We had high hopes when we moved in: the building is an artistic landmark and the lobby was pretty cool. Our apartment, when initially viewed, looked great. How wrong we were.

The floors started peeling varnish the day we moved in, most doors would not shut due to the dozens (no joke) of layers of paint on them, holes in the walls from previous tenants had not been patched, mildew sprouted through the bathroom ceiling paint, and the blinds were missing handles. When we asked for a move-in inspection/chcklist, we were told they would not do one.

Since that first week, we have endured regular water problems, including total shut-offs for over 24 hours; broken elevators; three garbage disposals (it seems like they kept recycling old units into our apt.); two stoves (one of which took over a month to be installed); mediocre maintenance (I did more on my own after being asked repeatedly by the apartment's maintenance guys to borrow my tools); and a management philosophy of "your concerns mean nothing to us; we just want your money on time, but we may or may not provide you with services on time." There have been numerous rent increases but no change in services, except to get worse.

Things only got worse as the years have progressed; it got to the point where restoring a fountain in the lobby or changing the realty company's letterhead were viewed as more important than providing hot water. Tragically, this past year one of their maintenance men who lived on-site (one of two good ones who were both let go recently) caught his apartment on fire as he tried to stay warm during a night with temperatures below freezing. Why did this happen' The realty company believed that they should only comply with their literal duty under DC law to provide heat from Oct. 15 on, regardless of the actual outdoor temperatures. The gentlemen turned on an electric blanket to stay warm, but it caught on fire. To top things off, the residents only learned of the fire when fire trucks rolled up at 3 in the morning; no fire alarm was sounded.

In short, we were very disappointed with this building. They worry more about appearances and less about quality.

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