These apartments are under new management and the annual rent has gone up 9% to 15% for each of the past two years. The residents association (which is not recognized by the management company) approached the city government for relief, but the city was unable to stop the huge increases. True, the new management is making changes, but they are mostly superficial and cosmetic, aimed more at attracting new tenants than helping the current ones. DON'T BE FOOLED! This is an old building that has not been well cared for. Common problems include:
* Unreliable and unsafe elevators
* Pay laundry facilities on each floor (personal washers and dryers are not allowed), but machines are expensive ($1.50/washer load, $1.50/dryer load), small (not full-size machines), poorly maintained, and often filthy.
* Parking is usually very hard to find (Parking is okay at present (05-2008), but only because there are many, many vacant apartments.)
* Electricity is included in rent, but management limits usage by installing low-amperage circuit breakers.
* No sprinkler system (poor fire safety)
* Rodents and birds often get inside the roof space, then crawl inside the interior walls and invade apartments at least as far down as the 6th floor!
* There are huge holes in the walls, hidden inside the heating/cooling units. These holes are not usually visible to tenants, but they pose an extreme danger since somke would quickly spread between apartments during a fire. NO JOKE - These holes are BIG - Large enough to reach through and shake hands with your neighbor!
* The holes also allow lots of noise and smells (cigarettes, cigars, spiced cooking)
between apartments.
* Management recently replaced the windows, but they are as drafty as the old ones
(I guess you get what you pay for)
* Poor snow/ice removal in winter (Wear a helmet when crossing the parking lot!)
* Poor leaf removal in autumn (If it's raining, wipe your feet before getting in your car!)
* I could list mre, but you get the idea...

User Responses
From: Publisher	Date: 05/05/2008
How can the washers and dyer be filthy if they are all brand new? I have yet to go in there and it was dirty. The last time I went to the laundry mat it was $2 to wash and 7 minutes per quarter to dry in the same size washer and dryer. Parking - Do you mean close to the building? Electricity - Free is free No sprinkler - Renters insurance. Fire extingisher. Rodents and birds - now you're reaching. Huge holes and smoke- Maybe you've inhaled some of that smoke and knocked holes in your wall. To whom it may concern: old building = cement walls. Lots of people not noise free but not noisey. As for the smell, I've never know smoke to confine itself to one place. Windows - still reaching. You know good and well these windows are not drafty. Elevators - everything else has been replaced, why not the elevators. The elevators are slow, so what. Snow/Ice removal and leaf removal - Who doesn't wipe their feet before getting in the car? It's ice, I'm sure you wouldn't miss any if you had to try and remove it. The old owner didn't change so much as a light bulb but had larger increases. There is no cap on rent increases in PG County. Move to Montgomery County. I dare you to find another apartment in Greenbelt that don't have people hanging out front, constant police presence, all utlities included and a mile or 2 away from all that is necessary. Move if it so bad because I'm sure the next place will be problem free.
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/14/2008
Really, how high-maintenance are you? Is sounds like apartment living is not your cup of tea... might as well buy something since the market is so good these days!
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/16/2008
As the author of the original comment, I can assure you that the comments are honest. Gee, could the angry, defensive response have come from one of the property managers? Nah. A property manager would never exaggerate or stretch the truth, would they? It's simple, folks. I gain nothing by listing these honest complaints. My only intent is to save others some grief. As for the responses... 1. NEW does NOT = clean. Many tenants do not clean up after themselves, leaving the machines dirty, inside and out! 2. If you believe $1.50 per load wash and dry is a great deal, well goody for you. I happen to think it's a ripoff. 3. Parking - You know what I'm talking about and no, I don't mean close to the building. You know very well that the current ease of parking is only due to having so many empty units. If they fill up, we're back to tight parking again. 4. Electricity - Free is free, eh? You mean the electricity ISN'T factored into out monthly rent? Wow. That is one generous management company! 5. No sprinkler - Renter's insurance? Fire damage is okay with you as long as we have renter's insurance and a fire extinguisher??? That has got to one of the most callous statements I've ever heard! What a loving, caring company! 6. Rodents and birds - I'm reaching? No, you KNOW it's true. 7. Old building = cement walls? Are you kidding? The outside walls may be brick, but you know perfectly well that THERE ARE NOT CEMENT WALLS BETWEEN THE APARTMENTS!!! Why lie like that? The wall are simple plasterboard. Nothing more. And you know it! 8. "There is NO CAP ON RENT INCREASES IN PG COUNTY" - Wow. Now THERE'S a great sales pitch if ever I've heard one! Makes you want to move right in, doesn't it? 8. General safety - Move to Montgomery County? The plain, simple truth id that the low crime rate is due to the NEIGHBORHOOD and a fine local police department, not the building or management. Want to move here? Fine. I've done my best to explain why you shouldn't. Believe me or believe them. It's your choice, but ASK BEFORE YOU MOVE. Speak to some tenants privately, when the managers aren't around, THEN decide. You'll be glad you waited.
From: sbelisle	Date: 07/14/2008
I can since you anger to your current living conditions. However as your neighbor in the same building I do not see the same problems. I find the ground lovely, the neighbors kind, the halls can smell like someones dinner but not thier trash, my view is of the parking lot (and we have water front property with the pool) but the sunsets are wounderful. Never seen a roach, rodent or bird inside the building. I am sorry you are unhappy but it has been really great for me.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/07/2008
"I dare you to find another apartment in Greenbelt that don't have people hanging out front, constant police presence, all utlities included and a mile or 2 away from all that is necessary." Well, except for the utilities being included (electricity is not), that would be Lakeside North, and it's also less money.
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/21/2009
i think there is some discrimination going on, i applied and it seemed i was going to get approved, was shocked when i received a phone call from Ashley stating that they were not able to accommodate me. But she went ahead and faxed my application to other southern management apartments.And ever since my phone has be ringing of the hook, some say they can accommodate me for a lesser price of what the Lakeside North in Greenbelt is charging and others say are asking more than my budget can handle. Ashley do not impose on me an area or rent amount that i am not in agreement with. Do i need to dress up in Gucci and drive an Escalade before i can live in Lakeside North?or is it because i am Indian. I smell discrimination and racism. Hey i work for the Federal Govt.I am no criminal.

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