***DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY***
The following review comprises input from six (6) current residents of Riverside Apartments in Alexandria, VA (an Elme managed community).
Unexpected Rental Costs | A Case of Misleading Estimates:
They bait you with false advertising on the cost of rent. Upon signing my lease, I anticipated a monthly payment of around $1900 a month. However, to my surprise, the first month’s rent amounted to $2300! Additionally, the estimated utility costs were initially quoted at $50-$75 a month, but the reality proved otherwise, with actual costs ranging between $125-$200 monthly, which blatantly contrasts with the initial estimates provided. For individuals adhering to a budget, this apartment community may not be the most suitable choice. The unpredictability of the annual rent renewal, which can range from $50-$450 per month, poses another potential financial challenge! It is noteworthy to mention that some tenants have experienced substantial rent increases of $700 a month over a span of three (3) years. Compounding the frustration, the lease renewal letter is delivered to you just two (2) weeks before the end of your lease term, which is a rather short period. This is despite the lease agreement stating that we are required to provide written notice at least sixty (60) days in advance. This timeframe is insufficient, particularly when faced with unexpected excessive monthly rent increases. In addition to their existing charges, they impose a substantial fee of $750 for each additional tenant added to the lease. This is accompanied by a recurring $50 application fee per person. Furthermore, should you wish to relocate to another apartment within the community (due to issues with neighbors or to downsize to a more economical apartment) a significant charge of $1500 is applied for such changes. These fees are unwarranted!
The community is spacious, with a parking lot that is disproportionately large compared to the number of residents. Yet, despite the ample space, they still charge $20.00 for standard parking and a whopping $40 for a reserved space.

Riverside continues to face a high crime. This crime includestheft of autos, as well as car parts, particularly tires, tire rims, air bags & catalytic converters. KIAs, Hyundais, Hondas, & Toyotas are the most targeted cars. Residents are subject to assault. The property manager's idea of bolstering security is firing security companies. Riverside has had 3 in 3/4 year. I met the new security team chief for Planned Security Service, Planned Companies subsidiary. He mapped out "the battlefield." He understands the challenges in providing security. The property manager collaborated with the last security company to repel the criminals. The property manager considers bolstering security as firing successive security companies. He told residents he has no responsibility for tenants’ safety, their cars or other property, let alone keeping them from harm. He hires a series of security companies to give the appearance of security. The new company has 1 car. This is insufficient. The threat posture is high. Riverside has multiple entry points, as opposed to 1. That would be preferable. It has no guards at entry points to conduct checks. Perimeter security is deficient, having extensive, exploitable gaps. Criminals enter through unguarded entry points & porous perimeter. Riverside has inadequate CCTV. The property manager pledged to improve ill lit parking lots. Riverside leaves service entrances open & unsecure The property manager allows malefactors easy access. He knows homeless sleep in the community center at night & parking lots. 1 business staffer said if a resident wanted to avoid getting attacked he should not go out after dark. The security company can’t compensate. Its personnel cannot be everywhere. They have no security experience. The security team can’t compensate for porous perimeter, poorly lit parking lots, inadequate CCTV, & failures to provide adequate security at entry points to buildings. Security may be fired. The property manager has a responsibility to provide a statistical criminal statistics & direction trends. He does not. He has access to data. There is a lack of transparency, a failure to communicate security threata. The property manager passively witnessed a rat infestation at Building 3 in winter. Rats were scurrying, helter kilter on the loading dock, the building’s back side, sidewalks, everywhere. They hid in a warren holes & tunnels. DeAndre Dun & American Pest worked miracles. The drove away rats, using Rodenticide & Ditrac to kill them, leaving dead rodents. They need help, but didn’t get it. The elements washed away rats’ hiding places. American Pest needs help from Riverside to clean mountainss of trash, hauling it away quickly. The property manager hasn’t helped, being able to use clean crews to rid the building of garbage, wash down the loading dock with strong cleaning fluids. He hasn’t taken responsibility. He says it isn’t his fault, saying rodents come from the river & are to blame. He almost provide a welcome mat to overwhelm Building 3. 1 night I saw 9 rats in 15 seconds. You can’t get worse than that. Riverside Apartments needs rescuing & a new property manager. Elme Communities should replace him & revamp management at Riverside. Indeed, the property manager hasn’t fixed the marred elevators, with marks,scratches, stains, bad ceilings, floors and sides. He hasn’t ended intermittent power & electricity outages. Again, the property manager must fix this or Elme Communities remove him & overhaul operations.

Starting with the bad. There is much more space than what you’ll get for the same price in DC, but it comes at a price. The place was not designed with quality in mind. Floor planks are loose, you can feel where nails aren’t hammered all the way down in them, water often runs cold at night and in the morning.

There are also roaches and spiders (at least on the 1st floor where I live), and maintenance will often come days after your request, sometimes not at all.

For the good, there are a couple of gyms on site, pools, a convenience store (in tower 2), and most units are relatively renovated (at least in tower 2 where I live). You do get a a lot of space compared to DC apartments, which is big coming from the South or Midwest where you’re probably accustomed to more space. It also has a bus that takes you and picks you up from the metro station (Huntington) in the morning, then again in the evening. There’s also 24/7 security driving around the premises all of the time.

Lastly, people are mostly here that are working professionals and students, so there’s not much noise or drama happening here at all, and there’s plenty of spaces to host and hang out if that’s your type of thing.

All in all, not horrible, but also not great.

I lived here a few years. The location is convenient for public transit and driving but not picturesque for Alexandria. Highway 1/Richmond Hwy is close. Bus stops are close by. We are 1 mile from Huntington Metro station (Yellow line). There is a complimentary apt shuttle to and from the metro that runs during weekdays in the morning and evenings, with limited weekend service. There is an onsite gym (no extra cost) and a minimart. Across the street you have small shopping area with a gym, pizza place, ABC store, convenience store.

I love Riverside apartments. I have so much space to put things, there are actual grocery stores nearby, I can have pets, and the gym is pretty great too.

Everything about the apartment is cheaply made, from the walls to the flooring, to how they laminate the bathtub and kitchen sink. They take months to respond to service requests, and randomly shut your water off without notice. The nice part of living at Riverside is the shuttle service to and from Huntington metro station and being a mile away from Old Town, Alexandria. They do offer a package room (please don't rely on them though), a gym (that you have to pay to use), pools that are only open during hours when people are working (if it's open at all), and laundry on the first floor (where half of the machines are broken all the time). There is always an elevator broken down, but hey, they offer wine and cheese events (one tray of cheese, and a box of chips) so you can get to know your neighbor! There are definitely better options for the price you are paying to live in NOVA.

Riverside Apartments is a fairly decent apartment complex for its cost and location. It is probably one of the cheapest you will find in Alexandria. It's only a few blocks from Old Town and right across the Potomac from The National Harbor. I lived in a studio that was about 575square feet. It has a full walk in closet, which was nice and new kitchen appliances. The buildings are pretty old, which can cause maintenance issues. Tower 2 has a convenience store which i frequented often. A few bugs, but I put in maintenance request and got the problem fixed. It was my first apartment out of college and I loved it.

Riverside Apartments balances spacious, renovated apartments and modern amenities (pool, gym, rec room) with a bear of a commute. As long as you are traveling to/from school during peak hours, there is a shuttle that takes you to the Metro. However, outside those peak hours, it is located a mile walk/runs every 30 minutes bus/$7 cab ride from the Metro. Additionally, it is at the end of the yellow line, which requires an often timely transfer. There are also no restaurants, shops, bars or entertainment of any kind within walking distance. Great if you are committing to a car. I do not recommend as a commuter.