Avec on H Street

Building looks nice on the outside and in official marketing photos but is quite run down and in need of a major makeover. Have friends who live here but are looking to move out.

Don’t be fooled by the glitzy marketing photos. Avec on H is a rapidly decaying property. Constant police and US Marshalls presence on property due to violence and high rates of eviction create a depressing living experience. Used to be a good building when it opened just 5 years ago — went downhill rapidly after experienced, original leasing managers departed. High rate of turnover means common spaces, hallways and elevators are repeatedly battered. Neither the residents nor the property... managers take pride in maintaining a high standard of care — pretty much every square foot of the property is marked, dented and shoddily repainted. Many residents have also experienced frequent and massive billing errors (expect $50+ in water bills each month). Read More

While Avec is less than six years old, it is rapidly falling apart with dirty hallways, nasty carpets — the area surrounding the building is super shady and dangerous, especially at night.

I have lived at Avec for 2 years. It was great at first but has significantly declined in the last year. The front desk, in particular, is a disaster. They frequently lose packages and are often unhelpful when they do. Residents cannot depend on getting their mail in this building anymore. And though Avec advertises a 24 hour concierge, there is frequently no one at the front desk, even during normal business hours, especially on weekends. Guests and deliveries can’t get assistance; and it’s a... security issue when no one is there. Particularly concerning since the neighborhood is getting dicier by the day.
The building also has serious issues with the HVAC system, especially in summer. No AC is available in the heat of the afternoon most days or during rainstorms because the system can’t support the number of residents or the tower on the roof can’t handle the rain. The water also is weird, low pressure with too much hot water and never enough cold water. They often shut down the water and HVAC for repairs building-wide for several hours.

On the plus side, two of the front desk guys (the ones who have been here the longest) are great; the maintenance and cleaning teams are great; the building is typically clean and quiet; and the views are nice.
I won’t be renewing my lease because of too many lost packages at this point, which is a shame because I like my apartment itself and my neighbors in the building. I just can’t justify the rent when I can’t count on getting my mail. Read More

Avec is beautiful with great appliances, layouts, and amenities! I really liked that there are very few additional fees on top of rent. Parking is assigned and very low cost compared to other buildings in DC. Monthly pet rent and bike storage are free which I appreciate and wish more buildings would adopt. I toured Avec with Pete Wolynec and it was the best tour I've had of any space in DC! He was extremely knowledgeable, personable, patient, and really sold the property.