1001 @ Waterfront

The location is great, prices are below the city's crazy high average for units this size, and the culture among residents is one of minding one's own business unless something egregious is going on, but being willing to help/share info etc. when it's asked for. There are, however, a lot of issues. The main one is that the boiler system, which governs both HVAC and hot water, is consistently inconsistent because it's an old building, and there's nothing residents can really do about that except open windows when it's randomly 80+ degrees in their apartment. Elevators, laundry, parking lot lights, and even sometimes exterior doors have also been known to break, neighborhood safety and building security are hit or miss, and because management does basically nothing to make package delivery accessible, packages often just get left in random spots. The leasing office is also often difficult to work with, in fairness to them in part because it feels like residents are always up in arms about their frustrations, so renewing your lease, getting a parking pass, etc. can often be a chore, although I've always been able to get it done. I'm giving it one star because the prompt says 2 is 'ok' and 1 is 'poor', and this is clearly a review of a 'poor' building. I can put up with all of this stuff because the benefits of the location are really good for my lifestyle, while I can kinda just suck it up when it comes to the problems, which are nevertheless pretty serious. If paying low rent while being able to get to Navy Yard and Safeway very easily, and U Street/Petworth/Columbia Heights/work along the green line with a tiny bit more work, is worth playing interminable email tag games with leasing and having it randomly be too hot for clothes in the winter to you, come live here and we can ignore each other.

Pros: Location, Parking Lot and the neighbors / community who look out for one another - most of the neighbors have been here a long time and take pride in the space/ building. Cons: Management and leasing is beyond unprofessional with verbal and written communication. Their lack of basic comprehension, mutual respect and critical thinking is highly visible with the lack of care and planning when it comes to make strategic decisions, communicating to residents or making sound judgement. While I understand the building is basic and pretty self sufficient - it is their obvious neglect of the building and working offsite which is causing a steady decline in the safety, cleanliness and overall appearance of the community. Shady practices and knee jerk reactions / corrections is all you can expect as a resident until they are removed from management.

Lived in this building for 2 years, and it was okay for the first 9 months. In March 2020, things got bad – First, The Bernstein Company fired the building manager without telling us. The new building manager never responded to emails unless I sent a follow-up a few days later. During summer 2020, they removed all staff from the building’s leasing and security office, again without notifying us. We were eventually told that staff would now work from the offices at the luxury apartment down the street, and that no security personnel would be onsite from then on. Then, management left both the former leasing office and the former gym “under construction” for months, while the gym was being turned into a second package room for some reason and the office was being turned into a new gym. A few times, groups of tenants met with the building manager and her supervisor, but both employees seemed uninterested in communicating with tenants or resolving our concerns. Other changes made it clear that they didn’t care about quality of life in the building as well. When we moved in, daytime guest parking passes were free, there was a Comcast representative for the building, and the basement had an indoor recycling area and a table where tenants could give items away for free. Over 2020, management took away all of these amenities, all without any communication with tenants. It felt like The Bernstein Company abandoned the building so they could instead focus their resources on their nearby luxury apartment. The worst part about living in this building was the terrible HVAC system. Our apartment faced south, so the large windows grew hotter and hotter throughout the day, baking the entire unit. Just one small window in the unit opened, leading to poor circulation. Even with the window open, fans running, and all blinds closed, temperatures in the apartment regularly reached the 80s. Units have no thermostats – the building controls the temperatures, so on hot days in April or October, there was no AC at all. Even at full blast, I don’t think the building’s AC system was prepared for the summer temperatures, and it broke often (and with a building manager as unresponsive as this one is, that’s not a situation you want to be in). We had some sweaty days working from home in 1001 @ Waterfront. Only move into this building if you have a high tolerance for frustration and can secure a unit that doesn’t face south. It's cheap for the area, but you get what you pay for.

The building is very old and you cannot control the AC unit. There have been far too many days where my apartment was reading 80 degrees and all I could do was to pray for cooler weather. Lack of communication and honestly lack of care from the management team.

The management of this building is horrendous. Unresponsive, unprofessional, just a mess. Maintenance isn’t great, the “gym” has barely anything in it, the only good thing is the units are decent sizes and have nice views but still... not worth the headache of living here.

This was once a great place to live, until new management team took over and stripped away many of the amenities. We no longer have security on-site, which is a major concern as I often found the front door not properly locked. Packages are left everywhere in the lobby. Many instances where packages went missing. Water was shut off in the building for the entire day without any notice. The management team simply did not care about the wellbeing of the tenants here.

The building is old with no updates. You have no control over your heating and A/C, you have to call maintenance to adjust every time it is too hot or too cold. Old windows that leak, look for water stains.

Great would tell friends about the apartment staff is friendly and helpful to all . Just moved here a few months ago , super happy to be apart of the community . The building is quiet , apartments are very big in square feet and closet space. Even though the building is older it is very well kept . My family loved the location get restaurants to walk to and right next to shopping areas .

Great location and free utilities. The gym is still under construction and I have not been able to work out, other than that its a great place.

Absolutely avoid! This building used to make sense a while ago when it had different management. These days, you are much much much better off looking elsewhere. The management is rude, unprofessional and unresponsive. There is no communication from the management, no responses to your concerns. It is impossible to get any attention to any issues you might be having. At the same time, there are surprise charges they tried to implement during the pandemic!!! The building needs urgent updates. Problems include: routinely broken AC/heater, water/hot water issues, mice, lost/undelivered mail packages, lack of cleaning in common areas, etc. Instead of fixing the issues, the management tries to find dishonest ways to charge residents for something new. There are many more options in the neighborhood that are also cheaper at this point.

When I moved in over 5 years ago utilities (water, gas, electric) were included. In 2018, management sent an email stating that residents would be charged monthly utilities but the charges would be capped at $45. In June 2020, new management took over and all residents began getting high utility charges (some upwards of $180). When residents brought this to the attention of the new management, management not only dismissed the $45 cap but was insistent residents pay the high fees. Then, when threatened with being reported to OTA, management suddenly had a change of heart and sent an email stating that moving forward utilities would be included in monthly rent. Beware of sneaky charges and good luck getting ahold of anyone in the leasing office. While this building has, in the past, had a very nice community, the management has been sneaking hidden and unexplained costs into monthly billings and unresponsive or short when speaking to you. Management brought "new" patio furniture to the patio area. Surprise, surprise, the patio was used and from another property and had small bugs crawling all over it. Bike "storage" is outdoors and not secure. Packages are left in an unattended lobby DAILY. Many residents have complained of missing and lost packages. There is NO security officer in this building. A "concierge" at a neighboring building comes to this building to check for packages and do a walkthrough. If there's an emergency you're better off calling 911. Management has instructed me on numerous occasions to report noise or other emergencies directly to the DC police and not call our building security. Lease renewal - I have been asking for a new lease for WEEKS and have yet to receive any proof on paper of a renewed lease. I'm told that I've been renewed but management refuses to send proof of any kind. I never signed a renewal, all I have is an email saying I'm renewed.

I've lived in this apartment for 3 years and the past year has been a nightmare. Multiple property management changes this year alone, an influx of pests including mice and roach citings in multiple units, constant issues with utility charges and lost leases, and poor communication from "management." They moved all security and leasing agents off the property so not only does the property feel unsafe now, but there is no one around to hold accountable when things happen (for example, the front door was broken for weeks so anyone could walk in off the street). When we raised these concerns with property management we were told that the lack of communication was because they were "cleaning up" the last property managers mistakes. Zero responsibility. Zero accountability. I've had ongoing water damage from a ceiling leak in my unit that happened in 2018 and despite asking for assistance, I've been met with silence. Don't move here or to 301 M (same property management). Spend your money somewhere that cares about you and your living conditions

The new management of this building (as of the beginning of the summer) will singlehandedly run it into the ground. They are dishonest and extremely difficult to work with, and make it crystal clear they don't care about the residents of the building as it is one of the older ones in the management company's portfolio. Your emails and calls to them with any concerns or questions will go unanswered, I promise. For the most part, I enjoyed living there. You get what you pay for, and I was fine with that. The new management, however, made it an absolute nightmare to live there, adding unforeseen charges to residents' accounts with no explanation, expecting them to pay. Don't expect them to return your security deposit when you move out, either. You are MUCH better off spending a little more money to live elsewhere.

The building recently had a management change without notice. The new property manager is off site, non responsive to emails and phone calls. If you put in a repair request expect to wait 2-4 business days for it to be completed. They also got rid of the on site security with the management change and one resident even had his window shot in recently.

As other posts mention, the new management company is horrendous. They got rid of the property manager who had been there for years, and replaced him with people who obviously don't care about the property because there are newer, more expensive properties that the management company wants to pay more attention to. The only redeeming qualities of the building are the price, size of the apartments, and the nighttime security guards. We had problems with practically everything else during our two years living here, and I would strongly caution against doing so.

It seems too good to be true because it is. Yes the apartments are spacious but they are still expensive and not worth the price. Constant little fees, the AC/Heat frequently do not work properly. In the water was reset (which is often is without much warning) and the pressure has not been the same since. The dryers barely work. Worst of all, the management seems unresponsive to issues or half heartedly addresses them. Pay more and live somewhere else, I certainly will when my lease is up. Two stars not one because I find the night guards to be very nice and helpful and they deserve some recognition.

Seems like a great deal at first and in some ways it is. A lot more square footage than similarly priced apartments in the area but there are so many problems with this building that it is hardly worth the price. The elevators rarely work, though I think they are supposed to be starting a long repair project but that will mean one of the two elevators will be down for months. The laundry room in the basement constantly has about 50% of the machines broken and I have never seen anyone come to fix them. Last summer the AC worked about 60% of the time. In the past month they have had to turn the building's water off at least 5x for "emergency preventive care". Unfortunately this is usually done with almost no warning. Whenever they come to my apartment to fix a problem they leave a mess and usually only partially fix the issue. It is a nice amount of space in a decent location but honestly it is still more expensive then it should be.

Location is unbeatable for the price - steps from metro, groceries, pharmacy, library, Warf, Nats stadium, and now DC United! Plus the history of the neighborhood and building are pretty cool. Still has the original elevators from 60's with funky old-school buttons. The neighbors are friendly and respectful. The windows in the apartments are huge and amazing. Parking is cheapest in the area with easy no fuss guest passes available. The building and grounds are kept clean and well maintained. No bugs or pests. Maintenance issues were always quickly resolved. The private courtyard is surrounded by large magnolia trees that smell divine when in bloom - a great place to unwind with a glass of wine and friends. Property Management is among the best of places I’ve lived. Carlos, the Property Manager, is professional, courteous, and great with communication. Staff was always helpful and nice. Highly recommend.

Trust me look ELSEWHERE--- The price and location are good but not worth your peace of mind. Over Thanksgiving weekend 2017, there was a carbon monoxide leak-luckily no one was injured. The Fire Department broke down doors to save lives and snatched open windows to try to ventilate so many of the residents came home, if they were away during the break - to find their units in shambles, with lights and windows on- fans on - potentially for days and with our locks changed without proper notification. The property manager is nonchalant. Not good. They finally decided to install Carbon monoxide units in each Apt. Sorry - not when someone could have died -concierge is available every other hour -Elevator is slow and Glitchy -NO Central A/C -Rooms facing courtyard are hot in summer and hot in the winter -Keep your windows open Year-round but beware -- the weed smokers are regulars around here -prices are going up because of the Wharf - don't be fooled -This Bernstein Company property is not worth the hassle

The Great: Location matters, and by now you obviously know it's super close to the Waterfront Metro station, Safeway grocery store, CVS, and library. That's awesome. Beautiful walk to Chinatown, even closer to Arena Stage, Nationals, and Yards Park. For you out-of-towners, Waterfront is just THREE stops from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro--one of the busiest areas of downtown. Getting downtown is a breeze, and so is getting out of town--the airport is a quick Metro or drive across the river, and if you're driving to Maryland or Virginia, several major highways are easily accessible. Waterfront is a diverse neighborhood and like all neighborhoods it has its share of joys and challenges, public art and crime, development and stagnation. Overall it is a really charming place. The very good: But what about price, you ask? Also very good. DC rent is pretty awful, but we found one of the best deals in town. Like everywhere the rent rises over time, but it's still pretty good. The one-bedrooms appear to be the best balance of price versus square footage. The good: Maintenance is reliable and fairly speedy, but sometimes needs a reminder. But good news: the need for a reminder will likely go away now that the building is using a work-order-tracking system for maintenance requests. The meh: Leasing agent has changed a couple times in the past few years; Hillary is fantastic but got promoted to another position (she's still in the company, so you can still reach her). Her replacement, Will, did not garner as much support from residents, though to his credit, he did seem to earnestly care. The current agent, Dominque, seems well-intentioned but strikes some as distant at times, and announcements or letters she sends are not always grammatically correct. Not that we don't all make mistakes (heck, I probably made a typo or two in this review) but consistent typos raise questions about attentiveness on substantive issues that really matter. But it is early yet in Dominique's tenure, and residents are hopeful that she will settle into her role and continue build positive relationships with residents. The upshot: The pros considerably outweigh the cons. This is a very good value, in a fantastic location.

This apartment is less than a block to the metro and the grocery store (which themselves are right next to each other). You don't even need to cross the street! Other pros - - Low rent for DC, especially for walkable, metro-accessible DC - The basic one-bedroom is on the large size for DC - Lots of closet space - Large windows that let in lots of light - Nice views (it depends, of course, on where you are and how high up, but you could be looking at loads of trees in the distance, or the Capitol - Water and calm spaces nearby. The river is just a couple of blocks away -- great for running in the morning. It's also slated for lots of development - Walking distance to some great parts of the city. The southern end of the National Mall is about a 15 minute walk. From there, it's easy to keep walking a bit more to get to the Chinatown/Penn Quarter area, which is filled with restaurants. Walk in another direction, and you'll be at the National's Stadium and the new riverfront in 10 minutes. Keep going and you'll be at Barracks Row and Eastern Market Cons- - These are not luxury apartments. No fancy kitchens or polished interiors. While it's generally OK for our needs, it's the type of place that's hard to truly clean because there's inevitably a spot where paint is peeling, etc. - No dishwasher - Small kitchen (not the smallest in DC though) - Sad apartment carpet - No pets allowed :-( - The laundry room was just upgraded, but, there are no machines in apartments - For some reason they shut off water with some frequency. Not sure if this is a DC thing, or the building itself, but it's strange. They usually give warning though, and it's usually during the workday when fewer people are at home

Have been living here for almost a year in a Junior One Bedroom for a great price. PROS - Very convenient location (metro 4 minutes away, close to the waterfront) - Great views if you face North and are up high (Washington Monument, the Capitol...) - Great deal financially CONS - Move-in fees very high compared to newer buildings in the neighborhood - No control over the A/C (neither the temperature nor the flow) - No pets - Carpet everywhere - Building a bit run-down - "Up and coming" neighborhood means you will see shootings and police activity from your window more often than you wish Great deal if you need somewhere to transition or save money for a bit! We enjoyed living here but are happy to move on.