Hampshire Towers also known as Takoma Overlook now, has been in a downward spiral for many, many years. My mother moved here with me in 1984. At that time Hampshire Towers was an exceptionally kept property. Repair requests were addressed timely. The parking lots were well lit. The lobbies had sofas, mirrored walls, candy machines, soda machines and cigarette machines (Hey, it was the 80's). The swimming pool opened every year on Memorial Day. The tennis courts were suitable for the sport. The residents were primarily elderly people who still resided here after the transition from an all adult community or working class people who wanted a more upscale location for living and cared about the upkeep of their residence. As a child and/or teenager, neither I, nor my friends would dare block the entrances or stairs or rip and run through the hallways and lobbies. When I was growing up here the children had respect for the adults and the adults had respect for where they lived. Unfortunately, this is no longer a reality at the once prestegious Towers. Now, Hampshire Towers can best be compared to the projects on the old television show Good Times! Actually, I am almost inclined to say that James and Florida had it better!

Hampshire Towers has so many issues that it is difficult to know where to start and almost impossible to see an end. Let's begin with the property management company. I believe management has transitioned at least 5 times in the last 10 years, maybe less. I've lost count. The staff, or lack there of, is dwindling by the day. There is currently 1 maintenance person on staff for two high rise buildings (approx. 12 floors in each, w/about 20 units on each floor)... you do the math!

Some years ago, housing vouchers started being accepted and the caliber of people declined dramatically. There are tenants (or their visitors) who urinate and/or defecate in the stairwells, elevators, and the sinks in the laundry rooms. Children run rampant through the lobby daily, screaming morning, noon and night. Teenagers sit on the stairs of the property that lead from the parking lot to the lobby, as well as the stairs in the lobby that lead to the elevators and mailboxes and look at you as if you are inconveniencing them when you wish to pass by. And more often than not, they can be found smoking, cursing, drinking, braiding hair, listening to radios they have plugged up and "making out" in the lobby or in front of the entrances to the the buildings. The parking lots have not had the full use of all of its lamps in probably a decade. The tennis courts have a forest of weeds growing up out of the cracks. The pool has not opened on time in well over five years (as of today 6/28/08 it is still not open). The air conditioning convectors are on their last leg. If you have one of them set to "high", it blows "low" (I have two fans in my bedroom)and you most certainly do not want to turn it off. It will take an hour for it to start up again. Sometimes the convectors leak and soak your carpet and casue the wood floors underneath to buckle. Oh, did I forget to mention that the filters that were once changed twice a year, have not been changed in two years'

The most recent disappointment has been the mice infestation. We have had roaches in the past, but not now. The cockroaches have been replaced with mice (perhaps the mice ate the roaches). Many people have complained for years about mice, but it wasn't until recently that I had the misfortune of encountering the vermin problem. The mice were literally taking over; climbing up on tables, nightstands, desks, etc. leaving their "droppings" behind!! Management has since sent pest control, which has helped some. However, we still have glue traps, pellets and other store bought traps strategically placed for the stragglers. Recently, our apartment smelled for over a week. I came to the conclusion that it was the odor of dead mice in the walls which was intensified by the a/c blowing.

There is so much more that I could go on forever (it already seems that I have). Let's see... what else'' The buildings have been surrounded by Long and Foster chain link fences for about 2-3 years. Initially, we were told these fences were put up so that repairs could be done to the buildings' exteriors... still waiting for that to commence. The elevators are often working improperly. It has become a rarity that you see your floor displayed in the elevator. I consider one of the three elevators in our building to be a "death trap". You may also find that the locks on the security doors are often broken or rigged so that people without a key may come and go at their leisure.

With all of this said and with a great deal left out, Hampshire Towers is still a great place... in concept. The amenities (when they work properly) are rarely found anywhere else these days (all utilities included). The space... OH MY GOODNESS!!!! You cannot and will not find this type of space in newly constructed properties.

Allegedly, there are plans in motion to renovate both buildings (renovation has begun on the older of the two buildings) so as to bring the property back up to speed and possibly offer the remaining tenants an opportunity to purchase their units. This is probably the reason many long time residents are still here. If you can beleive it, there are still some residents living here who were already here when we moved in.

In a nutshell, these buildings are crumbling around its tenants. Years of "patch this" and "paint over that" have pinnacled at the deterioration of a once admired and envied complex. I beleive if Hampshire Towers/Takoma Overlook could receive the renovations (inside and outside) that it so desperately needs, it could be restored to its glory.

If you wish to get in on the ground floor and have the patience to wait out the restoration of a once fine luxury high rise complex, then by all means, move in. However, if you do not have the benefit of amazingly reduced rent due to long term residency; an emotional attachment to the property; patience to deal with a nonexistent staff, disrespectul children and teenagers, inconsiderate adults who take no pride in where they live, constant and much needed repairs AND nerves of steel to live with the vermin, you may want to seek residency somewhere else. k6tKKzmJrmATU2ap682S

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/07/2008
I lived ther for about 4yrs and recently moved out.....This review of this place is totally true....this place is nothing but (the reviewer worded it right) old good times ghetto fabulous project section 8 dump.....I was moving and when I picked up some of my clothes that was on the closet floor there was a dead mouse under my clothes.......beware of this dump..
From: moe99	Date: 07/17/2008
I understand that you are displeased with your complex, but HOW DARE YOU BLAME LOW INCOME PEOPLE OR PEOPLE YOU HAVE VOUCHERS AS BEING PART OF THE PROBLEM? HOW DO YOU KNOW THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS AND OF THOSE WHO ARE CREATING CAOS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU COULD POSSIBLY LOSE EVERYTHING TODAY, AND WOULD YOU WANT SOMEONE TO JUDGE YOU BECAUSE YOU NEED HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. YOU REALLY NEED TO EDUCATE YOURSELF!!!! WHY DON'T YOU TRY TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS OR SOMETHING AND START REPORTING THOSE NASTY RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MANAGEMENT ENFORCES THE LAWS AGAINGST THEIR BEHAVIOR.
From: Pearl75	Date: 07/17/2008
For Moe99... I am extremely educated about receiving benefits from the goverment. I went through a short period of time in my life where I didn't have a choice but to receive benefits from the government. However, because I have worked for and earned 99.999% of the things I have and continue to do so, I appreciate what I have, where I live and my community. Perhaps, I should not have made a blanket statement about low income families, but the unfortunate situation in this complex is that the property was, at the very least, more aesthetically pleasing prior to low income vouchers being accepted. As discriminatory as it may sound, more often than not, families who receive tax-free benefits that afford them the same opportunities as hard working families, are less likely to appreciate the appearance or upkeep of their environment because it was handed to them as opposed to them working for it. This is especially true in situations where people come from a family of multi-generational welfare recipients. So while you thought you were verbally attacking someone who is/was clueless to the world of TANF, EBT cards and Medicaid, I am speaking from experiences as someone who has been on both sides of the fence... low to no income and hard-working and well-compensated! Also, thank you ever so much for your recommendations, but HT has community meetings, police patrol and even officers who are residents. In addition, I have no issues with reporting problematic tenants who have little or no regard for their place of residence. But at this time, a time of apparent transition at HT, these meetings and police are of little recourse. If you have ever witnessed the deterioration of a once admired and envied neighborhood, as I have watched my childhood neighborhood basically "spoil", then perhaps you would have a better understanding of my comments.

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates