Hey man, I don't know if I'm really justified in complaining about this or not, so take all this with a grain of salt, but...
You know what drives me crazy here at the Jeff? The *inconsistency* of the verification of residency.
All weekend every weekend, there are obvious violations of the guest rules/limitations. My brother in law, a regular visitor but by no means a loud guy, often can walk right to our apartment. We got another menu under our door last night. BUT, I walk into the building with my wife at 2 a.m. after a night out, and they crack down on HER b/c she doesn't have her key.
It would be less bothersome if it were consistent. In fact, I appreciate that attempt at security. But the system doesn't really provide security because it's so inconsistent/easy to get around, and in the end, it isn't security, it's just a pain in the ass.
thoughts?
Here's another...
Hiya,
I just recently came accross your blog and agree with most of your comments. We pay way too much to live in this kind of environment.
Has there been any discussion about the pool? Everytime I get in it I am afraid of catching some sort of disease. God knows what builds up in there but it seems to me like its never cleaned!
Just thought I'd raise the point. :)
Thanks
The guy who worked the door last Friday night told me that he had been obliged to clean up urine. Not that uncommon with some of the bad pet owners in the building. Except this was from a resident. A human one. He was going to complain to the leasing office the next day. Not sure if they gave that tenant a reprimand, but surely such an action is grounds for lease termination?
ReplyDeleteThat's just disgusting, and outside of that gentleman's job description I'm sure. You know it's funny, because when coming into the building last night I thought I smelled human urine coming in the door. No I'm not a urine expert, but I'm sure that most of us who have lived in big cities have smelled human urine in an alley. It's distinctive from dog or cat urine, which is also prominent around the building.
ReplyDeleteI actually saw a group of late stragglers coming from a Nationals game one night, drunk as hell, when one of them, a young woman, squatted on the sidewalk across from the Metro and pissed right there! Right in front of the group she was with.
I hope that the idiot that did it in front of our building was reprimanded in some way. I'd say short of throwing him out of the building, he should have been prosecuted.
To answer the question about the pool's cleanliness, I have seen the water and swam in it when it is quite clean, and I have seen it with an unhealthy yellow-green algae "glow." I don't know why that is. I know that with the great amount of sunlight that a rooftop pool gets, it encourages algae growth. That's why they put chlorine and other chemicals in pool water--to keep the algal and bacterial growth down.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why it gets to that state however. If the maintenance staff is doing regular rounds up there, and I presume they do, then it should be noticed and rectified by doing a good cleaning and adding chlorine. It's important that the pool is cleaned regularly too, and to not just rely on chlorine, because algae blooms are encouraged by other algae growth.
It is possible that a good rain could shift the pH of the water dramatically so that the chlorine isn't as effective, and chlorine dissipates at a rather quick rate anyway. If the problem persists for more than a day management should be informed.
I don't think that swimming in algal water is dangerous, but it's gross The Algae itself won't hurt you, but if the chlorine isn't killing the algae, then other microorganisms might be present also. It's worth mentioning to management.
This is the building manager Melanie Martin's e-mail address. We should all use it to inform her whenever things are awry.
mmartin@greystar.com.
Now that I think of it, a camera on the front door might rectify a lot of stupidity in front of the building. It's a good idea that I hope management will follow through on. Then they will know just who the outlandish or serial abusers are.
ReplyDeleteThere is a very loud woman on my floor who, when she brings her dog in from its walk she has to give loud "doggie talk" shrieks outside of her door. Not inside the door mind you, just outside of it. It's extremely loud in the hallway and I can hear her all the way around the corner. She might as well be in my apartment. Don't people know how loud noises enter these apartments from the hallway?
ReplyDeleteI've actually been pleasantly surprised about how little I hear my neighbors. While I do hear when people are being loud in the hallway, I can't hear when the neighbor is blaring music. Not sure how it works, because it's really loud in the hallway but when I get inside the apartment I don't hear anything at all. Voices are definitely another story. Most people don't really know how loud they are, so there isn't really any way to curb that. Fact of life, living in an apartment.
ReplyDeleteNo comment on the fliers in the elevator advertising the Jefferson's new hotel offering? How is that any different than residents running a bed and breakfast?
ReplyDeleteBig difference, since I assume that they require an application, collateral of some sort, and are screened to some degree. It's also different in that management knows they're here, unlike the folks running the B&B out of their apartment. So I don't see the comparison to be a strong one.
ReplyDeleteNot saying I like it though
My issue (like the person who sent the email) lies within the 'selective enforcement' of the rule. The wife and I are constantly accosted when we're coming in, yet someone lugging in a couple of cases of beer or a jumbo cooler on a weekend afternoon and wearing a swimsuit is given a free pass.
ReplyDeleteI understand it's an apartment building and I understand a lot of people live here, however, I think they need some sort of doorman on the weekends, or at least a stricter enforcement of the rules.
Look, I don't give two rips what you do in your apartment, but when you bring the entire fraternity over on a Saturday afternoon and terrorize the roof, I've got a problem with that.
Oh, and to the dipshit tennants, if you bring glass to the roof, PUT IT IN A DAMN CUP! I almost cut up my foot this weekend because some idiot left broken glass on the pool deck.
So people aren't supposed to talk to their pets in the hallway? What if they are training them? Is that not acceptable? People running and screaming is one thing (and it happens all the time). Having a conversation with a pet or another person is another. This isn't a convent and you can't blame tenants for poor building construction and doors made of particle board.
ReplyDeleteJust curious...
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot of complaining about loud people in the hallways, on the roof, in their apartments, etc. Have any of you ever had the balls to actual address it directly with those in question? Seems like it's a more simple solution to complaining and expecting the management office to solve all the problems.
Anon 10:25
ReplyDelete'Had the balls to actually address it directly'?
Yes, yes I have.
It's not pleasent and often times the folks causing the problems have had just a few beers and about a dozen of their buddies. I'm 30, I'm not into causing a scene or starting a fight, I just want my fellow tennants to respect others, so more often than not, I say nothing because it's not worth getting a random 20-something drunk all ramped up in front of his buddies.
Additionally, while waiting for my food to be delivered in the lobby last night (approx. 9:15 pm) the concierge was just keeping her seat warm, as always.
She was holding a long conversation with one of those menu ninjas (he had a huge stack of menus with him), meanwhile, four drunks stumbled their way into the building, nobody was asked to show a key (they were buzzed in) and nobody was asked to stop and sign in. She told them to have fun on the roof, as they were in swimsuits and had a bunch of beer. Oh, did I mention this was at 9:15?
I nearly get jumped everytime I come home and let myself in with my key, so something doesn't smell right here.
Dear "Balls"
ReplyDeleteI don't think that "having the balls" to address complaints directly with the offenders is the issue. For starters management has discouraged tenants from addressing the issue directly with other tenants, so by definition management wants you to go through their office.
That aside, I agree with Tricky's well-reasoned statement. A lone tenant confronting an unknown and possibly hostile neighbor is NOT a good idea and I will go out on a limb and bet there are a good number of tenants that wouldn't want any part of that. Can you imagine a young woman knocking on the door of a half dozen drunk guys to tell them to hold it down? Not saying woman can't take care of themselves, but I hazard to say that there are probably a few in the building that wouldn't want any part of that scenario.
So...Let me get this straight. You want to put the responsibility of those people offended by loud noises and such on the offended? Should I presume it's because you think that it's they that have the "problem"?
Exactly how do you think these problems will be "solved"? Is it okay if it spills into the hallway as brawl?
How about me put the responsibility on everyone in the building to be considerate of their neighbor? Sounds like a better idea to me.
I can't speak for everyone, but I do receive a lot of email from tenants and one thing I can say, albeit anecdotally, is that there has been just about every manner of dealing with the situation that you could imagine. Some people have chosen to ride out their lease and move. Still others have chosen to speak with their neighbor, and as you might also imagine, they have been met with a host of responses including; threats, belligerence, and indifference.
To suggest people take matters into their own hands is frankly pretty stupid and uninformed. That's why the building has their policy.
They do, however, need to better enforce it.
To the person responding about the pets in the hallway...
ReplyDeleteNobody said you shouldn't talk to your pet or friends in the hallway, though I'm not sure how much "training" needs to go on in the hall???
The point is that someone mentioned the loud "doggie talk" and exuberant doorway chatter with their dog. I agree. Take it inside. Why does it need to occur on the hallway side of your door? It's literally a steps difference to take it inside.
Look. We ALL know that the level of amplitude in the hallways is great and that the level of sound dampening sucks. When you're in the hallway, keep your talking voice to a reasonable one. That's all.
I appreciate the concierge being strict about guests coming in, however I do agree with other posts about actual residents being "grilled" when others just slide on in. I use my key to come in and then get yelled at by the concierge lady to show my key..HELLO!!I JUST USED IT TO OPEN THE DOOR!!! It is really annoying! It really only happens with one lady, who I think is sort of new. I understand it takes a bit to learn the resident's faces, but it is really annoying when I open the door myself and I'm the only person walking in or out...
ReplyDeleteI agree with the complaints above regarding the concierge. I am a 30+ woman who lives in this building with my husband. Every night, after I let myself in with the key, she asks to see my key. DUH! How'd I get in??? However, having been standing in line to pick up a package, the frat or sorority crowd walks by without even a wave from the girl. I know that 7 people do not live in one apt and presumably some are guests. Why doesn't she stop them? Where is the demand for their keys? is she getting a kickback for letting these people in so they can disturb my evening? Hell, I pay her 10 bucks a week too if she'd quit demanding to see my key.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Greystar management is inconsistent and these needs should be addressed. I will never live in another place managed by this company. Ever!
Hello blog person!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your blog and am happy to see others have concerns here in the building. I hope the management is taking these complaints seriously. I have seen some changes after reading your posts.
I'd like to address the package issue. Every time I have a package delivered, it is almost an argument to get it from the concierge. I track packages online so I know what day they will arrive. However, when I go to pick them up I am usually greeted with: 'I'm not done with them yet" or "I'll get to when I get to it." Now, the reason I started tracking these packages is because the Jefferson actually "lost" one. It was signed for by Thomas and was no where to be found--not even recorded in the log book. Which brings me to another pattern, if the package has been signed for by THOMAS I immediately know it will mislabeled, I won't get it for another few days, or some other oddness. I literally have to stalk my packages in order to get them. I work full-time and am a part-time grad student at night so I pay extra sometimes for expedited shipping (or Amazon prime membership) to make sure I get texts in time for my assignments. When I pay for 2 day shipping and I don't get it for 4-5 days because the concierge "hasn't gotten to it," it really pisses me off. Its my money, my package, and I have the right to pick it up when its delivered---not when she feels like writing it down.
I have spoken to other tenants and they feel the same way. Its just ridiculous. If the concierge is that overworked (which she isn't, we all know this), then is there a chance one of the leasing agents can help during her busy time? Like between 5 and 7pm? Most of the time when I get home from work I see them giggling and chatting while the concierge is directing people, asking to see keys, signing in guests, etc. If this is obviously a busy period, can one of those women leave their conversations and help? Just a thought.
thanks,
If the concierge is swamped on certain days or at certain hours, it might be a good idea for management to either assign a rental office person to work the desk with the concierge, or to have the next shift concierge come in early so that they overlap. Might help the concierge deal with unruly tenants and guests post cocktail hour!
ReplyDeleteOdd - I've been getting packages fairly frequently since I've moved in and have yet to have an issue. I almost always pick them up the day they're delivered, as well. Never been hassled, although I find it curious that they've never asked for ID.
ReplyDelete