Kettler’s The Metropolitan at Pentagon City in Arlington, Va., wins the 2010 NAA PARAGON Community of the Year award with a friendly atmosphere, where everybody knows your name.
Kettler’s The Metropolitan at Pentagon City in Arlington, Va., wins the 2010 NAA PARAGON Community of the Year award with a friendly atmosphere, where everybody knows your name.
Every Wednesday night, while most working adults are wearily waiting for the weekend, residents at The Metropolitan at Pentagon City are already kicking up their heels. Owned and managed by Kettler Management, the 2010 NAA PARAGON Community of the Year in Arlington, Va., hosts weekly movie nights, complete with complimentary pizza and Buffalo wings, in its 26-seat theater.
Sure, the free food is a draw. But for the residents who fill the theater each week, movie nights provide another opportunity to meet neighbors who quickly become friends.
It’s this homey atmosphere that separates The Metropolitan from the rest.
“Our lobby is always full of people and it feels like a community, not a hotel,” says Kelsey Clark, Leasing Agent at The Metropolitan. “The staff knows every resident by name—including the pets.”
Located minutes outside of Washington, D.C., the 325-unit high-rise is the perfect blend of comfort and class. The Metropolitan boasts a diverse population of residents, including military men and women, families and single professionals, all of whom feel right at home.
“Our community appeals to a lot of different people,” says Cindy Clare, President of Kettler Management. “The building feels traditional enough for families but contemporary and eclectic at the same time.”
Conceptualized in the late 1990s, The Metropolitan was built in Arlington’s Pentagon City neighborhood on the up-and-coming shopping and dining concourse known as Pentagon Row and welcomed its first residents in 2002. Since then, residents have enjoyed an unbeatable location, state-of-the-art amenities and a friendly place to call home.
Lap of Luxury
The Metropolitan at Pentagon City feels like one big home. One very, very nice home.
Just four years after opening, the community received a major face-lift in 2006 when all of the first floor common areas and amenities were modernized. The renovated lobby and common area now welcome visitors with soothing earth tones, plush, chocolate-brown chairs and an inviting fireplace. Those fortunate enough to live at The Metropolitan have access to a billiards room, party room, business
center, Jacuzzi and sauna.
“We absolutely love the movie theater and billiards room—we’ve had some really fun parties and play dates in those,” says resident Sara Beth Arcara, who lives at The Metropolitan with her husband and two children. “The pool is great. With a 4-year-old son, we use it a lot. We love to have friends over, and being able to offer a pool and movies is a treat.”
The most popular amenity, however, is the sprawling fitness center. Above and beyond traditional treadmills and free weights, The Metropolitan’s gym includes a cardio theater, massage room, and studio for aerobic classes. Personal trainers also are available for hire.
Clare understands the appeal. “100 percent of residents think they’ll use the fitness center and in reality, it’s probably 20 percent, but they like having the option,” she says.
The renovations, which also included structural changes to several common areas, new carpeting and paint throughout the building, cost $1.5 million. Clare says it was a worthwhile investment. “Kettler was forward-thinking and didn’t wait until our amenities and lobby fell apart,” she says. “Financially, there was no reason to renovate at the time, but it was necessary to be proactive for the long-term.”
Each of the 325 units is similarly modern. Apartments range from 557 to 2,621 square feet and feature stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, ceramic tile and hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, cherry cabinetry and oversized soaking tubs. Large windows offer views of Washington, D.C.’s beautiful landmarks, including the Washington Monument.
Kettler’s attention to detail paid off. The Metropolitan at Pentagon City is nearly 99 percent occupied, with all but the penthouse leased. Clark says scaled-back concessions, high occupancy and resident retention rates are due in large part to The Metropolitan’s impressive amenities. “I’m so proud of our numbers,” she says.
“People are dying to live here after touring the community and we take pride in that.”
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
When it comes to apartment living, it’s all about location, location, location. The Metropolitan at Pentagon City is in the heart of Arlington, Va., and less than a quarter mile from a Metrorail station and several bus stops. Residents who long for their own set of wheels take advantage of a complimentary membership for Zipcar, a car-sharing company that provides automobile rentals by the hour or day.
The Metropolitan also is two miles away from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, another big draw for prospective residents.
“You can get to Washington, D.C., Old Town Alexandria, and many other locations without fighting the traffic,” says Rosemarie Osterwald, 48, a resident of The Metropolitan since 2006. “And if you like to walk, you’re near nice neighborhoods. The library is just across the street, as are tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, and grills.”
The 24-hour complimentary concierge service, VIPdesk, books air, hotel and auto rental reservations for residents, in addition to purchasing event tickets and providing restaurant recommendations—in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French, no less.
Clark says The Metropolitan’s convenient location has given them an edge among other communities. “You feel like you’re in the midst of the hustle and bustle that’s near a city,” she says. “It’s an exciting location that you can’t beat.”
Giving Back
Residents at The Metropolitan at Pentagon City are treated like friends, not customers. Property Manager Mohammed Ali says his team is dedicated to providing the best quality of living possible, and that starts with a genuine interest in their residents.
“We get to meet people from all walks of life and it’s fascinating to interact with them,” Ali says. “When we see residents, we make them feel like they’re the only people living here.”
Resident Arcara agrees. “Within two days of living here, everyone called me and my family by name,” she says. “Even though that’s a small thing, it made an impression.”
Ali says his team hosts quarterly social events to provide an opportunity for residents to mingle. The Metropolitan most recently threw a Cinco de Mayo party in May and a pool party in August, both of which were catered. A “mom’s group” also meets every week in the resident lounge.
Staff members are involved with community service projects in the greater Washington, D.C., area as well. Past activities have included a food drive, participation in Toys for Tots and Race for the Cure, and a catered event for a local animal rescue shelter. The Metropolitan at Pentagon City also provided free apartments for displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors.
Clark says residents recognize—and appreciate—Kettler’s strong sense of service.
“Residents are very talkative and open about showing their appreciation,” Clark says. “It’s nice when you hear people say, ‘I want to live in a Kettler community.’ ”
Clare says such positive feedback is a testament to Kettler’s reputation of outstanding apartment management service and the special team working at The Metropolitan at Pentagon City.
“More and more we are realizing just how many in this country find apartment living to be a preferred lifestyle choice,” she says. “It’s an honor to be recognized with this national award. It’s a big surprise and we’re thrilled.”
Lauren Boston is NAA’s Staff Writer. She can be reached at lauren@naahq.org or call 703/797-0678.