Your Best Day In The Life at Crest

As a resident at Crest, my days are filled with convenience, comfort, and excitement. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed, there’s always something to do.

Crest In The Morning

My mornings usually start off with a cup of coffee from the Starbucks located right across the street. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is enough to get me out of bed. Knowing that I don’t have to go far to get my caffeine fix is a game-changer. As an added bonus, it gives me an opportunity to walk Carl, my adorable pup!

fitness-center

After fueling up with coffee, I head to our fitness center to get in a quick workout. It’s so convenient to have a gym right in our building, and I love being able to work out on my own schedule. The equipment is top-of-the-line, and I especially love that the gym is two levels.

Once I’m done with my workout, it’s time to head to work. Luckily, Crest is just a short drive from my office, so I don’t have to worry about a long commute. But, on days when I don’t feel like driving, I can always take advantage of the convenient public transportation options available in the neighborhood (The 92 bus gets me there quickly!). For those days where I’m teleworking, I love mixing it up by working in the resident lounge or even the conference room.

Crest After Work

lidl-grocery-store

When the workday is over, it’s time to run some errands. Fortunately, I won’t have to go far. First, I go get my haircut at Like That Barbershop, which is immediately located in Skyland Town Center. After, I typically head across the street to Lidl to stock up on groceries as well as check out the fun variety of international food items they have. You really cannot beat the prices! However, after a long day of work, the last thing I feel like doing is cooking a meal. Luckily, I can head to one of the many restaurants located essentially within the community. I’m very into Mezeh lately because of their fresh ingredients and healthier options, and I’m trying to look my best for the pool this summer.

Once I’ve devoured my Mezeh bowl, it’s time to take Carl to the dog park for some fetch. Fortunately, there’s a great dog run within the community that Carl absolutely loves, and watching him play with the other dogs is one of my favorite things to do. As a side note: Carl doesn’t have to pay a monthly pet rent, so he can finally take a break from all of his casting calls to be the next Purina dog.

On nights when I want to stay close to home, there’s plenty to do. In the warm seasons, I love unwinding by our pool. I also love attending our resident events as they’re always an opportunity to connect with neighbors and make new friends.

Overall, living at Crest at Skyland Town Center is the perfect mix of convenience, comfort, and excitement. With top-of-the-line amenities, a vibrant neighborhood, and a strong sense of community, there’s truly nowhere else I’d rather call home.

Ready to schedule a tour and be our neighbor?

Three Soup Recipes for a Cozy Winter Treat

We’re in the throws of winter which means it’s prime soup season, and what better thing to have than a piping hot bowl of soup after a cold DC Winter’s day? Not only are soup recipes super easy to prepare, they make fantastic leftovers for that grab and go lunch for work, or even just to have on hand. Read below to learn about our three favorite soup recipes this winter:

Man Sitting by the Table with a Bowl of Soup and Glass of Water

Classic Potato Leek Soup

  • 3 tablespoons salted butter (or olive oil)
  • 2 large or 4 small leeks (4 cups thinly sliced), white and light green parts
  • 3 celery ribs
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and small diced (5 cups diced)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or make a bouquet garni)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Chives, for garnish
  • In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the leeks, celery and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 8 minutes until the leeks are very tender but not browned.
  • Add the chopped potato, vegetable broth, water, fresh thyme, bay leaf, and salt and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Remove the thyme and bay leaf.
  • Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Add the cream and blend again. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.

Vegan Creamy Tomato Soup

  • 4ounces French bread, crust removed, soft part cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1¾ cups)
  • 1cup unsweetened rice milk or unsweetened almond milk
    • ¼cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1medium yellow onion, thinly sliced 
  • 3cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1teaspoon fresh oregano leaves, plus more for garnish
  • 1(28-ounce) can whole peeled plum tomatoes
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
  • 1tablespoon Champagne vinegar
  • Soak bread in milk until very soft, about 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a Dutch oven over medium. Add onion, garlic, and oregano; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring to crush tomatoes, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.
  • Transfer tomato mixture to a blender; add bread mixture, salt, pepper, and remaining ¼ cup oil. Process until creamy and smooth, about 1 minute. Pour back into Dutch oven; stir in vinegar. Serve hot, garnished with more oregano.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

  • 2tablespoons butter
  • 1cup chopped onion
  • 1cup diced carrots
  • 1cup diced celery
  • 2large boneless skinless chicken breasts , diced into bite-size pieces
  • 2 14.5-ounce cans chicken broth , (or 4 cups / 1 quart homemade chicken broth)
  • 1package (6 ounces) long-grain wild rice , (such as Uncle Ben’s minus the seasoning packet)
  • 1tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Dash of red pepper flakes
  • 2tablespoons cornstarch
  • 4ounces cream cheese , cubed
  • 1cup milk
  • 1cup half-and-half
  • 1tablespoon lemon juice
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Select Browning/Sauté function and melt the butter in the pressure cooking pot. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.
  • Stir in the chicken, chicken broth, rice, parsley, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Lock the lid in place and select High Pressure and 5 minutes cooking time.
  • When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes (just let it sit, the steam will escape on its own), then finish with a quick release (be cautious and use a wooden spoon to shift the pressure relief valve so the hearty blow of steam escapes.)
  • In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Select Simmer/Sauté and add the slurry to the pot stirring constantly. Sir in the cream cheese until melted. Stir in the milk, half-and-half and lemon juice and heat through (do not bring to a boil). Serve sprinkled with more parsley and black pepper if desired.

Looking to show off your soup skills? Look into hosting a soup potluck with your friends in one of our amenity spaces!

Meet The Team: Armonie Bartlett

Meet Crest at Skyland Town Center’s Leasing Manager, Armonie Bartlett. Armonie heads up our Leasing team and is dedicated to helping you find your perfect apartment home. We wanted to share a little bit about Armonie, so we asked her about her favorite things about The Crest and DC as a whole!

When you unwind at the end of the day, where do you go?

To the comfort of my living roomthere’s no place like home!

What’s a local organization in DC doing good for the community that readers should know about?

THEARC is really nice! My son attends the camp there during the summers. They also have tons of events and resources that are super beneficial to children in this community.

What’s your favorite restaurant in the neighborhood and what do you order?

I usually bring my lunch every day because I love to cook however, I ran to &pizza when they finally opened here at the Town Center. I usually order traditional dough, spicy and classic sauce, shredded mozzarella, spinach, pepperoni, with hot honey and basil pesto finishes.

How did you end up in DC?

I was born and raised in Washington, DC. Growing up my family relocated to Texas and Aberdeen due to my father being in the military. DC has always felt like home to me.

What are you Netflix-binging on right now?

The new season of Stranger Things!

If you were to work from home, which Crest space would you choose?

Definitely the conference room.

How do you think life at the Crest allows residents to thrive?

I think life at the Crest gives residents a taste of city views and convenience of DC. With the addition of the LIDL grocery store and having the first drive thru Starbucks in DC, there is so much just footsteps away for everyone to enjoy.

What made you want to come work at The Crest?

I wanted to come work at The Crest because I love being a part of something new, it is exciting to be at a new development. There is a lot that this area offers and it will be great to see how things evolve.

Featured Apartment Floor Plan: 2-B

Summer 2022 is in full swing and it’s not too late to lock in an amazing apartment at The Crest before they’re all gone! We have a fantastic featured floor plan you can’t miss if you are out apartment hunting.

Crest at Skyland Town Center offers spacious one and two-bedroom apartments. We believe that quality should be a standard. These apartments come equipped with custom style backsplashes, updated kitchen features, wood laminate flooring, and more!

Within the community, you’ll find an incredible spread of amenities. You’ll have a gorgeous pool, two-story fitness center, 24-hour concierge, resident parking garage, dog park, and a resident clubroom. You also have the convenience of a friendly on-site management team and 24-hour emergency maintenance.

Just outside your front door, Skyland Town Center is open for business! You can check out DC’s only drive-thru Starbucks, Roaming Rooster restaurant and their delicious custard milkshakes. You also have conveniences like CVS and Chase Bank. We’ve recently added Skyland Nails and Spa and & Pizza to our repertoire, and are looking forward to the upcoming opening of Lidl.

But, when choosing an apartment home, we know the most important factor is if the floorplan will work for you and your lifestyle. Featured below is one of our favorite two-bedroom floor plans: the 2-B.

Take a look!

Crest Two Bedroom 2-B Apartment

Crest-Two-Bedroom-B

Whether you’re looking for a floor plan that offers an equitable layout for roommates, the perfect second bedroom for a guest bedroom/home office set up, or you’re just a fan of symmetry, the 2-B floor plan leaves little to be desired.

Not only does this layout have pleasing proportionality with respect to space, it also features some great extras. Two prime examples are the side-by-side full-size washer/dryer and laundry closet with a folding table and expansive windows offering abundant natural light in the main living area.

Both bedrooms can easily accommodate a queen size bed which makes furnishing a breeze. Also, both bedrooms are graciously appointed with walk-through closets that offer plenty of storage and private access to both bathrooms. As an added bonus, its straight lines and generous living room space make it incredibly flexible in terms of accommodating your furniture. It won’t be hard to see yourself living in this versatile space.

Interested in scheduling a tour?

Let’s do it!

Meet The Team: Raul Ratcliffe

As Crest Apartments continues to grow and welcome more and more residents, we want to take the time to highlight another Crest team member. We’re happy to introduce leasing consultant Raul to our team!

We asked Raul a series of questions about what he is most looking forward to at Crest and about the impact he is looking to make. 

Take a look and let us know if you can relate to some of his answers! You will see Raul around the community a lot, so be sure to say hello when you see him! 

1. What are three things you’re most looking forward to about working at Crest?

Learning the unique building operations and contributing with the new team; building relationships with prospects, new residents, and people in the community; helping to raise the value of and support a new Crest culture. 

2. What should new residents expect from living at Crest?

Residents of the Crest can expect a fun and peaceful culture of reciprocal respect and care.

3. Which community feature do you think residents’ are going to enjoy most?

I would have to say the fitness center and clubroom would be very popular when focusing on work, lounging, reading or reducing stress by increasing cardio.

4. What is your favorite floor-plan at Crest?

The 2F (2 bedroom, two baths) is my favorite because space (1077 sq. ft) makes it feel like two apartments in one, and balcony adds lovely outdoor dining, reading, or lounging area to the mix. 

Check it out here

5. What is your favorite retail option coming to Skyland Town Center?

There are so many great options! But I would have to say, &Pizza is what I’m most looking forward to; you can’t go wrong with pizza! 

6. What is your favorite community area at Crest?

My favorite community area is the resident community lounge. I love how the design makes you want to hang out there forever! There is also a lot of open space for residents to watch tv, participate in some games, and even get some work done in the business center area. I know this will be a haven for the new residents to get to know each other and build community.  

Photo gallery

7. What is your favorite apartment feature at Crest?

My favorite Crest apartment feature has to be the kitchen islands and bathroom/shower tile. I’m a sucker for the small details. Residents are going to love the custom feel to our apartment floor plans. 

Be sure to stop by and say to Raul when you are touring Crest at Skyland Apartments. Stay tuned next month to meet another wonderful member of the Crest team! 

Building Home in your Apartment

Living at Crest at Skyland Apartments is an unbelievable experience! One of our favorite parts about apartment living in our community is our residents’ ability to add a piece of themselves to their space easily. Our apartment homes are big enough to spread out yet intimate enough to build a sense of home. We understand that making an apartment feel like home looks different for everyone. To help inspire some creative thought, we curated a list of ways to make your apartment identify with your likes and passions in life. 

As you get ready to move into your new apartment home at Crest, keep these tips in mind as you think about how you want to design your apartment space. 

We can’t wait to welcome you as our neighbor! 

Art/Pictures 

Adding pictures of family/friends is one of the easiest ways to make your apartment feel like home! Bring the memories and experiences from your past right into your apartment space. Some fun ways to express your imagery in your apartment might include: 

Photo Collage: Gather and print some of your favorite photo memories over the years, put them on a board, and then frame it so that you can easily display your collage wherever it feels right in your apartment. 

Photo Table: If you already own or plan to own a glass table for your living area, an excellent way to customize your table in a memorable way is to display some of your favorite photos underneath the table to create a mosaic-style finish to your table. This design method is a perfect way to add a personal flavor to your living area!

Bonus: The living room areas at Crest Apartments are very inclusive, so your photo mosaic will be easy for friends and family to engage with when they visit! 

Canvas: Another fun way that you can express yourself through imagery is to get a sizeable picture canvas created. Canvas immediately add an extensive display of personality to your apartment. Choose a photo in your gallery that represents the atmosphere you would like to create in your apartment home! 

A Pop of Color 

There’s no better way to display your personality in your apartment than having some pops of your favorite color! Color in your apartment can be expressed in a number of fun ways. Some of our favorite ways include:

Colorful Pillows: The cool thing about pops of color is that they can be very subtle yet impactful. Add some flavor to your living area by incorporating some bold colors to your pillows. You won’t regret the light that they will bring to the space!

Bright Curtains: A pop of color can also be accomplished from the window areas. Curtains are an excellent opportunity to show beautiful vibrate colors in your living room space as well as your bedroom space. 

Lamp: Lamps add light, but you can also utilize them as design tools! There are many color and design options when it comes to the kind of lamp you can choose to grace your apartment home. Get creative! 

Balcony Design 

Balconies are a great way to express yourself from the outside! When you think about designing your outdoor space, you want to be sure to think about the mood you wish to have every time you set outside. 

Some ways you can add a cool aesthetic to your outdoor space include:

Lights, Lights, & More Lights: Adding lighting to your balcony can immediately turn your outdoor space into a calming place. The magic that lights add to your patio in the evening is unmatched!

Add a Rug/Turf: Another terrific way to create a welcoming outdoor atmosphere is to place something soft for you and your guests to walk on while outside. Artificial turf is a great way to add some greenery to your space while also making your balcony a softer area. 

Furniture, of course: Our balconies come in all different shapes and sizes. A perfect way to make your outdoor space feel more like home is to add places for you to sit down and relax. Depending on how big your balcony is, this could be a couch or a couple of chairs. Remember, relationships fostered outdoors create unbreakable bonds. 

**Make sure the furniture is rated for outdoor use**

Plants: For all plant parents out there, your balcony is a great place to exercise your green thumb while adding a lovely aesthetic to your outdoor space. With so many plant options, there’s nothing wrong with being intentional about how you want to represent what home means to you through beautiful greenery! Express yourself! 

Last note: Remember, balconies are not storage areas! They are not a great place to store bikes or clutter.

Scents/Candles 

We all know that the sense of smell automatically takes us back in time to some of our favorite memories. By adding particular scents and smells to your apartment space, you’re effectively bringing all of those incredible experiences and memories into your apartment home. Some easy places you can begin is:

Candles: Candles are universal! We all know of a candle that reminds us of a person, place, or memory.

Incense: Like candles, incense have a way of bringing back fond memories of the people we love.

Cooking: While temporary, whipping together a family recipe is a great way to bring those delicious smells of a past family dinner right into your apartment home. The more recipes you have, the more the feeling of home will be embedded into your space. 

As we said before, being truly home looks different for everyone. But with these tips, you can begin to be inspired about the ways you can add a personal touch to your apartment space. 


Visit Crestdc.com/floorplans to see which space feels like home the most.

Crest Summer Moving Tips

We are already welcoming our first residents at Crest apartments and we cannot wait for you to be our next neighbor! At Crest, we believe that when you decide to live with us, you are truly home. Now that everything has been signed, all that is left to do is to prepare to move! 

Below are some things to think about as you prepare for your moving day!

The Week/Day Before the Big Move:

Check in with the Crest leasing office to ensure you’ve got the correct move-in date and time.

Crest contact number: (833) 799-1459

Be sure you’ve booked the elevator and moving dock at the building you’re moving out of so there are no delays or mishaps on moving day.

Confirm pick-up time with your movers and make sure they’ve got all the details, such as what floor you’re moving out of and into and how they can be reached the day of as well as the best directions to the loading dock– this will be very different than the address front door (especially in cities with one-way streets.) You are likely paying for movers by the hour, so you don’t want any time wasted looking for the correct location 

Pro Tip: Ask the leasing office for a building map and mark the exact location for your movers.

Read the fine print on your contract with the moving company. If you have hired movers, make sure you fully understand and accept all of their policies and terms to avoid disappointment and frustration later.

Pack an overnight bag with items such as snacks, water, toothbrushes, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, a change of clothes, electronics chargers, and scissors to get you through the first night without having to tear through boxes in your fatigued state.

Before you unplug the TV, take a photo of the back, so you know where every wire goes when you plug it back in.

Easily pack the clothes on hangers by collecting clothes in trash bags, hangers sticking out of the top.  Hang in your new closet and pull the bag off, then put it to good use, collecting move-in waste.

Take a photo or record a video walk-through of the apartment you are moving out of to ensure the return of your security deposit reflects the condition you left it in.

Make sure you’ve arranged for a caregiver for pets for the day of the move; this is for your sanity as much as it is for theirs.

The Day Of the Big Move:

Wake up bright and early and treat yourself to a well-balanced breakfast and coffee. This one may not sound fun but you’ll thank us by mid-afternoon.

Check the weather. It’s summertime, which means you want to stay hydrated and bring a change of clothes with you for after you’re done moving.

Fully charge your cell phone and make sure you’ve got all of the important phone numbers on hand for the day: movers, landlord, leasing agents, etc.

Scour the web for close-by restaurants where you can order a quick lunch and dinner without losing much time or energy during the move.

Leave a broom, paper towels, and all-purpose cleaner at your old apartment so you can do a final sweep when the last boxes are out.

Try to stay on schedule – we’re thrilled to welcome so many residents in our, but this means we all need to respect each other’s time. So please be courteous about the time slot you’ve been assigned and alert your leasing agent or move-in coordinator as soon as you know you might have fallen behind or ahead of schedule. Save your used boxes (and your tired feet) – once you’ve collected ten used and broken down boxes in your new apartment, let us know! We will gladly collect them from your apartment and recycle the boxes for you.

1 Bedroom Floor-plan Tour

Crest at Skyland Town Center Apartments is Southeast DC’s exciting new gem. As a community, we want to make all our new residents feel as if they are TRULY home. Our convenient amenities and incredible apartment features put that feeling in the palm of your hands.

Crest residents can look forward to stainless steel appliances in their apartment homes, sleek hardwood flooring, GE Energy Star washers and dryers, balcony spaces, and spacious closets. The building features will include a full-size fitness facility, community courtyard area with a pool, a dog run, pet washing station, not to mention thousands of retail square footage right outside of our front doors!  

Crest at Skyland Towncenter is a whole new way of living! Convenience is at your front in every way. You are within walking distance of some of your favorite grocery and other regular day conveniences, including CVS, Starbucks, and Chase bank. Entertainment is nearby too! In 15 minutes, Crest residents can access some of DC’s most exciting locations, including Nationals Park and National Harbor. 

We asked our new property manager, Kalimah, to show us her favorite features about the one-bedrooms at Crest. Check out the video below as she shares the highlights. Be on the lookout for all the small details that go into making one of our apartment homes, from soft-close drawers, closet attachments, and kitchen faucets to the living room design and built-in kitchen islands. We know these apartments will make you feel Truly Home

Crest at Skyland Town Center is everything that you’re looking for in an apartment community. The only thing that is missing is you!  Learn more about our different floor-plans and features by signing up for our email list below. 

Pre-leasing for Crest will begin very soon. Don’t miss your opportunity to be one of the first residents of our community. 

4 Apartment Lessons for 2021

As we kick off the first week of the new year, there are probably many things you’re looking forward to leaving behind in the previous year. Rightfully so, 2020 was an indescribable year; it left many us in an unfamiliar place, and in turn, have you believing that nothing good came from it. Yes, that year was very challenging, and while it might be easy to want to forget 2020 entirely, there are many things to take away. We learned a lot about ourselves; we found out how strong we can be, we found out creative we can be, we found out how patient we can be. These lessons and realizations will continue to help us as we navigate into 2021. 

Last year, we became more familiar with ourselves; we got more familiar with something else, too—our apartment homes. 

As an apartment dweller, you spent more time inside of your four walls in 2020 than any other period before. This time made you realize that your apartment space needs a fresh look going into a new year after months of looking at the same decor and stylings. 

If 2020 didn’t teach us anything else, it taught all of us how to get creative with our spaces in more ways than we can imagine. Use that same energy to add some new life into your area for a fresh 365 days.

Below are four apartment features you must have for 2021.

A REAL “ WFH” Station

Last year could have easily be defined as “The year we all started working from home.” While that caught pretty much all of us off guard in 2020, 2021, there is no excuse not to be fully prepared for however much longer we will be working from home. 

For those apartment renters’ that don’t have an extra room to set up as an office area, there are several ways to accomplish remote work productivity in a small apartment space.

Below are a few helpful articles you can read to start your journey of mastering your apartment workspace.

Secrets to working from home in a small apartment 

How to cram a home office into a small apartment

Making a makeshift work from home space

New Cooking Supplies 

In 2020, we all took home cooking to new heights! All the extra time spent inside our apartment homes had a lot of us mastering old recipes while simultaneously exploring brand new ones. 

While doing so, the cooking tools that you previously use on occasion went into overdrive.  

As we move into the new year, add a fresh look to your kitchen by purchasing some new cooking essentials. Like most newly discovered apartment chefs, you’ve probably already found some new kitchen gadgets that will make your cooking experience that much better! 

Here is a list of a few must-have tools for your kitchen going into the new year.

Working out from Home Equipment

Last year, we had to get used to working out from home. Even though our gym has since reopened using COVID-19 protocols, some apartment-dwellers might have found an at-home workout routine that does the trick!

Start your new year off with some fresh workout equipment. 

Here are some excellent fitness equipment options for your apartment home.

Apartment Organizing Tools

In 2020, we learned of all the purposes that our apartment homes can serve; our spaces became art studios, gyms, movie theaters, and more! With all of these activities, keeping your apartment home organized became that much harder. 

Here are some apartment organization tools you need for a productive 2021. 

Last year took us for an unexpected ride. And there’s nothing like that “fresh start” feeling. But as we attempt to make this year the best one we’ve ever had, let’s not forget the lessons learned in 2020 that will benefit us greatly in this current year.

Crest Apartments Floor-plan First Look

We are beyond excited for the arrival of Crest at Skyland Apartments! There are so many amazing features that are going to make living in this apartment community feel like a dream. From stunning granite countertop finishes, sleek tile backsplashes, and wood flooring. To some of the awesome amenities, we will have available like our, tranquil outdoor areas, dog park, and grilling areas, just to name a few! Not to mention the convenience of having access to over 80,000 square feet of retail options right outside your front door. The possibilities of living at Crest are endless.

All of these exciting details make Crest at Skyland one of the most anticipated apartment communities to come to Southeast DC in quite some time. As we continue to build this brand new community, for its arrival in 2021, we want future residents to feel just as much excitement as we do.

Below is a sneak peek of some of the floor-plans that are going to be available at Crest Apartments.

Which one are you most looking forward to?

Crest Studio A3

Crest One-Bedroom B1

Crest Two-Bedroom C1

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