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MoCo elected officials unite with Enclave Tenant Association to urge change

Isabella Rolz — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 20:15:48 +0000

Excited to be close to her daughter and family, Yvonne Igido moved from Gaithersburg into The Enclave Silver Spring Apartments on Oct. 1. Over the last 19 days, Igido said she has yet to have heat or hot water and has seen her apartment infested by pests. Worse, Igido said her apartment looked nothing like what The Enclave showcased on its website.

The Enclave comprises three white and beige tall towers. According to its website, it offers various housing options, including studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from $ 1,500 to $3,000 per month. Located at 11225 Oak Leaf Drive in Silver Spring, the apartment complex website states it features a full-size swimming pool, Zen Garden and a business center.

Residents say the complex lacks those features and want the property owners, New York-based Rose Valley Management, to address their issues like the lack of security, pest infestation and numerous code violations.

Igido and approximately 150 other neighbors formed the Tenants Association in early October. The group organized its first press conference Oct. 19 outside the property to voice their grievances. According to a press release by the Montgomery County Council, The Enclave Silver Spring Apartments has been on the county’s problematic and at-risk home list for years.

MoCo360 reached out to Rose Valley management and Laurence Gensler, Sr. Regional Property Manager, responded in a statement that “DHCA conducted a Triennial inspection on 2/7/23, during that inspection the department issued 2,968 violations. We’ve been working diligently and have taken numerous steps in collaboration with DHCA to reduce and correct the deficiencies. Enclave Holdings, LLC and Rose Valley Management have updated 2,729, leaving 239 violations open. None of the violations in available status are life safety. We’re happy and look forward to working with the Tenant Association and the County to resolve the remaining outstanding issues. We hope that with this incredible progress, we’ll be off the troubled list shortly.”

The Tenant Assosiation holding posters showing their dissapointment towards the apartment complex. Photo credits: Isabella Rolz.

“I’ve been in the office for five years, and unfortunately, in every year of these five years, we’ve been dealing with unhappy residents about something wrong going on here,” said Maryland State Del. Lorig Charkoudian, a Democrat representing District 20.

Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) inspectors said they visit the apartment complex at least four days a week. Last August, the apartment complex was the scene of a fire that caused severe injuries to two individuals, and the county’s police identified the deceased body of a pregnant woman found at the Enclave in December 2022.

“We need to change the equation. You have the right to be safe. We’ll look for ways to ensure landlords don’t do what they have done so far,” said County Executive and Democrat Marc Elrich. He was surrounded by residents holding posters with phrases such as “Tenant Power” or “Safe plus healthy conditions now.”

Lack of security, pest infestation and numerous code violations affect Enclave’s residents. Photo credits: Isabella Rolz

Both Charkoudian and Elrich highlighted how they’ll work at the state and local levels to fix the system, especially ensuring safer and healthier living conditions for current tenants to be treated with respect and dignity. “We’re going to be here for you: my office, the State delegation, and your county’s representatives. “We’re all here for you,” Charkoudian said.

The Tenants Association members handed in a letter with their demands for a prompt response from Rose Valley.

“Some of us are single parents or single women who deserve to be safe,” Igido said.

“We’re going to keep fighting. We need to fix the system,” Charkoudian said.

To read this article in Spanish, click here.

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