I have lived here since 2015. I can't imagine living anywhere else in Old Town. It's a safe neighborhood, beautifully maintained building and exceptional professional staff. If you need an apartment, look no further. read more

If you're thinking about renting here, be aware that the management seems to treat this decades-old building as if it's on par with much newer properties in the DMV. As a result, rents have shot up over the past few years, even though the building's age brings a host of issues that most tenants wouldn't expect at these price points. Questionable Cleanliness: The hallways often smell like a mix of old food, trash, and deodorant. Poor Lighting and Ventilation: Hallway lighting is notoriously dim--think "horror movie" vibe. Plus, the outdated ventilation system means cooking smells from other units can drift right into your apartment. If you're sensitive to odors, this can be a real problem. Sound Insulation: You can often hear neighbors through the walls or ceilings/floors. On top of that, the floors themselves are so creaky that simple footsteps might sound like a thunderstorm. High Penalties for Early Move-Out: If you couldn't stand the cons that listed above, and thinking about breaking your lease? Watch out, it can incur substantial fees--potentially as high as four months' rent. The management does not negotiate or consider financial hardship, so be sure to keep this in mind before you sign. Lack of Amenities: Despite the rent increases, many units still don't have a dishwasher--something you'd typically expect at these price points. Overall Value: Despite the building's age (70+ years old), the rent has risen to levels comparable with brand-new apartments nearby--places that don't have the same laundry list of issues. The price-to-quality ratio simply isn't there at all. I'm sharing this anonymously because there's a concern that management might retaliate against those who speak up. Though, they might respond with the typical "Unfortunately, we weren't able to find a record of you in our system. Please reach out to us at customerservice@bmcproperties.com so we can better address your concerns," which they sometimes use to discredit negative reviews. In short, Mason Hall have problems make it tough to recommend today, especially when there are newer and better-maintained places in the neighborhood at similar price points. If you value peace of mind and predictable living conditions, you may want to explore other options. read more

frequent maintenance issues, and the pervasive roach problem reflects a lack of effective pest control measures. The unpleasant odors, possibly from poor ventilation or sanitation, make it an uncomfortable place to reside. Additionally, the management consistently ignores and disregards the significance of these issues, creating an atmosphere of neglect and frustration among residents. Attempts to address concerns are met with indifference, exacerbating the overall dissatisfaction with the living conditions. It's disheartening to experience such a lack of responsiveness from the management in resolving critical problems affecting the residents' well-being. Overall, I strongly advise against choosing this apartment complex for a more pleasant living experience. read more

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TLDR:Mason Hall has bad plumbing which causes consistent water outages, displaces roaches into apartments, and has damaged my apartment requiring extensive repair multiple times. They are offering an insultingly low monetary recompense for the costs I have incurred and can provide accounting for. Don't rent there and don't rent from BMC (Bernstein Management) properties. I moved into Mason Hall Apartments in June 2023 and at time of writing have lived there for 16 months. In the time that I have been there my apartment has had the floors ruined by flooding three separate times. The first two times required extensive repairs which were done over the course of one and two day stretches and I simply ate the inconvenience and spent and entire day cleaning out construction dust from all of my belongings. The third flooding has required me to leave the apartment for 9 days and counting right now. I was provided an empty apartment on a different floor to move my things into, but obviously the one day I had to unexpectedly move did not allow me to move all of my life's possessions in any sort of organized manner to a new apartment. I have my movable things, i.e. clothes, from the portion of the apartment which requires construction moved to a different location and the rest of my apartment behind tarps. Moving out (and presumptively back in eventually) required me to use two days of leave from work valued at $872 after taxes. I laid this out to management and they offered me a fraction of that cost at $500 off next months rent. It is insulting that they will not recognize the amount of resources I have had to expend to deal with the situation. It is ridiculous that they will not acknowledge that they are failing to live up to the basic promises of a lessor - a residence fit to live in. The disruption to my life has obviously had repercussions in my work and family commitments. Additionally, Mason Hall consistently has to turn the water off for days at a time for plumbing "emergencies". Some of these emergencies are what caused the flooding in my apartment. Each time the flooding has displaced nests of enormous roaches which have invaded my apartment up from the wet basement. Mason Hall Apartments, BMC Properties, and Bernstein Management Corporation are not worth engaging in as they will take your money without delivering you housing. read more

I feel really lucky to have lived at Mason Hall. From the time to signing my contract, getting settled in, and overall day-to-day living (general up keep of the building, maintenance requests, office communications), it really doesn't get much better than their operations. Any concerns were always promptly addressed or remedied, either by the office staff or maintenance team. The outdoor and indoor spaces are always kept immaculate. The lobby is always clean and inviting-often with a little community game or just a friendly note. NOT TO MENTION, the never-ending free complimentary coffee beverages Tenants are generally respectful and friendly. You feel it's just courteous people who live here with respect to noise, trash, and pet ownership. Though, a couple of my younger neighbors did keep me up time to time... They are impeccable with trash services. They keep the trash rooms empty most of the time which is truly amazing considering there are 200+ hundred units I think. I was so appreciative of this as it really can affect the sense of cleanliness and/or smells. And most of all, they really try to create a warm, inviting community. Donna, who is the office manager, is always so courteous, warm, and considerate in her communications. It really stood out to me during my time, and I really loved all the small games they would play time to time and/or community events they hosted, even if I wouldn't be able to make it! It's the thought that counts. When it was time for me to leave Mason Hall, I was juggling a lot and the office was extremely patient with me despite some rough communications on my end. They truly treated me like family in their patience and kind gestures as I tried to sort out my departure. Thank you so much for the caring, thorough customer service. It made Mason Hall a very comfortable, safe, and warm place to live. I'm so grateful. Best wishes, Mason Hall! Wishing you only respectful, kind tenants for your wonderful costumer service!!! read more

What a pleasure it is to no longer live in this terrible building. A 1940s/1950s era teardown that is ridiculously overpriced, Mason Hall is the epitome of a landlord putting in the least amount of effort to maximize their profits. I am surprised this building, given its location, has not yet been sold off and torn down to make way for a much nicer building. Filled with outdated amenities (washers/dryers that don't work, gas stoves that leak and fill the apartments with the stench of gas, cracking paint), this place has everything if you're looking for a "divorced dad in his 50's" vibe. Be prepared for the water to be turned off in the building all day at least once every week or two for plumbing repairs, or for the hot water to not work. Also be prepared for mice and cockroaches, particularly near the laundry room. I would see a giant cockroach outside the door there at least once every week. Also, do you work during the day and want to park near the building when you get home? Well, good luck! All of the spaces in this lot are filled by around 6 pm, so many residents have to park on streets around the area. The building's idea while I lived there was to monetize certain "reserved spots," so now a good chunk of spots are taken by people who pay. I would estimate that around 25%-30% of the remaining spots are also taken by cars that do not move. No joke, there is a car that has been parked in the same spot in the lot for years without moving -- maybe check on that resident???? The building is also full of weird people, like if Wes Anderson directed The Shining. There are thin walls, loud dogs and rude neighbors. The sounds of people using the bathroom somehow seems to echo through the apartment below. People pile their discarded tables, sofas, and miscellaneous junk in the stairwells when they move out, which I can only imagine is a fire hazard and rodent/bug concern but seems to sit there for days until a maintenance person has it removed. The front office folks are also not great. I once got someone else's lease extension form and every email contains at least one misspelling and/or incorrect time and date about pertinent building information. There also seems to be a lot of turnover in the office, which doesn't seem great either. All in all, I would strongly caution anyone considering this apartment building to look elsewhere. For only slightly more in rent per month, you can find in a place with new amenities and guaranteed parking. read more

Mason Hall Apts. is a wonderful place to live. It really is. The staff are great, particularly Donna, who not only lives on site but has lived here for well over 15 years. Maintenance is absolutely superb, and are at your service when you need it. And of course when you don't even want it. Lol. This building is on the older side as it was built back in 1949, opened in 1950, so don't be surprised at the seemingly endless maintenance issues here. As an example, expect the water to be shut off at least once a month, leaks here and there, on rare occasions certain parts of the community amenities such as the game room to be shut down or closed for whatever reason, (much less of the issues, really) there are other varying issues here and there but over all, it's largely nothing to be all that concerned about. Speaking of amenities, Mason Hall has plenty. A game room, business room, with complimentary computers and Wi-Fi, a fitness room, and even a back patio with grills that allow residents to grill all year round if they so desire. Quite possibly the best of all amenities is of course the vending machine coffee maker that is included as part of your rent here. Which means you don't pay extra for it. Other perks are as follows: It's totally pet friendly, dog walking areas are provided with provided doggy pickup stations for after when your best friend uses the outdoor facilities. Note, not everyone picks up after their canine, so on occasion, watch out for natures landmines. Monthly get together events for all residents are a definite plus as well. There are bus stops nearby, and as of right now the Dash AT5, AT2 and the metrobus, 11Y is available within walking distance of the complex. Braddock Rd metro station is a short 15 to 30 minute walk away. Mr. Lee's Market and a cleaners is right in Bashford Ln. and Sam's Cleaners is right in Slater's and West Abingdon. There is a small shopping plaza right on Slater's Ln. that has Buzz's Bakery, a corner Russian market and many other little odd and ends. Harris Teeter grocery is on St. Asaph and Madison St, along with currently two ABC stores nearby, though the one in St. Asaph will be closing in about a year or so. There is also a Trader Joe's on St. Asaph a short walk away from HT. At any rate, Mason Hall Apts is a great place to live. Wonderful amenities, great staff, exceptional maintenance, nice and quiet too! read more

My little family recently moved here from Ca. site unseen and couldn't be happier. I was really stressed trying to find a place to live since it was such a fast move and all the way across the country. From what I could see Mason Hall had great reviews, from different review sites, so we took the plunge and put our application in. We haven't lived in an apartment building since we were both college students about ten years ago and we were dreading the thought of it. I am happy to say that this is unlike any apartment complex we have had the misfortune of living in. It actually feels like a home. Our apartment is bright and well laid out. We ended up in a large two bedroom and it is very spacious with great closets! The good: *We love love love the office and maintenance personal, they are fantastic! * The residents are really respectful, I swear it's like living in a ghost town. * The apartments do monthly activities so we can meet our neighbors. * Inside the apartments are beautiful! The wood floors, the bathroom, and the crown molding. I love it * They have an awesome coffee machine from 5:30-11 am Yum! The Bad: * The kitchen is awkward and small for people that love to cook. * The bathroom is teeny tiny, functional, but small. * Parking can be cumbersome if you get here after 6 pm. Overall Mason Hall is a freaking gem and an awesome find for old town. We are so happy here! read more

UPDATE (1 year 3 months later): I am still living at Mason Hall apartments because I cannot beat the convenient location. The management has made some good changes to the old building and the renovated apartments are a huge improvement. The gym is updated and they added a game room with pool table, air hockey, and ping pong. Currently, they are upgrading the elevators and electricity. I haven't had any issues with the electricity but it can't hurt, can it? That's what is new in the building. The best news is that they finished the changes to Jeff Davis Hwy bridge at Slaters Ln. The new traffic flow is a huge improvement and very convenient. *** My wife and I have lived in Mason Hall for 6 months now. It is about average for apartment living. The pros are the convenience to the George Washington Pkwy and living about a mile from King St in Old Town Alexandria. It is not too expensive and the management has been responsive to problems within our apartment. Our living area is spacious, but the trade off is that our kitchen is tiny. We go walk along the Potomac on a regular basis, which is great. Right here off Slaters Lane is not the best location for living. It is a few hundred yards from the railroad/metro tracks and the planes to/from Reagan National Airport are constantly being heard. It was recently reported in the NY Times that noise from airplanes during sleep can raise blood pressure. The building walls don't do much to cut down on the noise from outside or from your neighbors in the building. And since we have been living here, construction has been non-stop and disruptive on Hwy 1 or Jefferson Davis Hwy. We can't wait for it to be over! read more

Just moved in, so far so good. No one named Ike works here so the other reviewer who said that is really confusing. Any situation has been handled really well. read more

I have been living at Mason Hall for nearly a year in a fourth floor unit and have been waiting for the dreaded renewal rate before writing a review since I've been let down before. I am thrilled to say that Bernstein Management is not like other managed apartment buildings I've lived in. The new rate is completely reasonable and a huge relief that I do not have to plan on moving again right away. Staff (namely Donna and Keturah, who recently left) have been great and easy to reach and maintenance staff is also friendly and available when needed. We've only had a couple of minor repair requests and they've been taken care of easily. The building is on the older side (1950s) but very well maintained and I appreciate that it's pet friendly. A major bonus is that there's an express metro bus (11Y) that is across the street during morning commutes that takes you into DC, which is sooo much better than taking metro. I rarely ride the metro these days but if you need to Braddock Rd is about a 15-20 minute walk. Some less than pleasant things that have nothing to do with the building is the airport noise, which can be a bit bothersome. I don't mind the parkway sounds so much but the airplanes are hard to get used to and I purchased a white noise machine to try to drown out the sound. Neighbor has been occasionally loud so the walls can be a little thin but it hasn't been a consistent problem. The building consists of a pretty good mix of tenants--yuppies, seniors, young families, etc. and when walking the halls you'll notice it's relatively quiet for a building so large. I also love that we've had no critter issues whatsoever (a MAJOR plus for me) and I've always felt safe walking my dog around the neighborhood. I've truly enjoyed living here and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others. read more

Love living here. Management is always friendly, available and responsive. Mix of older and younger residents and very convenient location for those who bike and run. Plus, a new coffee maker in the lobby! Great place to live. read more

Don't ever move here! The parking is horrible there's literally more people living here than there is of parking spaces available. The building needs serious renovations I'm having to call for something to get fixed every week. On top of having to always call for it I'm also having to do all forms of contact from talking in person to sending emails to get anything fixed! I shouldn't have to be doing so much to get something done. On top of that they're having to shut down the water at least once a month so don't always make plans regarding water. Oh and make sure you wash your cloths at a time no one else is around cause good chance half of the washers and dryers are not working and this happens all the time. Seriously look somewhere else to move. You'll be saving yourself a headache read more

The building needs major repairs and maintenance (peeling paint, roaches, ticks, smells like cigarette smoke in the hallways, rotted wood, etc.) The laundry room isn't well kept but the gym is new. Security is ok but intruders have come in the building. The staff can be rude and unresponsive to requests. Parking permit requirements have changed many times due to parking problems. It's an eclectic group of residents. read more