Congress Heights on the Rise

View Original

[PR] At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds Visits the Park 7 Apartments in Northeast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Contact: Emmanuel Brantley
ebrantley@dccouncil.us | (202) 724-8064

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, in response to recent news regarding the Park 7 Apartments, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, met with the property owners to tour the complex and was joined by the management team and custodial staff.

After her visit, Councilmember Anita Bonds released the following statement:

“This afternoon, I joined the owners, property managers, and custodial team at the Park 7 Apartments to tour the premises. My goal was to better understand leadership’s response to the overwhelming commentary received from some residents regarding the overall condition of the property.

“During the visit (and after having impromptu conversations with some tenants), I confirmed that the property owners, management staff, and maintenance technicians are working strategically, collaboratively, and diligently to resolve matters at a satisfactory pace, and in a way that will be sustainable for years to come.

“To provide dignified living spaces for all its residents, Park 7 leadership is working to restore the beautifully landscaped courtyard spaces. It has also employed exterminators to stamp out the roach infestation problem and increased its on-site security presence.

"Furthermore, Park 7 Leadership will better coordinate with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) to address residents’ complaints and has already completed 27 of 30 tasks, which include items such as light and door fixture repairs, assigned by the agency.

“I also confirmed that the property is preparing to mail utility refund checks to those charged for their water usage when they should not have been. The checks should go to about 50% of the original lease signers, which spanned a period of four years (prior to the arrival of the current property management team).

“Overall, Park 7 provides over 300 attractive, spacious, and affordable one, two, and three-bedroom units for a population of at least 1,500 residents. I am committed to ensuring that we work together to bring out the very best of this property and make it inhabitable for our Ward 7 residents."