Designed as Condos, With Perks to Spare
Service Praised at Alexandria Complex

By Sara Gebhardt
Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, March 29, 2008

The Old World touches at the Tuscany Apartments in Alexandria go beyond the Italian names of the floor plans.

The Tuscany's 104 units are divided among two four-story buildings that wrap around a brick courtyard with a limestone fountain and dramatic pillars.

European architecture and decor inspired the courtyards in both buildings, as well as such interior features as stone-tile entryways in the apartments, curved wood detailing on interior doors and brassy paint tones in common areas.

"I like the brick and fountain and how everything's laid out, with the plaza on the first level," said Ron Romanski, 29. "We hear the fountain when we open the door to our balcony. It's a nice feeling."

Romanski said that when he and his roommate first drove by the Tuscany, they assumed the buildings were condominiums because they weren't high-rises like other rental apartment communities in the neighborhood.

Indeed, the Tuscany was intended to be condos when Bozzuto Group broke ground in early 2006. But Bozzuto converted the complex to a rental property, and the Tuscany's first residents, who came in September, were renters.

The complex's condo origins are why the units are bigger and more luxurious than at a typical rental complex, said Terri Mitchell, property manager.

Inside, apartments feature nine-foot ceilings, base and crown molding, chair railing in dining rooms, and plush carpeting. Kitchens have granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances, and the bathrooms have ceramic tile floors and marble vanities. Units also have balconies or patios, and large closets.

"The room sizes are pretty nice, and there's plenty of space. Overall the building is pretty well-maintained," said Matthew Gulezian, 23, who moved from Pennsylvania in November.

Gulezian also cited the location as a draw. "Everything's relatively close by," said Gulezian, who said the area is convenient for commuting to Southern Maryland. "I can always drive to the city or to see my girlfriend in Maryland. So it's not too far from everything. So I can always go out to dinner in Old Town."

"A lot of people don't really know all these apartments are back here," Romanski said of the location on Yoakum Parkway. "You don't really see many people. I can't believe how quiet it is. No one really knows it exists, but yet you're close to everything."

The Tuscany is not far from Interstate 395 and the Capital Beltway, Landmark Mall, and Old Town Alexandria. The complex is also close to the Van Dorn Metro station, and a shuttle bus takes residents to the Pentagon City Metro station on weekdays.

Residents said they appreciate having access to covered parking, including the option of a private garage for a monthly charge.

"The garage and its remote access is really a great selling point," said Mike Hutchinson, 52, who sold his townhouse in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria and stores some of his extra things in the garage along with his car.

Hutchinson said the attentive staff also drew him in. He had found other upscale properties in the area that met his main requirements: a new kitchen and covered parking. "The staff was so friendly, whereas other places I had gone to, it was almost as if I was bothering them. I'm about customer service," he said.

Hutchinson said the large closets, bathrooms and windows have suited him well since moving in last December. "It's very bright, and I feel like I have enough space," he said.

"I cook, and that's my business," said Hutchinson, who works for Sur La Table, a cooking supply company. "So the updated kitchen was important. The washer-dryer in-unit is also great," he said. "It's sort of more like a home than an apartment."