition). But the whole possibility of being kicked out a month before the lease is up and not being told well beforehand kind of upset me. I want to live in a community where the staff is brutally honest--whether it be good or bad. Its quiet, close to most everything and safe. Overall, I would recommend it here. Like anywhere you rent, there are things that definitely need some work. But I think its a pretty good deal for the apartment (in this area).

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