Senate Square — Local services in Washington

Senate square review

Absolutely no regrets about living here. We move to DC about a year ago and I’m happy that we found Senate Square. It’s not been perfect but it’s been very very good. First the good: This is an excellent location. There really is no errand you need to run that you can’t walk to from here in less than 15 minutes. The grocery store, the liquor store, the dry cleaners, bars, the beer store, 20 restaurants, the metro, the dentist, the vet, coffee shop, pharmacy, etc. etc. all walking distance. The floorplans are large for DC. We have a two bedroom with a den and it’s 1426 sq ft. These apartments are very well sound proofed. Maybe there are a couple that aren’t but everyone I’ve talked to says the same thing. We never hear our neighbors and even the city sounds outside are well muffled. This is a transitional neighborhood but it’s getting better by the day and we feel safe here. Being so close to the capitol I don’t think there’s ever a cop more than a block away from what I can see when we walk around.

Anytime we’ve had a maintenance issue they have been quick and responsive. Bryan is the head maintenance supervisor and he is very attentive. Sure, maybe sometimes they might have to give it a second try but they always do it with kindness.

We do like having the pool even though it’s very shallow and on the nice weekends it’s full.

DO NOT listen to anyone who says it’s a sketchy neighborhood, It’s not. It was from what I’ve been told but not now. Sure, we are close to some poorer parts of DC. So what.

The amenities are great. We like to play pool and the movie theater is fun with stadium seats and the big screen. They have a two business centers with printers and two party rooms that you can use with kitchens and ice makers. The rooms are free but you can pay to reserve them.

Areas for improvement. There is disparity in the quality of the rooftop patios and we live in the building at the wrong end of that disparity. In fairness, they are working on it and we expect to get more and better patio furniture on our roof soon. They did double the number of grills which is huge and much appreciated.

More permanent lighting in the apartment would be nice. Some of the closets and the pantry really should have a light fixture. Perhaps as people move out they could have an electrician come in and install more.

The common area maintenance does fall short at times. There are always lightbulbs burned out on both roofs. A broken grill handle went unfixed. The water fountain in the dog park was also broken for months.

Yes we have some interns living in the building. I think the balance in our Concord building is pretty good but there are a few spots here and there in Lex that are a little rowdy according to our friends. Not a huge issue but I wish they’d reconsider housing interns or how many they house.

Their new manager Pam has been here 8 months and we like her. She a good eye for talent and has managed to hire better staff top to bottom, especially the concierges. Jordan in the leasing office is great. Allen, the head concierge is great and has been here for years. Obviously the quality of the staff goes a long way toward anyone’s enjoyment of apartment building and Pam has done a good job of finding quality people.

We have enjoyed living at Senate Square despite the minor and fixable shortcomings. The place is well-kept, the staff is nice, and the location...

After nearly six happy years at Senate Square, I took a look at various other communities just to see what's out there. Even after touring a number of brand new buildings, I decided to stay. Here's why.

Even new buildings seem cheaply constructed compared to Senate Square, which has for example stone tile throughout bathroom floors and walls, real hardwood floors, stone countertops, and incredible windows that just isolate outdoor noise incredibly well. This place was built with condos in mind, and it clearly shows.

The community at SS appears to be predominantly professionals - this place is extremely quiet with nothing to remind me of my time living in dorms during my youth.

The merging of the historic components of the property (19th Century convent) with the contemporary towers works remarkably well, creating unique surroundings that just isn't found elsewhere. The gated inner outdoor area is a calming, tranquil haven I enjoy going through every time when walking to/from nearby H Street Corridor, and the concierge, event room, theatre and business center are all housed in a historic structure.

Speaking of walking - Giant across the street; Whole Foods 3 blocks away; Harris Teeter 4 blocks away; Trader Joe's 5 blocks away; Union Market 5-6 blocks away. Too many foodie options to mention (except for Indigo - wow). Management has also recently been calling in food trucks of various sorts over lunchtime hours and providing emails with menus ahead of time for even more foodie options for those working from home with only a few minutes between Zoom meetings.

Amtrak and Metro across the street. Easy to Metro anywhere, including DCA, and Amtrak to BWI is actually even quicker (20 minutes on the Acela and you're there). Amtrak to NYC of course no problem. Very jet-set lifestyle here.

Rental cars also across the street at Union Station, so the carless lifestyle can be easily sustained by grabbing a rental once in a while.

Level 2 EV charging inside the gated garage. Four sub-levels of parking garage, so no problem getting a guest pass when the folks come to visit.

Big one for me - building-wide boiler (unlimited hot water!) that (to my memory) has gone down only once in nearly 6 years. Tiny hot water heaters in newer places that force rushed showers are an absolute deal breaker for me.

The responsiveness of the maintenance team, leasing office and concierge all underscore the benefits of renting over homeownership in my view. Pam, Shante, Brittany, Rachael, Cory and Allen and their colleagues are all great. Brian and his maintenance team are so experienced that, when there is a rare problem, they usually come within hours and with necessary parts because they already know how to fix the issue before they get here. They know this place inside and out.

The elevators have had a history, but management replaced the contractor and the new one is sorting them out. All buildings have elevator issues - SS has seemingly developed a working strategy now to boost reliability.

In short, I highly recommend Senate Square for anyone looking for a quiet,...

Update to my 5 star review: If I could give Senate Square 10 stars, I would. This isn't going to be the apartment with the flashiest/trendiest (ie often unusable) amenities in the area, but it's the apartment you will call home for years to come because of how comfortable and safe it is and how respectful your neighbors will be. Originally built as condos, the construction of the units, especially the windows, is far superior to any other apartment complex you will find in the H Street area. We lived right off the H Street bridge and the sirens and trains were never disruptive.

We just recently moved out as we're needing more space, but I already miss the Senate Square team, the amenities and the safety/security feeling of being at Senate Square. We stayed in the neighborhood with our 4 year old, that's how much we love the area.

Allen, Shante, Pam, Matt and Perry have always been so good to us and I appreciate how the entire team pulls together to resolve issues quickly for their residents. Their events are also amazing, never short on drinks or activities... our last event had our 4 year old begging to stay at the rooftop Carnival! And since the pandemic, Allen has brought out regular food trucks which I've loved for both the convenience and a tie to supporting local businesses.

Thank you to the team... we miss you guys already!

Prior review We have been lucky to live and raise our son at Senate Square for the past 4 years. The quality of the units compared to the other buildings in the area is unparalleled. Originally built as condos, the units are sturdy and even though right off the bridge, the windows are so solid that sound doesn’t come through them like other apartments on H St.

Allen the concierge is what really makes Senate Square feel like home. Knowledgeable, a friendly face and always willing to help whenever you need him, he is a huge asset to the Property and to us as tenants. He went above and beyond for us this Summer especially coordinating access.

The Engineering staff is quick to respond to any tickets. The guys are knowledgeable and always leave the space in better condition than they found it. We really appreciate Brian and his team!

The Janitorial crew keeps the hallways and common areas very clean and the ladies are always so courteous.

While communication could be improved by the Management office regarding building related issues, it’s getting better every year. And the Property Manager Pam is always responsive and understanding to issues when emailed directly. She even follows up with phone calls to make sure everything was resolved to your satisfaction.

When compared to other apartment buildings, Senate Square is a solid apartment in every sense...