This week, residents of Parkway Gardens and Crescent Pointe apartments, located near Roosevelt Center, are still without heat. Greenbelt’s Director of Planning and Community Development Terri Hruby confirmed that as of Tuesday evening, January 14, the entirety of Parkway Gardens, a total of 42 units, and 12 of Crescent Pointe’s 42 units are relying on temporary heating solutions due to inoperable boiler systems. Hruby says the temporary solutions currently provided by the landlord, including window heating units and portable heaters, are not performing up to building code standards and the owners have been given until January 20 to provide a permanent solution that does. Parkway Gardens resident Marayna Smith told the News Review they’ve been without heat since the fall, when it was never turned on. City Manager Josué Salmerón said Tuesday that the city is waiting for a proposal of a permanent heating solution from the property management company. “Their deadline is January 20 and we will levy fines if an acceptable solution is not provided,” Salmerón told the News Review.
New Management
The properties were under the management of Pinacle Properties until December 31. A statement from the city said they were surprised to learn Pinacle was no longer managing the properties and Dreyfuss Management has taken over. Smith said her boyfriend’s mother, who lives at Crescent Pointe and does currently have heat, received a letter stating the management company’s last day was December 31, 2024. Smith hadn’t received a similar notice. What she and her boyfriend did receive was notice that the new management company will be raising their rent. “Isn’t that lovely?” asked Smith. “They raised the rent knowing there isn’t any heat and no solution in sight!”
Braving the Cold
Dealing with extremely low temperatures, Smith says she covers herself in three to four blankets in front of the radiator heater they were given by the previous management company. It’s much larger than a regular space heater, she said and it’s increasing the electric bill, she noted. She has to plug it into an extension cord because all the plug sockets are so old, says Smith. She’s concerned they are also risking fires in the building with residents relying on heaters in a building with old wiring. “We don’t sleep with the heaters on because I’m petrified of a fire and we just deal with the cold and pile blankets on us to keep warm,” Smith told the News Review.
Another Parkway Gardens resident, Tyresa Simon, has similarly been using a plug-in radiator and relying on multiple blankets. “We are sleeping under a lot of covers and in warm onesie pajamas or clothes and socks,” Simon told the News Review. She has two radiators on wheels but is only able to plug them in in the bathroom and bedroom because elsewhere the fuse blows, particularly if they try to use an appliance or television at the same time as the heater. “Basically, it’s freezing in my living room and kitchen area,” said Simon. “I use my living room as a living room/bedroom and my grandkids have the bedroom. And our electric bill is skyrocketing due to having to keep the radiator space heaters plugged in for long periods of time.”
“Crescent Pointe and Parkway Gardens Apartments are working toward a permanent solution by January 20, addressing issues with fuse boxes and circuit breaker panels that impact the use and efficiency of window heating units. Jane Apartments currently have a functional boiler system, and no recent heating complaints have been recorded,” read a statement from the city. Residents are urged to report any concerns directly to the code enforcement office at 301-345-5417 or via email at pcd@greenbeltmd.gov.
On Tuesday afternoon, January 14, Smith shared the first message of hope for residents: the on-site Property Manager Shanel Ramsey sent an email to residents informing them that the company is now working with two contractors to restore the boilers to full capacity. They’ll keep residents updated with the progress, reads the email.