The News Review first reported on security, health and safety issues at the Charlestowne North apartment complex in the September 14, 2023, issue of the News Review. Since then, the property has incurred multiple city code violations and fines and, finally, lost its rental license due to non-compliance with city code. The property manager and maintenance staff have been unable to obtain funds from the property owner to hire contractors to address the violations, the scale of which is beyond the maintenance staff. On December 28, 2023, the onsite property manager, Ginger Reid, notified residents that they are not obligated to pay rent to the unlicensed landlord.
Tenants of the 178-unit apartment building are worried about unsafe conditions, new bills from the owners and the possibility of being displaced amid the uncertain future of the complex. “We want the Maryland Attorney General’s office to take our dire situation seriously and extend any assistance they can to locate the owners and hold them accountable for their neglect, for making us suffer unsafe and unacceptable living conditions,” say the tenants. Over 50 percent of residents are seniors and 90 percent of those are single women. The city and county governments have been unable to make progress with the owner and property manager, and now residents anxiously await support from the office of Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown.
New Owners
The apartment complex changed hands in early 2023 when it was bought by Charlestowne North Holding Company LLC, based in New York. Residents began encountering reduced maintenance, which created security, safety and health concerns including unlocked building doors, water leaks and damage, pest infestations, expired fire extinguishers, irregular garbage removal and dark parking lots.
Because the building is not compliant with Greenbelt City Code, the city did not renew its rental license, which expired September 1, 2023. Inspectors issued their citations with a November due date, with which the property failed to comply by December 28, incurring fines totaling $6,350. The city is submitting citations to the court system as Maryland law does not permit unlicensed landlords to collect rent.
Reid, the onsite property manager for the company Livingo, arrived in late summer 2023. She has been unable to communicate with the new owner or obtain funds from them. Over the past year, onsite maintenance staff have been reduced from three to one, leaving a current staff of Reid, one maintenance person and a part-time cleaner. Reid said she tried to hire additional contractors to address the backlog of work, but contractors who previously worked at the complex will not take new work because of unpaid bills and bounced checks from the owner. Reid reports receiving 10 to 15 maintenance requests per day for outstanding work.
Resident Advocates
Wanda Darden, Graeme Simpson and Pat Wickersty describe themselves as a tenant advocate group, working since early July 2023 with the City of Greenbelt to improve living conditions and safety for residents.
Leaks and Plumbing Issues
Water leaks and plumbing problems have led to laundry room closures on multiple floors and water leaks into the lobby. Leaks from the hot water heating system have been reported. There are also reports of broken pipes in kitchens, damaged walls and ceilings from water leaks and mold in hall carpets.
Rodents and Garbage
Tenant Hannah Gould said she found mice in her unit three times this year since new ownership and others have reported hearing mice in the walls of their apartments. Darden said tenants who report mice to building staff are being advised to hire their own exterminator.
She reported that garbage removal is twice weekly and recycling once weekly, but there have been gaps with no pickup. She notified inspectors the week of January 1 that furniture and mattresses were left for two weeks after a tenant moved out, blocking a door.
Security and Safety
The current owner stopped paying the security service, cutting off the electronic door locks and door monitoring at the entrance to the building in January 2023. Reports from multiple tenants say that they have seen unknown persons sleeping in laundry rooms, hallways and the community room, striking fear among residents. The elevator’s certificate has lapsed, making the use of the elevator at one’s own risk. A notice from the City of Greenbelt Department of Code Enforcement strongly urges residents to refrain from using the elevators and instead use the stairs. “For residents in our building who are elderly, disabled or who have mobility and health challenges you can imagine the type of dangerous and unethical situation this presents,” resident Penny Brooks told the News Review. Brooks’ mother has knee issues and is one of those who depends on the elevator. The eight-story building has residents as old as 104.
The property began billing tenants for electricity and gas, which current leases include in rent. City Manager Josué Salmerón said he asked WSSC Water, PEPCO and Washington Gas to contact him if they are considering disconnecting any utility service, to give the city an opportunity to act.
A Once Desirable Property
Gould invited the News Review to her balcony apartment “to see what makes this a great location,” with its view over Greenbelt Lake and the surrounding woods. She moved from GHI to live on one floor in an elevator building.
A resident’s 2023 review on ApartmentRatings.com said, “This once safe, well-run, clean, efficiently managed high-rise is now falling apart … I lived here three years before the ownership change. It was a flawlessly run complex with friendly, responsive management. That is not the current situation, not at all.”
Communication Cut
On January 8, a notice was posted in the building alerting residents that communications with the leasing office have been “shut down.” There is “no email, no internet, no phone service,” it states, providing a personal email address for reaching Reid with building issues and concerns.
Local Officials React
Salmerón said, “My biggest concern is we have numerous families suffering because of the neglectful property owner and that neglect can lead to displacing families … Our priority is the safety and well-being of residents.” He said he wants residents to know “that you are not being forgotten or unheard. We are trying to work through the situation as proactively as we can in a way that creates a win-win situation for all.”
Salmerón has asked to meet with all tenants on Saturday, January 13 at 2 p.m. in Greenbelt Library’s auditorium on the lower level to discuss updates on the city’s work since July 2023.
