Monroe Street Market

I’ve been living in MSM for a year now, and I really enjoy living here. The apartments are what you would expect from a luxury building, but it’s more affordable than other up and coming neighborhoods, at least right now. There are a large amount of college students living in the building, but I’ve had minimal issues with noise. The location is great, in the middle of a growing neighborhood, a few blocks from the red line and on a convenient bus line.

Great location but management is sub par. Elevators are out constantly (one building has had an elevator down for 3 months), the screeching fire alarms go off at all hours without warning due to glitches as well as other residents, and management is either absent or ineffectual, possibly due to high turnover. Would not recommend to families with young children or the elderly.

I moved over to Portland Flats several months ago, and the all the downsides of living at Monroe Street Market seem to be an order of magnitude worse here. More false fire alarms. More elevator outages – one of the two elevators has been out for months, with management e-​mailing apologetic «updates» once a week with no ETA for repair, while the other breaks down far more frequently than the single elevator in my old building. More rowdy parties, broken pictures and lights in common spaces, and stoned college dudebros eight years younger than me hitting on me in the elevator. I’ve even had my packages slashed open in the mailbox room (when they should’ve gone to the concierge in the first place).
Adults with careers would be highly advised to look elsewhere, else the omnipresent weed smoke might trigger flashbacks to the worst of your college dorm days.

The service, professionalism, and standards have seriously declined since the previous general manager and staff left. There is little to no communication regarding urgent issues (like the fire alarm going off and being locked out of the stairwells after cleared by the Fire Dept to return, emergency lights not working, etc), constant elevator outages (with the most recent being one of two elevators being out for MONTHS), vandalism, and the list goes on. This is mostly a student residence and they do not value the community… they litter, are drunk, loud, partying… and the hallways reek of marijuana. If you are a professional adult that thinks of your home as a place of refuge, please know there is truth in these reviews. You will not feel like your money is valued and not experience the service standard that Bozzuto is known for and built their reputation on. It is a shame that what was once a great community led by passionate and professional management has deteriorated almost instantly after his departure. Gone are the days of regular communications, social events, and the sense of pride and community that made us enjoy living here.

Underwhelming for a Bozzuto. A great location on the Red Line, and when the site opened it had the promise of bringing in strong local food and art talent. Unfortunately, management experienced a sudden and dramatic turnover of nearly every employee in about a month, and then prices skyrocketed and they removed all basic amenities. At these prices, you’re now better served at almost any other complex.
They won’t deliver medium sized or large packages to our apartment anymore. We have to walk two blocks back and forth to pick them up no matter the weight or weather. They also lose our packages and UPS/​FedEx can’t figure out their system. They laid off all of the concierges not at the main building, and much of the security. Crime immediately went up and there have been multiple robberies and break-​ins as a result. The buildings are mostly students who stay up all night playing loud music.
Management does not respond to messages and employees are constantly turning over, so it’s not clear who one would even contact anymore. The one bright spot is the maintenance staff — possibly the best we’ve ever had, deserving of multiple awards from Bozzuto. They almost save this place. The current cocktail of inefficiency-​by-​design, astronomical prices, and removal of basic services makes for a bad drink. We’re moving at the end of the lease.

I’ve lived in the Monroe Street Market community for a year. Before moving here my daughter and I lived in the neighborhood for over ten years. We fell in love with the MSM community when it was built. So I sold my house and am now an apartment dweller. We love it! The property is beautiful and very well kept with great amenities and more and more shops and restaurants everyday. One of the things I love the most is that I don’t have to worry about maintenance and repair. If something is not working I submit a ticket and it’s fixed immediately, even something as minor as changing a lightbulb. Finally I love the weekend farmers market and the new dinner and a movie MSM is doing. I have no plans to move!

I was searching for a new apartment and thought I’d check out MSM due to its proximity to my workplace. I tried three times to take a tour with the leasing office without success. It’s impossible to get in touch with a leasing agent and the front desk staff is totally incompetent. Everyone I spoke to gave me a different answer, my scheduled appointments were skipped over by walk-​ins, I was told to wait and wait and wait only to be told I’d have to reschedule, etc. Looking at other reviews, I’m glad I didn’t waste anymore of my time trying to live here.

If you’re considering moving into Monroe Street Market look elsewhere immediately. From the minute I received my keys I’ve had nothing but problems… and I’ve only been living here for a month! First of all, upon move-​in, my keys didn’t even work. When paying close to $ 2000 a month for rent you expect simple things, like your keys to work… apparently Monroe Street Market (a Bozzuto Company) disagrees. After fixing that small, albeit annoying, issue and moving in I realized that I was never provided a move-​in inspection form (a document where you annotate all of the pre-​existing discrepancies in your rental unit so that you’re not held liable for them at move-​out). Upon requesting one, I filled it out and turned it in… only to be notified that someone in the leasing office «shredded» the document I turned in. Annoyed, I got another form and filled it out. I thought those, admittedly minor, issues would be the end of my frustration with this company… it was only just beginning.
Paying $ 165 a month for a «reserved» parking space would leave you to believe that the parking space would be… RESERVED FOR YOU! I don’t know what world I was living in when I thought that nobody would park in my spot. After a vehicle, without a Monroe Street Market parking tag, was parked in my «reserved» spot I attempted to call the leasing office to inform them so that they could take some kind of action… but unfortunately they aren’t very good at picking up the phone (the leasing office is in a separate building, otherwise I would have just walked there). Fortunately, I ran into a maintenance worker (the maintenance personnel are very friendly and hardworking… I have no complaints about them) and she placed a sticker on the car… did not have it towed. This happened a few times (Monroe Street Market is not very good at controlling their parking access), and one time when I called the leasing office to report this, the person on the other end of the phone explained, while giving me attitude, how «well maybe they just parked in the wrong spot…» BS. Paying $ 165 a month for parking would leave with you certain expectations, namely, if someone parks in your spot (repeatedly), that vehicle would be towed… in the city known for towing at the drop of a hat.
The above issues are annoying, but forgivable. Anytime that my integrity is questioned, though, or that I’m told I haven’t paid my rent (when I have)…that goes beyond just an annoyance. I moved in mid-​month and upon move-​in was required to provide a bank check for the pro-​rated amount for that month in order to get my keys (as outlined in my lease). Obviously I did that because I was given my keys. I had to go out of town about a week later so before I left I stopped in the office and gave them a check for the next month’s rent (since the online payment system «was down»). Upon return, around Aug 3, I was surprised to have a bill in my mailbox for the rent amount from August PLUS the amount from the half month I lived here upon move in (from July 15 — July 30 — which was paid with a bank check upon move in). Recognizing that this was probably an error I called the leasing office and, after about 15 minutes, was told that they found my checks (both of them) and that they haven’t yet been processed… but that I should disregard the invoice. About 2 weeks later I received a nasty warning email from a «Senior Sales and Marketing Associate» at Monroe Street Market informing me I had outstanding rent due to Monroe Street Market equal to the amount due for July 15 — July 30… AKA the amount that I paid with the bank check in order to receive my keys and move in. The letter also instructed me to «remit funds» by that day or face additional penalties. Infuriated, I called the leasing office and spoke to the person that sent this email. He informed me that they have no record of my payment. I provided bank statements showing the check being issued and the check number…(again, in order to receive your keys you are REQUIRED to pay with bank check or money order), and called my bank to find out what courses of action I can take. Asking to speak to the manager, I was told he will call me when he’s available. Obviously he didn’t, so I stopped by after I got home and explained to him my frustrations. This issue has not yet been resolved.
Simply put, the leasing office in this apartment complex is inept. I’ve lived in several apartments over the past several years and have never had even a fraction of the frustration that I’ve had in just one month of living here. It seems like there’s different people working in the office everyday, they’re impossible to get ahold of, and don’t recognize that tenants are their customers. Stay away from this apartment complex, and if you do end up moving here document every single correspondence you have with them.

I live in the Brookland works building and management is now making tenants walk 1−½ blocks to the Cornerstone Apartments to pick up mail packages that don’t fit into the new package concierege system. Can you imagine walking 1−½ blocks to pick up packages!!? Management is making my living experience a really bad nightmare. They really need to fix this problem quick!

Cleaning staff is always working hard and very friendly. The lobby and common areas are always smelling fresh and looking clean. They’re hard working polite people, those 5 stars are for them.

I love my apartment. Of course, «to each is own.» In December I moved into the in a brand new apartment — I didn’t want it any other way. I live on the top floor of one side of the Cornerstone building. My hallway is typically quiet, and I barely see any of my neighbors. The only annoyance is having to share an elevator with college students, but Catholic University is right next door so I can’t really expect too much. My 1-​bdrm is of nice size and for a good price. I do feel that the $ 800,000+ town homes being built will drive the prices higher, but I’m praying it doesn’t. Utilities are not too expensive for me either. My apartment has huge windows and allows a lot of light to come in, so I barely use any of the switches, except for when in the kitchen cooking.
I have honestly never had any issues with management or maintenance problems. The only thing I can say I don’t like is how the pool and surrounding pool area is extremely small and it’s a long walk for me to check my mail. But, I like the side of the building I am on, my view of the neighborhood, and location to the elevators, so I am good.
Recently, security knocked on my door telling me to turn my music down — as if this were a college dorm — but there weren’t any complaints issued from any of my neighbors (I honestly believe the apartments near me are empty). And of course you can hear my music or others’ music/​conversations/​etc from walking down the hallway, but once inside of an apartment, you won’t hear it.
Overall, I love MSM. Potbellys, &Pizza, Bus Boys are downstairs. The nail salon, Sylvestre’s, CVS, Liquor Store are just a walk or quick drive away.

I have spent a year living here, and will not be resigning my lease due to a workplace relocation. The Monroe St. location is a great spot in a developing neighborhood, and Monroe Street Market has definitely helped with that.
That being said, the physical buildings were built entirely too quickly– just not quality. I moved into a brand new unit and things become loose or come apart easily. The walls are paper thin; I know exactly when a baby 2 units down wakes up and I know the exact location at all times of my upstairs neighbors, at any normal part of the day. However, this is balanced out by beautiful amenities like a gym and pool all in the same complex.
The management is incredibly disorganized and I have never received the same answer from anyone twice. The are frequently clueless, but the location is still very new and getting their footing.
HOWEVER, my largest issue with the community is that people do not realize where they are moving. Monroe Street Market is DIRECTLY across the street from Catholic University, where I and 6900 other students learn. This is the safest apartment community in the area, and as a matter of fact, it is closer to the main campus buildings than most dorms. And for those residents that think all of the students residing here are entitled, the Monroe Street Market monthly rent (for most shared units) is LESS EXPENSIVE than actually living across the street on campus. Therefore, YOU WILL FIND STUDENTS LIVING HERE. It shouldn’t be a massive shock to you if you hear a bunch of 21 year olds on a Friday night, because you probably passed a college tour group when you were touring this apartment community. If you will be offended and annoyed hearing music every weekend, this is not the community for you.

The apartment complex is beautiful and the location is definitely up and coming. However the management is disorganized, uncommunicative, and difficult to work with. They could rarely give me an answer to a question I had and often gave me incorrect or incomplete information. They were slow at responding and disorganized with every process. It seemed that there was no «fool proof» way of getting your questions and requests answered and the communication was lacking considerably. Each person told you a different thing, and I did not trust the administration. If I had the choice, I would look to rent from somewhere other than a Bozzuto company.
The maintenance and cleaning staff, however, was a pleasure to interact with! All maintenance requests were promptly addressed and the staff was very kind. Walking around during the day, I would always exchange smiles and hellos with the cleaning staff. They worked so hard to keep the buildings looking immaculate. I’d rate them five stars!

This is to provide an update on my previous review.
The comment the general manager left on my last review made assertions that were untrue. He has since resigned for reasons unknown to me. None of my issues were addressed.
To provide one positive update, Busboys and Poets and Halsa have opened. Halsa is on the pricey side for what you get but it is very healthy and really good. Busboys and Poets is pretty cool too.

Clean, cute area to walk around and shop, especially on the weekends. There’s a great store front for Artillery, which allows members to pay an annual fee and rent out tools and equipment to do projects (presumably around the house, which is what I would use it for). It’s a fantastic non-​profit and I would highly recommend checking it out if you’re at the Market. On weekends, there’s a great array of local farmers and artists selling their goods. Zeke’s coffee is great. There are also a few vintage shops for clothes and other items to check out while perusing the stores.

The Monroe Street Market was sweet but small. We enjoyed visiting the dozen or so fresh food vendors – sampling chocolates and cheeses. The fresh bread is especially appealing! This cannot be confused with even the 8^th St Market, though. It’s just so, so small.
We also enjoyed walking into the various artists’ studios. There was something awkward about this experience, in that you’re in someone’s private space and you have to make smalltalk, but it was also nice to see so many types of art.
If you’re visiting the Monroe Street Market on a cold day, let it be known that you’ll be walking outside quite a bit. The studios are not connected on the inside so you’re constantly going inside to outside to inside to outside.
Also let it be known that there’s one restaurant at the top of the street and it’s very expensive. Down the block is an &pizza. Otherwise, no food options really.

Came here for the Unilocal event! This was my first Unilocal event since being an elite Unilocaler and I had a great time. I really loved trying new foods such as the tomato-​less ketchup (I know… WHATTT). The best thing was the white cheddar popcorn! Gahhhh… goooood lawwwwd. I swear they sprinkled crack on them…

The type of art, food, environment, and family-​friendly exhibitions make this a trendy type of market. I’m actually disappointed by how few people I saw.
I’d give it more stars if wasn’t just art focused, there were a wider variety of food sellers, or if more every day art was soled as opposed to more niche or fine art arts.

My advice: if you are out of college and a fully employed adult with a low tolerance for idiocy or immaturity, don’t live here. These buildings are glorified sorority and fraternity houses filled with entitled students with no respect for adulthood. If you don’t mind people running down the hallways shouting on a Tuesday night, or hanging by the swimming pool listening to girls chat about their sex lives, than maybe this place is for you. But if peace and quiet is more your style, move elsewhere. The frustration is not worth the in-​unit washer dryer or granite counter tops.
This place will eventually spiral out of control. Despite three roaming security guards on the weekends to crack down on the rowdy student residents, there is no way to control them. This place will soon be entirely infiltrated by students whose parents pay for them to live in this beautiful community dormitory style — four to a two bedroom, three to a one bedroom. It feels crowded, and sounds crowded, considering the seemingly consistent party outside in the hall.
The reason Monroe Street Market gets three stars, or any stars, is for the staff and maintenance teams. I have never had a problem in my unit that the staff couldn’t help me fix promptly and with a smile. Unfortunately for the wonderful people working at MSM, shout out to the property manager David, concierge Jonathan, head security guard Andre and leasing agent Kara, I can’t give any more stars and I wouldn’t recommend living here.

Came here to tour 2 weeks ago and was suprised that they are trying to get the rent they are asking for. Lets start with the neighborhood: sketchy at best. Right next to the building is a bunch of run down shops and empty lots. The building tries to do the best job they can by saying how much retail, restaurants, etc is coming in – but I highly doubt that stuff will be open by the summer, which is what they claim. The only restaurant that is currently open is Pot Belly.
Anyways, I walk into the lobby where the leasing office is and am greeted by Kara, who was the very friendly leasing agent who toured me. She was doing her best to answer all of my questions, but couldn’t seem to provide many concrete answers. I doubt this was her fault, it seems as if management hadn’t given her the support she needed to be effective at her job. She was somewhat confused about pricing, and had mentioned that some system or pricing scale they were using is relatively new. Anyways, we sat down and went over some floor plans.
We headed over to see the building that might have worked for my move-​in date of mid to late May. The building itself wasn’t occupied by any tenants yet because it was still under some type of construction. The elevator must have had some type of glitch because the doors kept opening and closing without actually taking us up. When we finally made it up to the appropriate floor we looked at 2 different 1 bedroom with den units. They both were nicely finished, but again — I am just shocked that they wanted $ 2,000−2,500 for this neighborhood! Both dens were very awkward shapes and there wasn’t much effective square footage in either.
They also aren’t running any specials, which is totally confusing to me. They don’t even have the amenities in place yet! When I asked Kara about the pool she couldn’t guarantee that it would be open by summer time, she simply said «they’re doing their best and hope to have it open.» In other words, that pool is NEVER opening by summertime. I work in real estate, and have lived in countless buildings in Manhattan — if management makes a promise it is likely that you should add on 3 – 6 months past that time. Which I understand, construction is subject to be delayed — any tenant should know this when moving into a new community.
Anyways, I currently live in a Bozzuto building in Alexandria, VA. The reason I even checked this place out is because my husband and I live so far away from my job — this particular location seemed like something that might work that is kind of in the middle. We knew that we have the ability to transfer within Bozzuto without an issue as long as we give 60 days notice; however, this definitely won’t be the property we choose to move to.
Last gripe/​confusion: parking to tour was SO confusing. I must have circled around the block 3 times until finally calling to find out where I could park. They had me park in a lot that was clearly marked for the construction workers. which is fine, I was just surprised they didn’t have a huge sign saying «FUTURE RESIDENT PARKING». Seems like this place needs a lot of work moving forward.