? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C. Forum

philswfc2008 · Post by **philswfc2008** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:17 pm

Hey guys...not sure if I put this in the correct sub-forum, but anyways...

I was recently admitted off of the waitlist at GW and now need to find a place to live. I am on the waiting list for the Aston, but I am planning in case that doesn't work out.

I am not extremely familiar with D.C. and how apartment hunting there. My apartment hunting experience ranges from having to find an apartment back in college (Penn State) nearly a year in advance, to moving into my current apartment in Philadelphia on almost no notice. So I'm not sure exactly where D.C. fits into that range. Everything I know has been from browsing the forums on this site. I am looking to move into an apartment on or around August 1. My lease in my Philly apartment expires on 8/1, so I'll need somewhere to go right after that (If need be, I can move back home with my parents for a few weeks, but it'd be nice to get into somewhere right away so I can just move my stuff down I-95 to D.C.).

Anyways...during what month (May/June/July) would I need to go down to D.C. and visit and sign a lease? I'd like to take care of this as soon as possible, but I am not sure whether realtors would even offer up apartments in May for someone wanting to move in August.

Also, for those of you who currently live in D.C.....how much do you pay per month? I'd probably prefer to live in a 2BR with one other roommate. I also prefer to be within a 15-minute walk of GW, even if I end up paying more then I would if I lived in MD or NoVa (which I know I would be). Of course, if that isn't possible, I can re-assess.

Thanks everyone for your time!

Mike12188 · Post by **Mike12188** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:25 pm

same position over here, looking forward to reading the responses.

bdubs · Post by **bdubs** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:27 pm

DC is largely a 30-60 day notice city, with lots of good deals on apartments coming from condo/house owners who rent their places out (managed buildings tend to be substantially more expensive here). Check out CL starting in June to find places that will be amenable to August 1 move in.

I dont know what current rents for a 2 BR in Foggy Bottom or West End are, but be prepared to pay a lot for that area (quick look suggests $3000 or more).

You can use Padmapper (http://www.padmapper.com/) to help you get started, but it doesn't pick up all of the CL ads.

Mike12188 · Post by **Mike12188** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:39 pm

Anybody know about the safety of SE DC down by the Navy Yard/DOT. There are a few luxury apartment buildings down there.

bdubs · Post by **bdubs** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:46 pm

Mike12188 wrote:Anybody know about the safety of SE DC down by the Navy Yard/DOT. There are a few luxury apartment buildings down there.

That is quite a ways from GW, you would be better off sticking to the Blue/Orange lines in VA since they will get you there more quickly and would cost about the same.

Safety wise the area around the baseball stadium/SE waterfront it's not the best but it is better than the rest of SE DC. That area hasn't gentrified as quickly as the apt/condo developers who built down there thought it might.

AreJay711 · Post by **AreJay711** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:47 pm

Mike12188 wrote:Anybody know about the safety of SE DC down by the Navy Yard/DOT. There are a few luxury apartment buildings down there.

It is fine. I mean you don't want to get cocky at night but the Navy Yard area is fine. The distance is another thing.

YankeesFan · Post by **YankeesFan** » Tue May 10, 2011 2:47 pm

Check out Columbian Plaza Apts. It is right off campus and I believe you can get away with 900-1000 a person per month for a 2Bdr. The statesmen, Letterman House and the York are all apartments right off campus (same street just other side of GW's buildings) and are all realy affordable. Take a look at the Savoy as well.

As for Navy Yard, I know some people who live there but it can get dicey, especially at night.

Mike12188 · Post by **Mike12188** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:00 pm

bdubs wrote:
Mike12188 wrote:Anybody know about the safety of SE DC down by the Navy Yard/DOT. There are a few luxury apartment buildings down there.
That is quite a ways from GW, you would be better off sticking to the Blue/Orange lines in VA since they will get you there more quickly and would cost about the same.

Safety wise the area around the baseball stadium/SE waterfront it's not the best but it is better than the rest of SE DC. That area hasn't gentrified as quickly as the apt/condo developers who built down there thought it might.

Sorry, not interested in GW just DC, I'll most likely be going to GULC.

DrackedaryMaster · Post by **DrackedaryMaster** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:03 pm

YankeesFan wrote:Check out Columbian Plaza Apts. It is right off campus and I believe you can get away with 900-1000 a person per month for a 2Bdr. The statesmen, Letterman House and the York are all apartments right off campus (same street just other side of GW's buildings) and are all realy affordable. Take a look at the Savoy as well.

As for Navy Yard, I know some people who live there but it can get dicey, especially at night.

The gentrification has helped the area somewhat, but I concur, SE is still SE. I used to work in the big tall brown building on the Navy Annex across the river. If you ever want a thrill, try taking the Green line to the Anacostia station at night then walking to the Annex, which goes past one of the most dangerous neighborhoods (Barry Farm) in all of DC on the other side of the track.

Rule of thumb in the DC area is to stick to the NW (largest side). Or, if you can find a place near the Blue/Orange/future Silver lines, you can look for places in NoVa

bdubs · Post by **bdubs** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:07 pm

Mike12188 wrote:
bdubs wrote:
Mike12188 wrote:Anybody know about the safety of SE DC down by the Navy Yard/DOT. There are a few luxury apartment buildings down there.
That is quite a ways from GW, you would be better off sticking to the Blue/Orange lines in VA since they will get you there more quickly and would cost about the same.

Safety wise the area around the baseball stadium/SE waterfront it's not the best but it is better than the rest of SE DC. That area hasn't gentrified as quickly as the apt/condo developers who built down there thought it might.
Sorry, not interested in GW just DC, I'll most likely be going to GULC.

I would search around red line stops then. There are good deals in MD or upper NW (near American) too.

AreJay711 · Post by **AreJay711** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:11 pm

DrackedaryMaster wrote:
YankeesFan wrote:Check out Columbian Plaza Apts. It is right off campus and I believe you can get away with 900-1000 a person per month for a 2Bdr. The statesmen, Letterman House and the York are all apartments right off campus (same street just other side of GW's buildings) and are all realy affordable. Take a look at the Savoy as well.

As for Navy Yard, I know some people who live there but it can get dicey, especially at night.
The gentrification has helped the area somewhat, but I concur, SE is still SE. I used to work in the big tall brown building on the Navy Annex across the river. If you ever want a thrill, try taking the Green line to the Anacostia station at night then walking to the Annex, which goes past one of the most dangerous neighborhoods (Barry Farm) in all of DC on the other side of the track.

Rule of thumb in the DC area is to stick to the NW (largest side). Or, if you can find a place near the Blue/Orange/future Silver lines, you can look for places in NoVa

The real Rule of Thumb is to stay to the west of the Anacocostia.

YankeesFan · Post by **YankeesFan** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:12 pm

Mike12188 wrote: Sorry, not interested in GW just DC, I'll most likely be going to GULC.
bdubs wrote:
Mike12188 wrote:Anybody know about the safety of SE DC down by the Navy Yard/DOT. There are a few luxury apartment buildings down there.
That is quite a ways from GW, you would be better off sticking to the Blue/Orange lines in VA since they will get you there more quickly and would cost about the same.

Safety wise the area around the baseball stadium/SE waterfront it's not the best but it is better than the rest of SE DC. That area hasn't gentrified as quickly as the apt/condo developers who built down there thought it might.
Sorry, not interested in GW just DC, I'll most likely be going to GULC.

That was for the OP.

samsonyte16 · Post by **samsonyte16** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:30 pm

For the OP,

You can try looking around Foggy Bottom and West End, and might be able to find a 2BR in your price range. If you are willing to bike to school or take the Metro, look at Adams Morgan and neighborhoods on the Red Line like Woodley Park and Cleveland Park. NoVa is very close to GW via Metro, but VA isn't for everyone and is definitely not the same as living in the city.

If I were going to GULC, I would try to find something in the Cap Hill area, or perhaps near Chinatown. Lots of options around there.

philswfc2008 · Post by **philswfc2008** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:44 pm

Thanks everyone for the responses! So the consensus seems to be to look starting in June, since apartments start going 1-2 months in advance? I'll probably definitely look into Columbia Plaza (I have done a little bit of research there already) since it seems close and convenient. If anyone else has any other suggestions/comments, please feel free to let me know. Thanks!

Marionberry · Post by **Marionberry** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:57 pm

tagging this.

bdubs · Post by **bdubs** » Tue May 10, 2011 5:59 pm

philswfc2008 wrote:Thanks everyone for the responses! So the consensus seems to be to look starting in June, since apartments start going 1-2 months in advance? I'll probably definitely look into Columbia Plaza (I have done a little bit of research there already) since it seems close and convenient. If anyone else has any other suggestions/comments, please feel free to let me know. Thanks!

Columbia Plaza had really strict income requirements to try to keep undergrads out (I went to GW undergrad). I'm sure you'll find out if they are still in effect when you look, but I just wanted to give you a heads up.

YankeesFan · Post by **YankeesFan** » Tue May 10, 2011 6:04 pm

BDub, I have never heard of an undergrad or grad student having problems getting Columbia Plaza because of an income requirement. How long have you been out? Maybe its changed?

bdubs · Post by **bdubs** » Tue May 10, 2011 6:10 pm

YankeesFan wrote:BDub, I have never heard of an undergrad or grad student having problems getting Columbia Plaza because of an income requirement. How long have you been out? Maybe its changed?

Yeah, I graduated in '06 so it could be totally different now. I knew a few undergrads at the time who lived in the building and they had to jump through lots of hoops. At the time i think you had to have documentable income for the named tenants on the lease that was some multiple of the rent, and they didn't allow people not on the lease to occupy the apartment.

It was a dumb but effective policy, although it would seem to have spillover effects for grad students too. Either way OP should just contact them.

philswfc2008 · Post by **philswfc2008** » Tue May 10, 2011 10:36 pm

bdubs wrote:
YankeesFan wrote:BDub, I have never heard of an undergrad or grad student having problems getting Columbia Plaza because of an income requirement. How long have you been out? Maybe its changed?
Yeah, I graduated in '06 so it could be totally different now. I knew a few undergrads at the time who lived in the building and they had to jump through lots of hoops. At the time i think you had to have documentable income for the named tenants on the lease that was some multiple of the rent, and they didn't allow people not on the lease to occupy the apartment.

It was a dumb but effective policy, although it would seem to have spillover effects for grad students too. Either way OP should just contact them.

Just found this on GW's housing website (http://gwired.gwu.edu/gwhousing/whereyo ... ad/cp/faq/):

The Columbia Plaza Housing Program (CPHP) is open to fully enrolled GW Law, Medical, Graduate and upper-class undergraduate students who wish to live in Columbia Plaza. By going through the University, GW acts as your reference and guarantor so that you do not need to meet Columbia Plaza’s standard income requirement.

FlanAl · Post by **FlanAl** » Tue May 10, 2011 10:45 pm

want to tag this and am very interested in the responses

justhockey31 · Post by **justhockey31** » Tue May 10, 2011 10:53 pm

bdubs · Post by **bdubs** » Tue May 10, 2011 10:55 pm

philswfc2008 wrote:
bdubs wrote:
YankeesFan wrote:BDub, I have never heard of an undergrad or grad student having problems getting Columbia Plaza because of an income requirement. How long have you been out? Maybe its changed?
Yeah, I graduated in '06 so it could be totally different now. I knew a few undergrads at the time who lived in the building and they had to jump through lots of hoops. At the time i think you had to have documentable income for the named tenants on the lease that was some multiple of the rent, and they didn't allow people not on the lease to occupy the apartment.

It was a dumb but effective policy, although it would seem to have spillover effects for grad students too. Either way OP should just contact them.
Just found this on GW's housing website (http://gwired.gwu.edu/gwhousing/whereyo ... ad/cp/faq/):

The Columbia Plaza Housing Program (CPHP) is open to fully enrolled GW Law, Medical, Graduate and upper-class undergraduate students who wish to live in Columbia Plaza. By going through the University, GW acts as your reference and guarantor so that you do not need to meet Columbia Plaza’s standard income requirement.

Yeah, but this one was the kicker when I was in undergrad:

"There are over 500 students on the Interest List for Columbia Plaza. Offers are made to graduate students first. Once available apartments have been offered to graduate students, then offers are made to undergraduate students."

These were never available for undergrads. I don't know how many law school students wind up actually getting apartments.

? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C. Forum

? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Register for access!

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Register now!

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Re: ? about apartment hunting in Washington D.C.

Register now, it's still FREE!