Apartment Review for Crystal Towers - Arlington, VA

Permit # B0701490 Address 1600 S EADS ST Type CMISC Status APPLIED Applicant TIMOTHY CRAWFORD Owner SMITH PROPERTY HOLDINGS CRYSTALTOWERS LP%CE SMIT Applied Date 06/08/2007 Approved Date Date Issued Description MAINTENANCE REPAIR-CONCRETE, COATING, CAULKING, RAILING REPLACEMENT Dear Sir/Madam, My name is Vance Wilson. I am a resident of an apartment complex known as the Crystal Towers located at 1600 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202. My lease commenced in June, 2006. Since September, 2006, there has been an on-going renovation project on the outside surface of the structure that includes "resurfacing' of balconies. My own balcony has been closed since February of this year. My first concern is this. In February, I began noticing that I was having trouble with my eyes; often, I awaken in the morning to find my eyelids crusted over and they are constantly irritated. I believe this is due to the presence of concrete dust caused by the construction project. The balcony door and windows have no protective stripping and a coating of dust is readily visible every day on surfaces within my unit, even though they have been cleaned the day before. I began to have problems with my contact lenses and went to an ophthalmologist. She said that my eyes, especially the right one showed definite signs of irritation due to some kind of pollutant, quite possibly concrete dust. Mr. Matthew McCain is the in-house representative of this project known as the "Slab Edge Project". Mr. McCain recently circulated a memo regarding sealing residents outside windows and doors with plastic taping as protection against the concrete dust (This has not been done). The memo also indicated work was just starting in the North tower in May 2007; however concrete jackhammering has been and continues to be in effect in the North tower since February 2007. Other issues include: • The lease has been broken by the Landlord through their mismanagement of the building. For example, I rented an apartment with a large balcony. I can not even open my windows and the balcony has been closed for the past four months. All day, every week day, there is a constant noise from jack hammering and construction of such a level as to make conversation in the unit impossible. • The building management sends out contradictory communications regarding the resurfacing project related to when the project will be finished, etc. They have "set up hospitality units" where tenants can go to escape the noise in their own units! • There have been numerous complaints that I have made regarding the electrical wiring in the building. If I turn on a vacuum cleaner, for example, the fuse short circuits for an entire area of the unit. One day, I smelled electrical smoke - I communicated this to the management of the building and received no response. It seems to me that this could endanger the lives of literally hundreds of people living in the building. • Due to a settlement, I am not mentioning numerous other issues that have occurred prior to March 20, 2007, however the fact that a settlement was made should indicate Management's understanding of its own culpability regarding "building problems". Is there some way to initiate a complaint and investigation into this matter? I have communicated my concerns to the building management and have not received a satisfactory or even consistent reply. I am writing to ask if the Department of Environmental Protection Agency may be able to help me. I really don't know where else to turn. Sincerely, Vance Wilson 1600 S. Eads Street Apt 725 Arlington, VA 22202