The latest scheme to try to fill the MANY (hundreds, I'm told by an inside source who has lists of vacant units) units vacated by tenants who would not tolerate the outrageous rent hikes, addition of utility charges that CANNOT be directly attributed to any one unit (because they building is not metered to measure individual usage) and other indignities is this: refer a friend and get $1000.

FRIENDS DON'T REFER FRIENDS TO RIVERHOUSE ANYMORE.

Prior to last year's takeover by Vornado, the commerical division of Charles E. Smith, and this year's replacement of the Cafritz management company with Kettler, I WOULD have referred ALL MY FRIENDS to Riverhouse. I've lived here for years and USED TO love it. Yes, I'd compare the building to an aging but comfortable, roomy old Ford. I was happy to pay "old Ford" prices which included EVERYTHING in one payment and were STILL highly competitive.

NOW the situation is this: we're paying MERCEDES BENZ prices for the old Ford. My monthly costs have increased $600 per MONTH over last year. This increase is comprised of:

1. drastic rent increase
2. imposition of new $150/month fee for not having a 12-month lease (NEVER required previously)
3. imposition of nearly $150/month utility bills that CANNOT BE directly tied to my energy usage because these buildings WERE NOT CONSTRUCTED so as to meter individual energy usage. I'm assessed a utility fee based on the square footage of my unit. Never mind if I conserve energy - my neighbors could be wasting it. I subsidize them.
4. Ever increasing parking fees, when the garage is half empty (and includes run-down employee vehicles with flat tires, leaking oil, and what appears to be a lifetime of belongings crammed into the vehicle)

The worst part is the insult Kettler heaps on. They offer useless perks and appear to hope that residents are stupid enough to consider them valuable, including:

1. "24 hour concierge service" - this is not the front desk, but a call-in number where you can have someone find a movie or restaurant for you. DOES ANYONE AROUND HERE NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS AND CONDUCT THESE SEARCHES FOR THEMSELVES AS A ROUTINE ASPECT OF DAILY LIFE'' I doubt it.
2. American Express reward points if you pay your rent with Amex. AMEX is the LEAST popular credit card because merchants don't want to pay the higher fees Amex charges. I've never had an Amex card and don't plan to get one. The notice sent out about this wonderful "benefit" says "don't let your rental dollars go to waste." So ironic.

The long-time cleaning company, which consisted of individuals who actually KNEW residents, were helpful, industrious, concerned for our well-being, and a general PLEASURE to see in the hallways each day has been replaced by a low-bidding contractor. The new cleaning staff are nowhere to be found unless you count the poor girl who polishes the new yet VERY incongruent elevator interiors all day. (peach and sandy marble lobby, new faux wood and steel elevator cars - nice touch, folks. Thanks for wasting money.)

MOST INFURIATING is the illogical, lame and INSULTING excuse for heaping the utility bills on residents' shoulders: THAT IT'S A "GREEN" ENERGY-SAVING INITIATIVE. Are they kidding'! ARE THEY KIDDING'! An individual tenant has NO control over the energy usage of those around him. The property management company lets the sprinklers run ALL DAY during near 100-degree heat waves, lets the laundry rooms FLOOD (waiting for a live wire to fall into one of these puddles) -- and this is supposed to entice us to 'conserve energy''

JUST ADMIT IT, MANAGEMENT: your new operating philosophy is to squeeze every single penny you can out of the residents while giving the least in return.

To top it off is onsite staff so disturbingly unpleasant that I've avoided them for months. The manager in my building actually tells people she's just existing until she can collect social security and doesn't give a damn. That's obvious because she spends so much time hunched over a cigarette just outside the front doors, where we all get to inhale her second-hand smoke.

As soon as I find another residential solution, I will leave, but with REGRET, because Riverhouse HAD BEEN a wonderful place to call home. This is no longer true.

Possibly the only satisfied tenants are the new crop of extremely young international students whose currencies have great purchasing power against the dollar, and who are most assuredly not paying the rent with their own hard-earned dollars because it's not possible to be a full-time undergraduate AND work at a job that pays enough to afford these new, very high rents.

DO NOT REFER YOUR FRIENDS TO RIVERHOUSE.

This is actually heart-wrenching for me because Washington can be a stressful place to make a living. Riverhouse had been a comforting hideaway. No more.

Thanks for ruining something special, Vornado and Kettler. Hope you're smiling all the way to the bank.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/03/2008
I just moved out of Riverhouse over the weekend, after living in my apartment for 6 years. I could not have been more disappointed with the way the Charles E. Smith takeover has gone. Not only did they try to strongarm me into signing another lease (rather than honoring the policy that had been in effect for the six years I was a resident) by imposing a huge month-to-month-premium, the ridiculous charges for other things - parking, utilities NOT TIED TO MY PERSONAL USAGE, on top of the regular rent increase - just made it impossible to stay. It would have cost me $400/month for the same apartment I've been in for six years! No improvements, no added amenities, just a much higher cost! So I opted to move rather than do business with such a shady corporation. Unfortunately, there was a long line in the office when I dropped off my keys, so I doubt the exodus of residents is going to have any impact. Happily, I have moved into a much larger apartment that is going to end up costing me less money per month an is brand new - though the location isn't as nice. I will do everything in my power to ensure that I don't have to do business with Charles E. Smith in the future, and I'll tell everyone I know to avoid that company and their shady business practices!
From: scholaejuris	Date: 01/11/2008
I'm pretty sure Charles Smith doesn't care whether you leave. They aren't filling vacant units. In fact, my conspiracy theory is that they're trying to get people to leave, so they can tear River House down. Soudns crazy, but check Google, and you'll find that Charles Smith also bought a large lot nearby which they're developing as the Arlington Convention Center. Do the math as to what a more productive use of the acres of land the River House sits on would be, located next to the closest mall to DC and the Arlington Convention Center.
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/23/2008
I was a tenant of River House for 18 years! The minute I heard Vernado/Charles E. Smith purchased the property, I gave notice and moved out 2 months after the take over! For some reason River House seems to think they are the LUXURY apartments across the street and not the run down, un-maintained, poorly managed property that they really are. The outside parking fee is absurd! especially when you don't even get an assigned parking space, so if you come in late, you are paying for the privelage of parking on the STREET! On average 2 cars a week get broken into in the parking lot, with the so called security patrol that I even heard sat there and watched on car get stolen and when asked why they didn't stop the person from stealing the car responded, we thought it was a tenant locked out of his car!!! The rent increases are astronomical and definately not a value for your money. If they want to charge those kind of prices, they need to update the apartments to be comparable to those in the area charging those prices ie: fireplaces, in unit washer/dryer, marble entries to each unit, marble bathrooms, allow pets. But the WORSE issue of them all, is the way they are treating the long term tenants that have nowhere else to go! I have friends still living there who have been there for over 40 YEARS!!! It's a shame after that many years they and many others are put in the position of can't afford to move and can't afford to stay!!!!!! Karma my friends Karma!!!! Overall, what used to be an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL place to live has been turned into a high price Slum, simply because of GREED!!!!!!!!!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/26/2008
Has anyone already contacted Arlington County Government with these stories? plus, the virutal monopoly that Charles E. Smith/Vornado is creating is truly scary!!! At minimum the affordable housing Commission should be aware of residents' fears and complaints!
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/16/2008
The utility charges are legal. So you either bite the bullet and pay it or move out.
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/14/2008
yes, I am happy to be leaving this weekend. That utility bill is ridiculous for a time when people are not using either heat or the AC. I did see some people moving IN this weekend, so I don't know whether it is true that Smith wants the bldg to be vacated. Poor people.
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/29/2008
Thank you for this review. Very eye-opening information about the utility bill, indeed. I, too received my 'package' from the management about the increases and was a bit shocked. But, still I thought - "Sign one of those short leases and take your time leaving." However, I've decided to move sooner rather than later since: - This review and others have mentioned that I can reasonably expect energy bills in excess of their projected maximum. - Tamazingly gutsy $10 administrative fee enabling them to bill our utilities with scientific precision. - The fact that two nights ago I was awakened by the vertical blinds in my bedroom making noise. Which is a problem since my window was closed. You guessed it - a cute little baby mouse running around my bedroom. I forgot to employ the usual measures after the last filter change last week - my fault, I guess. PS Can't you picture the old-school employees of River House mentioning to the new management how they used to give us Eckerd cards with the rent increases. A small gesture, yes - but at least it was something. And can't you further picture the new management laughing and gently patting them on the head, "Sorry son, those days are over."
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/21/2008
The courtesy patrols are a rip off. They usually park up in the back of the lot and just hang out. Every once in a while I see them speeding through the parking lot, usually late at night. And earlier this year, one patrol car slammed into my car. Thankfully they left a note. I had a rental car for at least a week, with both bumper and body damage to my car!
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/27/2009
I live there now and I totally agree with all of the comments

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