I have lived here for two years now. My studio is over 500 square feet and the rent is very cheap. That said, the management is not responsive, there are sometimes pest issues, and it can be loud at times. It's a great value for such a large space and the location on 14th Street -- but I don't intend on living here after I graduate.

I'm a relatively new resident of Tivoli Gardens (managed by Borger Management) in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC. In looking for a studio apartment, two main priorities led me to choose Tivoli Gardens: price and location. While the apartment has its cons, the price and location are two pros in my book. First, price. Tivoli Gardens runs specials from time to time so I locked my first year lease in at a few hundred dollars below the average studio price. For the amount of money, the space in the studio is actually very generous compared to others around the city. Their studios have a great layout that allows you to separate your "rooms" easily. The kitchen, for instance, is significantly bigger than those of most other studios around DC, so if you like to cook then this is a great apartment for you! The walk-in closet is also VERY spacious and separates the bathroom entrance from the main living space, allowing more privacy than other studios. Second, location. Tivoli Gardens is in Columbia Heights, bordering on Mount Pleasant and Petworth. It's about an 8 minute walk to the Green/Yellow Metro line, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, several chain restaurants, and the Giant. It's a two minute walk to the bus stop where all 4 of the 16th street bus lines pick up. Very convenient in getting downtown. Overall, Tivoli Gardens is in a great spot because it's close enough to the hustle and bustle of the city while still maintaining privacy and solitude of a residential area. Some other pros of the building: - You have the option of installing Comcast or RCN for internet/TV. - Generally quiet - Leasing office and maintenance is on site However, the building is not perfect. Some of its major flaws include: - Rude and unresponsive leasing office staff. Luckily you only have to deal with them when you move in and when you move out! - Poor security. You may as well not even use your key fob to swipe in. Men hang out in the lobby and outside the front doors drinking and smoking. There are security guards at night but they spend more time playing on their phones than watching the door. - Ugly interior. While the apartments themselves are quite nice, the hallways/lobbies of Tivoli Gardens are shabby. The paint is chipping and the carpets are smelly and have stains all over them. The management keeps claiming they're in the process of replacing it but so far nothing has been done. - No parking. Street parking is zoned and very difficult to find.