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VNSTA requests update on aggressive dogs following Dec. 7th attack

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The Van Ness South Tenants Association today sent a letter to Josh Luper, General Manager of Equity Residential for 3003 Van Ness, requesting an update on the vicious attack by two extremely aggressive dogs on a smaller dog in the underground garage on December 7th.

In an email to residents on December 20th, Mr. Luper told residents that if their animals pose a threat to other animals or people, Equity Residential may require it to be removed from the community. There have been no further communications from Equity Residential since then, raising concerns by VNSTA security working group members that no action may have been taken.

For these reasons, the letter from VNSTA requests an update from Equity Residential.

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DCRA orders Equity Residential to start covering up evidence of damage in underground garage

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Equity Residential today started covering over damaged areas of the garage at 3003 Van Ness, concealing areas that require thorough inspection. Equity’s action was taken on the order of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which had made a quick tour of the area accompanied by Equity Residential management on Friday.

DCRA, which did not have the area inspected by a certified structural engineer, licensed plumber or waterproofing consultant, moved quickly on Friday to tell Equity to cover over the damage. Equity Residential, which had allowed these problems to languish for months, acted with lightening speed to cover the areas after DCRA instructed it to make unspecified repairs.

The Van Ness South Tenants Association sent a letter to DCRA Director Mr. Ernest Chrappah on Saturday immediately after learning of the cover up. The letter states….

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Tenants association releases report on the deteriorating building at 3003 Van Ness

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The Van Ness South Tenants Association today released an extensive report on the condition of the buildings at 3003 Van Ness, including vivid photos of likely structural problems, security issues and safety hazards.

The tenants association sent the report with a letter to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), requesting an extensive inspection of 3003 Van Ness. DCRA has fined Equity Residential, which manages the building, many times. VNSTA calls on DCRA to investigate, and if it finds substantial violations, to assess Equity Residential with additional fines sufficient to deter such behavior in the future.

VNSTA appeals rejection of its FOIA request for MPD analyses of local crime

On December 27th, the VNSTA wrote a letter appealing a recent decision by the Freedom of Information Office of the DC Metropolitan Police, which denied a FOIA request by VNSTA for analyses of crime in the Van Ness area.

Public records on the MPD’s Crime Cards website suggest that crime has risen sharply in PSA 203, which includes Van Ness, over the past three in comparison to the prior three years.

The FOIA, originally submitted on December 14, requests existing MPD data and analyses that track crime in PSA 203 in comparison to crime in other parts of the city.

The letter of appeal, rejection letter and FOIA can be found at this link.

VNSTA Security Working Group holds Zoom meeting with 3003 management

Monday, December 20th, the VNSTA Security Working Group had an online meeting with Josh Luper, building manager of 3003 Van Ness for Equity Residential.

Mr. Luper again promised that Equity would produce a plan for tightening security at 3003 Van Ness. He was not able to provide further details.

He also told members of the working group that Equity was testing several companies that provide security guards on a trial basis, with guards posted overnight from Thursday through Sunday nights. He could not explain why following the recent stabbing at 3003 Van Ness, no security was needed for the overnight shift on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

On a positive note, Mr. Luper agreed to VNSTA working group member Owen Epstein’s request to walk the perimeter of the building with him to review broken locks or doors at exterior entrances/exits.

Security working group meets with Equity Residential management

On Monday, December 6th, members of the Security working group met with building manager Josh Luper and Equity Residential Regional Vice President Stacey Aquiar to discuss problems with security at 3003 Van Ness following the recent stabbing of a resident.

Management claims that the stabbing was an “isolated incident,” but VNSTA working group members express concerns not only about the possibility of more violent crime, but about the many shortcomings in Equity’s security at 3003 Van Ness — including the lack of a security guard, a poor and outdated security camera system, little screening of visitors, and broken doors and locks.

Equity management promises that it will present a security plan in the near future. It says that it has hired a security guard for the overnight shift, although it isn’t clear how long that will be in effect. Equity agrees to meet with the VNSTA working group bi-weekly.

Meeting of the Van Ness South Tenants Association

On November 20th, VNSTA president Harry Gural led a meeting of approximately 30 members of the tenants association in the courtyard at 3003 Van Ness. Residents shared their frustrations with many aspects of Equity' Residential’s management of the building, including serious security issues, rising crime, deteriorating building infrastructure, fewer services for residents, etc.

Attendees formed working groups to meet separately to address these issues:

  • Maintenance and physical plant

  • Security

  • Resident services

  • Legal

  • ADA compliance

  • Communications