Capitol Hill Tower

Just thought I'd update my reviews:

Constant complaining email on our internal message board: every single day someone asks if a dog is barking, is someone doing work on their unit, etc. Ironically it's their emails that are the most annoying to me. But it's not a quiet building.

Construction: the building is poorly built and tenants are frequently having issues with broken pipes, damaged floors, and generally renovating units. The building is over 15 years old and all the appliances are breaking down in it. Every HVAC is being replaced.

Endless emails complaining about mask wearing: The building policy has been to wear a mask in common areas. However several republican tenants feel it necessary to complain about wearing a mask for the short distance from the door of the building to their own doors. This is the level of empathy you can expect here. You can send messages anonymously, but honestly most of the anti-masker complainers put their names on their emails, blissfully unaware of how offensive they are to other residents.

Elevators: often broken, taking up to 5 minutes to come to your floor. Currently the freight elevator is out so nobody can move in or out of the building for about 15 days. Needed to move, fix an appliance, bring in construction materials? You are out of luck.

Cost of moving: I think we're over $400 now.

Amenities: gym equipment constantly broken or substandard, hottub not hot, courtyard in constant state of disrepair. The courtyard is basically just a smoker's den.

Recently several residents have taken to writing 5-star reviews because they are fearful that telling the truth will reduce the value of their investments. I've lived in this building for over 10 years and cannot wait to move out. If you want to live in the worst building in Navy Yard, my unit will soon be available!

I felt compelled to write a review, since many of the reviews are over a year old and complained about a manager that is no longer here. I first rented one of the units in 2013 and fell in love with the place, and after a couple of years passed I then bought the unit.

For the most part I've had a positive experience whenever I've interacted with the building manager, but I must admit that the previous manager wasn't easy to get along with. However that's only one component of making this place a home, and it would also have to include the vibes from your neighbors, the building amenities, its "look-and-feel", and also the general neighborhood. This place has top scores with all of that - the building's online community board has a lot of positive people actively participating, the interiors of the common areas were recently renovated, and the neighborhood has great restaurants & bars and is continually growing.

To also give an update on the building management - ever since several months ago it has been managed by a fellow named Andre Baker, and he has been incredibly supportive, friendly, and professional. Overall I feel very happy with my decision of buying this home.

Great location. Great friends, if you take time to meet your neighbors. Family Friendly and pet friendly. Renters and owners are treated well. Building manager is beyond 5 stars! Every building has it's quirks, but this one tries to improve every year and seems to be getting better and better. If you have a question, text me and I'll try to help. Lived here about 3 years as of 2022.
Carl
502-264-7943

Just noticed that a certain Yelp reviewer keeps updating their review with lots of negative information. Since their reviews seem to have progressed to personal attacks--I'll just say this person has gotten in trouble numerous times for breaking co-op rules. Take that with a grain of salt when you read their vitriol laden constant reviews. Many of which are completely false or mischaracterized. (Except they are right about the horrible anti-mask snobs).

Btw--the prior manager that people enjoyed attacking? Not only is she no longer at cht, she has passed away. Please be kind.

This building has been fortunate to now have a better building manager than before. That, along with upgraded interiors in the halls/lobby, and a maintenance team that does a good job, makes improved over a year ago. That said it still suffers from some seriously dumb policies. Move in/out fee is $400(!), and trying to get a loading dock reserved feels like youre rolling the dice on whether you'll get it. Not only do they have inflexible windows rhat usually will not align with moving companies, but they don't let you move in on weekends. How is that even possible? Once youre in the building is solid. Good location, well maintained, quiet, etc. but the hassles of dealing w the building is a massive deterrent.

I have lived in "CHT" for 4 years and I cannot say enough good things about it. The building is a cooperative, so I am technically a shareholder versus an owner and it makes me feel so tied to the community. Unlike some newer buildings in The Navy Yard, this one is situated very close to the Navy Yard metro, making it more accessible than construction happening close to the Soccer Stadium. We also have great access to the parks immediately abutting the building, Whole foods two blocks away, Harris Teeter 4 blocks away, and Trader Joes about .5 miles away. The access to Capitol Hill, Eastern Market, and even the Mall is great. The front desk staff, residents, and amenities (gym, grill, common area(s) with TVs, indoor pool) outside space are all fantastic.
I have 100 examples of the community feel, but this is the best: last year I broke my ankle and posted on the message board if anyone had any crutches I could borrow for a few weeks. Someone responded within 15 minutes and I had crutches outside my door 30 minutes later.

I would LOVE to give this building a higher score but I can't because the property manager is unfit both personally and professionally to be in her role and serve those who live in the building. This impacts the tenants' experience and quality of life in the place they call home.

I am shocked that the Board of Directors and First Service Residential has not held her accountable to higher standards of professionalism from her technical skills to show she shows up to engage with the building community. She needs to be upskilled on her behavioral competencies to be qualified for the role that she holds. She is in the service industry and doesn't like being in a role that needs to provide service. Not what you wold expect in a modern white glove building.

Every request made by tenants is received and perceived as inconvenience to her and this is the mentality that additional building staff take on because this is what "success looks like" in the building. This is not applicable for all building staff, but many. The property manager doesn't work for us, we all work for her to make her life easier; she doesn't like people or her job and it shows up in how she communicates. Very basic communication, compassion, and empathy skills are lacking.

The role of a building manager is act with responsibility for the coordination and management of general building security, safety, maintenance, and welfare of occupants. The building is pretty solid on maintenance but the welfare of its occupants couldn't be less of a priority. We are all here to just uphold her rules.

An example...one day the building lost power and their was only an emergency elevator available; most didn't even know that this was a working way to exit the building. It was her day off so she wasn't in the building making sure that the tenants were ok or accessible to tenants. I would think that in a moment like this a property manager would be onsite ensuring that people were safe regardless of whether it was her day off. But she was "calling it in" that day despite the inconvenience it was to residents who were looking for a leader in this moment of concern. The rest of the building staff that she leads looked just as confused and frustrated as the tenants. This kind of building stewardship is not ok. What if this had been a real and serious crisis?

If you just go in and out of your unit, the building is great. However, as soon as you need something from her, the Board, building management, you are on your own and at her whim.

You will be the happiest when you move out and today was our day -- we no longer have to deal with the garbage they call management. What a complete joke of a place to live. If you are renter you are undesirable especially in the eyes of the building bully who guises as the building manager/property manager. Never have I ever seen someone so unprofessional and down right rude and obnoxious to everyone when they are in basically a customer service job. If she actually was in that type of job she would not pass the training period. There is really nothing to say other than to steer clear of this place unless you want to live in a day to day nightmare.

Sure its convenient when work is just a block away and you can walk to everything and there are restaurants and lots to do -- or there was before COVID. Speaking of which, one would think that for a high rise building during a pandemic the so called manager would have the CDC essentials in dispensers at the entry and exit points or at the elevator banks, but not here; that would mean someone would have actually had to plan or do something and actually care about the residents. I have seen residents taking supplies to the front desk staff just so things would be clean -- because the building did not even supply the front desk with what they need. How awful is that --

If you are promised parking, that is more of a nightmare than anything else. What they dont tell you when you rent the place is that the parking is a free for all and often overfull and you cannot get a parking spot at all. So you pay to have parking in the building and then you cant park in it and there really is no street parking unless you pay by the meter. What a complete joke.

DId you want to actually enjoy the peace and quiet on your balcony? Not a chance because people let their kids run around and scream in the courtyard or the cleaning people are running leaf blowers daily and year round so that pretty much destroys every morning on the so called patio of your apartment.

The list goes on -- including that you are charged this outrageous fee for moving in and again for moving out even when you are not moving large items. Some people move in with a suitcase -- but yet that is a $350 fee and for some crazy reason the building manager Courtney just tries to make it the most miserable experience that she can.

Other residents just say the easiest way to live at CHT if you have to is to just to avoid her at all costs -- as in completely avoid having to deal with her at all. Most people move out the first chance they get, but for those that are stuck owning or renting I really hope the management company (that they try to avoid telling you so you cannot complain about the unprofessional manager and liability that she is) finds out. Maybe one day they will get some owners or someone on the board that will actually call them and let them know what is really going on. Why they employ someone that is never there and thinks she does not have any accountability doesn't add up.

Everything others have reported is legit and maybe a bit understated because they don't want to really let you know how awful the place is. Unfortunately it makes you give it a star. Otherwise I would not give it any. It was the worst and most miserable place I have ever lived.

But for me -- back to the beach! Good riddance.

Have lived here for a year now and absolutely love it. Quick rundown includes:

Building/apartment: My individual unit is nice, spacious (by DC standards) and has great light. I never hear the neighbors, and my unit has a great view. The staff works hard to keep the building clean and to respond to maintenance requests.

Amenities: Indoor pool/hot tub, coffee bar, nice gym, beautiful courtyard, and a couple of lounge rooms. All are great (and frankly, none are used all that much). Lobby is nice too.

Location: I love Navy Yard. Clearly there is a lot of new development and stuff going on that didn't used to exist, but it still doesn't have the crowded/dirty vibe that you get in other busy parts of the city. Also close to great spots like Barracks Row and the Wharf.

Staff/management: From what I understand the management used to leave a lot to be desired, but both the management and board have changed, and I've never had any problems on the management front.
Everyone has always been friendly and helpful.

Far and away the most poorly managed building in the city of Washington.

I was relatively pleased with the front desk staff however, the manager Courtney was shockingly unprofessional.

I do not encourage anyone to pursue residence here.