Gallery Bethesda

There are three supermarkets and two Metro stations within a few blocks, and my banks have nearby branches. I call the area TOP, Take Out Paradise, because there are so many good restaurants just two or three blocks away. I’ve been here for over three years and find it wonderful. The staff are friendly and competent, and my maintenance requests are almost always handled within 24 hours.

Laurie has been helpful, approachable, and professional ever since I moved in. When I have a question or need maintenance, she gets back to me quickly and makes sure it’s handled without hassle. She also checks in, keeps the property in good shape, and makes residents feel welcome. The staff’s genuine care for the community makes living here a positive experience.

The concrete construction keeps noise from other apartments down, and the apartments themselves are nice, with good appliances and plenty of natural light. The penthouse is a great feature, with lovely views and tables to use. Management, especially since the transition, was horrendous. We heard loud clanging throughout the night and got no help from the office figuring out what was causing it. After investigating multiple times myself, I found the trash compactor was running overnight. I sent the office video evidence, but they delayed acting. Laurie eventually said they wouldn’t do anything and we’d have to accept it as part of “apartment living.” That was rude and lazy. They could have run the compactor during the day or added soundproofing. They also charged us an illegal move-out fee. Management failed to show up for both the pre-inspection and final inspection, then added a cleaning charge to our bill. Our lease said the building forfeited the right to withhold damages if it didn’t inspect with us present. When we raised that, Vanessa tried to gaslight us and claim we hadn’t been open to rescheduling. We replied with direct quotes from her earlier emails, and she stopped responding. That was typical when we asked her to follow up on building problems that couldn’t be fixed right away. This could be a nice place to live if Gallery Bethesda ever gets a new management company.

The appliances are old, rusty, and poorly maintained. My kitchen sink keeps making a crazy gurgling sound, and neighbors tell me they have the same issue. The walls are thin enough that I can hear my neighbor laughing and the plumbing from upstairs gurgling through my son’s bedroom closet. The pool has been filthy on visits, with bird poop, hair, and insects floating throughout the water. Photos don’t do it justice, and I couldn’t upload video showing all the gunk. The lifeguard was MIA the last weekend I went. The lounge chairs are now pushed against the outer wall, leaving no room for people with disabilities to get by. The call box downstairs doesn’t work, leaving you dependent on concierges who sometimes just walk away. I heard paramedics once couldn’t get in. The handicap button in the B1 garage has been missing for months, which I’m sure is some kind of code violation. Of four charging stations serving over 10 EVs across two buildings, one has been out of order for months, with a paper notice on it and no word from management about repairs. Since Borger took over, my rent went up 10%, or 20% over about two years for me. With Graystar, you could negotiate concessions and they’d work with you; the new management won’t. When I decided to move, I saw a unit with my same floor plan four floors above listed for much less than they planned to charge me. The manager said that price was essentially for new people and wouldn’t honor it for me. It feels like they don’t value their good current tenants. They’ve hiked prices to catch up with newer buildings, but the building and amenities are so low quality that I have to wonder if it’s worth it. Is all this worth close to $4K a month for a tiny 1000sq/f two-bedroom? If you can afford that, take your money to one of the newer buildings around.