Crystal Square Apartments

I would agree with the reviews. I like the building, the location and my actual apartment. However, the management is horrendous to deal with.
If there is ever any issue, they are very unresponsive or not bother to do anything about a problem. Emails and calls are more often then not, never responded to. Aleta and Jessica specifically are a nightmare to deal with. When you speak to them, its like they have robot responses to your question and could careless about what is happening.
As much as the management changes in this place… about every 3 – 4 months, i’m surprised these two have not been fired.
If you have any maintance issue, the guys who do that are wonderful though– very quick to respond.
Overall, building, apt, and location are great— Management is the reason i am leaving when my lease is up.

I checked about 10 apartments in this area. This is one of the best ones.
This is a old building but has been renovated gradually. They have an amazing gym on the top floor with a great view of an airport. There is a big swimming pool and BBQ sets. Good location. The rent is normal but they don’t have a big military discount. Free Starbucks coffee. Decaf one was gone for two days as far as I know. I wish they had free tea too.
Now I’m waiting for a chance that a bigger room with good sunshine will be vacant.

Bottom line, I would not refer a family member or friend to stay at this apartment complex. I was a resident for 5 years. However, over the last several months things have gotten a little out of hand for me and I decided to move on to a different complex.
Since living at the apartment complex the property management has changed hands several times. With the multiple change overs there has never been any consistency in the answers from questions that I have inquired about. Each day there has always been something different. This has led to a lot of confusion and definitely not something I wanted to deal with long term. For example, one evening I came home and found multiple law enforcement agencies in the building and about half of them were wearing hazmat gear. I asked the leasing office what was going on and they stated that there was nothing to worry about. Finally I was made aware from a police officer that there was a suspected drug lab in the building. That evening I sent a notice to the property management asking for an updated. They stated as soon as they had more information they would provide it. That was over a month and half ago and I still have not received any notification. Actually the newspaper and police station provided me with all the information. In the end I just didn’t feel safe being in the environment or having my niece and nephew around that either when I babysat them.
Another downside was that the complex itself is NOT a smoke free facility. This was a huge reason why I moved out. My neighbors were heavy smokers. It amazed me because my neighbors were always in the evening and weekends on their patio smoking. It wouldn’t have been such a huge problem but the apartment complex turns off the a/​c around October and turns on the heat. You don’t have the ability to have a/​c until they switch it back over which is usually around April. With that in mind, and the fluctuation of the weather this winter season, I would open up my windows because it would get rather toasty in my apartment. Without fail my neighbors would be outside smoking and the windows from my place were so close to them that when they would smoke the smell would coming into my apartment. For a non-​smoker this was a turn-​off for me.
Also, I had many problems throughout the holidays with cockroaches. I’ve never had an issue with this in all my time living in different apartment complexes and definitely something I never want to have to go through again. I did go down and complain to the front desk staff (which is awesome!) and them immediately arranged an exterminator to come in. After talking to the exterminator he stated that until the other residents stopped leaving trash piling up in the trash room this would continually be a problem. I sent an email to the leasing department and once again a reply back to me stated they would send out a notice. However, that was months ago and there still is no notice that has been sent out.
Don’t get me wrong, the apartment complex is in a great location. One of the many reason I chose this place. Also, I am a commuter so the ease of walking downstairs to the metro was another huge plus. Crystal City in general is a GREAT place to live. The other upside to renting with this complex was the amazing maintenance staff. Definitely top notch and I will be sad to leave for that! The apartments themselves have been renovated to an extend but it’s not the best renovation I have ever seen. Just little things like the kitchen counters. They are laminate and the edges would come undone and just be unpleasant to look at. Or the washer/​dryer they have in the apartment, it is one that is a dual washer/​dryer. It is good if you have a rather small load and are in no hurry with time. However, most of the time I used the laundry room because it was faster but that adds up with money after a while. It is a $ 1.90 to wash and then another $ 1.90 to dry. Not a huge deal breaker but sometimes it just became an inconvenience.
Once again, this has just been my experience with living at the apartment complex. I see the reviews online about others that are happy with their stay there and I think that’s great. In the end it was just a better option for me because I found another apartment a few blocks down the street that has just been built in the last few years so it is updated and the cost was cheaper for me to move out. In the end I hope this helps someone so they don’t go into a year lease wishing they knew more than what all the other average hey this is great or hey this is awful review stated.

I’ve lived here for almost two years now. I can say for certain, you will not find a more convenient place to live. The metro is in your basement, you don’t even have to go outside. There is a Rite Aid with minimal groceries and a small little Market Pantry store in the basement. There are plenty of restaurants near by, everyone delivers. I think a list might make this easier.
Pros:
Location
Underground parking (for a price)
Gym in building
Pool (full sized, not splash)
Laundry (there are very few apartments with a full washer and dryer, mostly 3 bedrooms, but if you can find one of the 2 bedrooms, grab it, trust me)
Square footage
Pet friendly
Staff is exceptionally friendly and reliable (Maint. and Concierge. Leasing is hit and miss, though I love Delores!)
Huge balconies (if you get a balcony)
Concrete ceilings (you don’t really hear your neighbors except through the vents in the kitchen and bathroom)
Cons:
This is a very old building, they put in as little as they can get away with (I get it, that’s just business folks)
The radiators are disgusting (goes back tot he old building deal)
The windows don’t seal well, not bad for weather, but terrible for noise (especially if you are facing Route 1)
Laundry (I started in a 1 bedroom with the all in one washer dryer, never again. There are laundry rooms on every other floor, but you have to pay.)
If I’m nitpicking I’ll mention people who don’t pick up after their pets (there are a lot), but this is true of any dog friendly area.
Price, though to be fair I think it’s pretty average for the area. There is a rent increase annually, though if you talk with leasing they are pretty flexible.
I would recommend this building for almost anyone, the exception perhaps being kids as there isn’t much for them to do in the city or the area.

I was looking for apartments to rent online and really liked Crystal Square. I read everything on their website and was going to apply, but decided to stop by the apartments first to see what it looked like. I drove 30 minutes in crappy weather to see this place. I needed 2 minutes of their time. The office closes at 5 p.m. and I showed up at 4:25 p.m. Someone was already in the leasing office when I arrived.
The concierge went into the leasing office after a little bit to let her know that I was waiting. Then another resident went in there to tell her after I told this resident I was already waiting for 30 minutes. The resident came back out and said that they were just having a regular conversation in there…
I waited 40 minutes on this person in the waiting area and when she finally came out with an attitude, she said, well the office is closed now, so I can’t show you any apartments. I asked her, even after 40 minutes of waiting? Her answer was well that’s policy and I can’t show you and I’m still leasing an apartment for someone else right now. After wasting 45 minutes there with a rude leasing person, I left. If they treated me like that in their leasing office how would they treat me after I would have signed the lease???
They don’t know anything about customer service. Rude, rude, rude.

We’ve lived in Crystal Square for 2.5 years and it’s been a great home. You cannot beat the location.
The size of the apartment is great, as is the balcony. You cannot get this space or a balcony like this for prices this great anywhere else in Arlington (that’s metro accessible, at least). The amenities are nice: big pool and rooftop sundeck. The gym is fine, but we ended up joining a gym down the street because it was nicer.
Just know, the leasing office/​management company really doesn’t care about your or your apartment. The maintenance people are nice and do the best they can. However, if you want something from the leasing office, you often have to harass them.
I’d recommend looking at Crystal Square, if you’re interested in this area. And focus on the actual apartment, because that’s where you’ll be spending 95% of your time in the building.

Don’t give them your email if you are even considering looking at these apartments. I found a different apartment two months ago and I can not seem to get them to stop hounding me even after calling twice and emailing multiple times.

When I found Crystal Square, I thought ‘this is it.’ I was so sure I had found our next home. It has everything we wanted: pet-​friendly, spacious layout, walk-​in closet, balcony, and Metro access. But then I walked in.
The noise was overwhelming. The construction project in the garage below reverberates up to the top floor. I know these projects are necessary and unavoidable, but it was the complete lack of apology from the girl giving the tour that made me mentally cross this complex off my list before she unlocked the door.
Not only was the leasing office agent rude, she tried to shaft me on the advertised specials. «We don’t have anything in that low range,» she said smugly. Then she suggested I look elsewhere. She wasn’t even sorry when I called her out on it, having done my homework and gotten specific prices for designated apartment numbers. «Yes you do. There is one in my range on the 6^th floor.» Silence. «Oh. I forgot about that one.» Sure you did.
The garage construction is slated to last another 6 months. That is half a year’s rent spent on making sure I am out of my apartment from 9 – 5 to be sure I don’t suffer long-​term hearing loss. Where is the «sorry for the HUGE inconvenience» discount? I feel terrible for current residents.
Even once the project is completed, I am not sure we would look here as the service is completely lacking and the complex has abysmal reviews on
. Not worth it for Crystal City.