Hello, my name is Brian Zona, and I have been the manager of Mount Vernon Gardens since April of 2001. I have also lived there from April 2001 until August 2002 (when I moved to a larger apartment at our complex in Jenkintown). While I have been aware of this site for awhile, I decided to join in the dialogue after reading the most recent review for the complex, which stated that two tenants were terminally injured in a fire there. That crossed the line, since it was outrageously false, and the fact that it was false could easily verified with a phone call to the Abington Fire Department. So, I contacted ApartmentRatings.com and was amazed to learn that the website disavows responsibility for ensuring that the content of the posts is accurate. They informed us that it was our responsibility to pursue posters of false information for libel claims. Please be advised that we fully intend to do so going forward.

For example, the prior post claimed that there were two fires within a week of each other and that two people were terminally injured. We did have an apartment fire in December 2004 caused by careless smoking in an apartment, no one was killed, only the two adults responsible for the fire suffered minor injuries. A month later a tenant's car engine caught fire after they had driven it home from work, it was quickly put out and no one was injured. Furthermore, all of our fire alarms are certified yearly by Emergency Response Associates - these certifications are on file with the Abington Fire Department.

Claims of systemic problems with heat or hot water are just not true - we take boiler maintenance very seriously. Don't take my word for it, contact our heating contractor, Sam Wexler Plumbing, at 215-947-2185. They have been maintaining our heating and hot water systems since 2002. Each fall they come out and check all of the systems to prepare them for the winter. In fact, two of the four boilers on site were installed in the fall of 2005, and all of the hot water heaters serving this property were installed within the last three years. If we have a problem during the season, they are quick to respond, and we have electric heaters on site to distribute in the event of an emergency.

I also see alot on here about pest problems, and that they are ignored. This is untrue - we have an extermination company, Western Pest Control, who are pre-paid for the year, it doesn't cost us any additional money to call them out if there is a problem reported!

I did want to address these matters, which had been recently brought up, and which would certainly concern me if I were shopping for an apartment. Thank you for your interest in Mount Vernon Gardens and please feel free to contact me at 215-886-8688 if you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Brian B. Zona
Property Manager
Mount Vernon Gardens

EDIT: As of March 29, 2008, I am no longer the manager of this complex or employed by the owner in any capacity. This was an amicable departure, based on my decision to go another direction in my life. 7 years in the property management business can seem like a lifetime.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/02/2007
http://www.nbc10.com/news/1489601/detail.html
From: canijustlive	Date: 09/11/2007
I must admit these reviews do concern me. I realize that depending on mood some tenants will post unfavorable reviews however i also realize that the tenants are often the ones who have to deal with sitiuations that landlords will dismiss as untrue or false or in some cases not even acknowledge. What possible guarantee can you offer that what you say is not just an attempt to draw in new customers? Obviously you would say that negative reports are untrue but can you show proof of maintenance when requests were made to fix various problems such as pests, no heat/hot water, etc. and how often are these requests are made?
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/12/2008
i am on the site searching for my son.. I live in abington.. i drove past the place,and not sure of what is inside.. but the outside of some of the place// ex.. i saw a sheet hanging to the window.. Blinds torn down. now this could just be in the back of the place.. It is right across the street from the Aldi market so that will let everyone know that i am telling the truth.
From: searching10131979	Date: 11/07/2008
Threatening to sue tenants will not attract new tenants!!! I will not be looking at Mt. Vernon during my apartment search.
From: bbzona	Date: 12/15/2008
The warning to sue was not to a tenant, it was to an anonymous poster who posted an easily provable falsehood (that two people were killed in a fire at the property) with the intent of harming the reputation of the owner/ management. This is pretty much the definition of Libel. The only reason that this anonymous poster was not sued was because it was impossible to track them down. It is still amazing to me that this site can disavow responsibility for giving a forum to such easily provable Libel. There is nothing to stop someone from anonymously posting any damaging lie about management on this site, so any such information received here should be reviewed with a critical eye, not accepted as fact.

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