Considering I just moved here a little over 3 weeks ago, I'm writing this review mostly about my experience leasing, moving in, and my general experience with the staff/maintenance so far.
I absolutely love this building and could not be happier with my choice. I looked around in different areas in Ballston/Virginia Square and kept coming back to this place. The leasing office staff, especially Lorna, did an amazing job working with me to find exactly what I was looking for. They gave me time to think, let me walk around the apartment for a good amount of time, and answered every single question I have (and I grilled them). I had a tricky move in situation and they worked with me as much as they could to make it convenient for me. Move-in was extremely easy since they allow you 4 hours with the loading dock and have a luggage cart for use at the front desk that you can use to bring stuff up from outside or in the parking garage.
The staff at the front desk during the week is amazing - those two men make me feel so appreciated and safe living here. I would speak about the people there during the weekend, but I haven't really talked to any. Every time I come in the door they say hello and ask me how my day is going. Ad helped me get a great parking space in the garage, which is secure 24/7 and the parking spaces are large. The inside of the building is always immaculate, since cleaning people are there working on it every morning. Haven't had any troubles with the elevator, the gym, movie room, community room, or the business center. Every time they need to do maintenance on your apartment, whether it's the building making the decision or you asked for something done, they give you plenty of advance warning and leave you a work slip when they leave so that you will know they were in your apartment if you weren't there.
The location is perfect - right in between the Ballston Metro and the Virginia Square metro, less than 5 minute walk to either one. It also takes me less than 10 minutes to walk to Clarendon. It is very safe here, and as a girl living alone that's saying something. There are two grocery stores in walking distance as well, the Ballston Mall, a 7-eleven, a barber shop, a convenience store, and lots of restaurants. Like I said, Clarendon is less than a 10 minute walk, a 3 minute drive, or 1 metro stop away with lots of shopping and restaurants. To get to downtown DC, the metro takes about 10 minutes.
Rent: Pricey, but everywhere here is. They do run great specials like getting 2 months free rent on a 14 month lease which you can spread out to reduce your monthly payment by quite a bit. Utilities are not included in the rent, but it's a flat fee of $85 meaning that you do not have to be extremely cautious about your hot water and heat/AC. Parking is one space for $50 in the secured garage.
As I said before, this building is secured incredibly well. Someone is at the front desk 24/7 monitoring who is coming in and out. At 6pm, the doors lock, and in order to enter the building you need your fob. If you have visitors, the front desk can buzz them in or they can call you from the speakers outside and you can buzz them in.
With regard to noise, I don't hear a whole lot. The windows and balcony doors are pretty sound proof. Of course, you hear the occasional door closing in the hallway and sometimes running water. But that's normal in most apartments and is in no way a nuisance.
So, although I've only been here a few weeks, I don't regret anything at all. I would absolutely recommend this building to anyone. I will post again if anything changes from now until I move out, and when I move out I will post once again about that process. read more