I've lived in this building for almost four years now and love it. A few things to keep in mind:
There are several styles of unit, but every single unit looks different. There are "good" units, and "bad" units - CHECK WITH MANAGEMENT when you are RENTING to make sure the owner is in good standing. Ask why the previous tenants moved out. If you are buying, this doesn't apply to you. There are several colors of granite available and ways owners could upgrade their unit - plus, depending on previous tenants, these might be in great shape, or not so great shape.
There are a TON of dogs in the building. It is a VERY pet friendly building. If you hate animals, this probably isn't the place for you. I LOVE how pet friendly it is, and get very upset when people yell at me for having a dog. More than half of the building has pets, if you don't like animals, move somewhere that doesn't allow them.
There is a noisy side to the building. It's really not that bad. I've lived on the "quiet" and on the "noisy" side and never had problems with either, except for trying to sit on my porch in the summer time. When you are in your unit, you won't hear it unless you have super sonic ears.
The people in the building are FABULOUS. I'm talking residents AND staff. I LOVE the front desk staff. Jill, Anthony, everyone at the front desk is sweet, helpful and great to talk to. If you ever feel like they ask for your ID all the time, it's because THEY HAVE TO. It's their JOB. I LOVE that they make me say why I lost my fob, because I moved in to a gated building for a reason. KEEP THE CREEPERS OUT. The residents (for the most part) are amazing. My best friends (made AFTER moving in) all live here and I am so grateful to have met them. I have a ton of people who are a stones throw away that I adore, and there are TONS of opportunities to meet people in the building. Boris and the maintenance staff are great. They are kind, quick to act and always fix things ASAP.
The amenities cannot be beat. Indoor/outdoor pool and tennis courts and a nice gym? There are NO buildings in the area with comparable amenities for the cost. All of them are well maintained and clean, and the gym does have a pretty robust selection of equipment.
PARKING: If you have a spot or a garage, great, but you really don't need it. There is ALWAYS parking (MORE than enough for guests), and the front desk is great about being flexible with guest passes. Having a spot is great for when it snows, so you don't have to worry about someone being a jerk and taking the spot you just shoveled out, but there is always parking.
The storage units are always easy to buy or rent - there is typically at least one for sale, and they are super useful. Finding your unit might be difficult, but it's part of the fun :)
Best things about this building: it's super close to the metro - AND THERE IS A SHUTTLE. It's SAFE - there are VERY few gated communities in the area. It's VERY well priced - to rent OR own. It's REALLY nice - comparable buildings in the area are twice as expensive.
Worst part about the building is the high school kids who park in the middle of George C Marshall and can't properly park. They walk in the middle of the street and are completely oblivious to the world not revolving around them, so you need to be super careful driving down the street during school hours.
I cannot say enough good things about this building. I've lived in two "split-style" two bedroom units, and now live in a one bedroom, and loved all of the units I lived in. I love the staff here, and I love the location. It's quick, convenient and makes me feel safe. The "angry" reviews are obviously very specific one off cases and are not true for a lot of the people who live here. This is a great building - talk to a resident on a tour of a unit and you will get a real review. read more