Recently I let the folks at Bridgeyard know I would like to renew my lease when it expires later this year. The apartment suits me and has served me well for more than 13 years. My apartment is well above-ground and has a western exposure – it’s a lot like living in a tree house, with birds chattering as dawn breaks, and with awe-inspiring sunsets when the conditions are right.
I’ve renewed my lease repeatedly over the years because management has consistently delivered first-rate residential services. The hallways, fitness center, laundry, and other common areas are policed daily, by a housekeeping staff whose members clearly take pride in their work. Trash areas and recycling locations are cleared every day, and if a pet owner fails to clean up after an indoor accident the staff promptly addresses the problem. On the rare occasion that I need maintenance in the apartment (like when a light fixture needs to be replaced), the staff attends to the matter promptly and respectfully.
The building was built in 1955, the year I was born (so we’re both aging gracefully). What that means is the construction was not based on two by fours and wallboard – the walls, ceilings, and floors are cement-based, and are exceptionally noise-reducing. I have never heard my neighbors’ music or talk; I have never had to deal with roaches; I have never heard dogs barking after hours. While individual units do not have heating thermostatic controls, my place has been super cozy during the winter – the floors offer radiant heat, which is amazing during even the coldest parts of the winter.
Three noteworthy events relating to the building: management has ended its relationship with a residential operator that is active in the DMV that is currently being sued for practices that could artificially increase rental rates. Ending that relationship was without question a benefit to the tenants living at the Bridgeyard, even though those benefits might not have been clear to most of the tenants. I’m living on a fixed retirement income now, and the threat of uncontrolled rent increases was a real concern, a concern that has now abated.
Second, the laundry service provider has truly stepped up its game, with a new smartphone-based platform that reliably makes it easy to pay for washing and drying. We’ve had a smartphone-based approach for a few years, but the early phases were not working well. Management has taken a proactive approach and has made this a priority, leading to a successful improvement in its laundry facilities.
The other priority concerns the three elevators that serve each of the two buildings. We understand that these elevators, Westinghouse models that probably are the original 1955 models, are scheduled to be replaced in the coming year. That suggests that management is taking its responsibilities seriously with respect to elevator upkeep.
Equally important, to me at least, are the respectful and helpful responses I’ve gotten whenever I had to seek help from the residential managers. We had our share of snow this year, and without exception the maintenance staff cleared the parking lot and sidewalks within hours of the snowfall. That, and improvements to the picnic area and pool suggest a management approach that instills confidence, and makes it likely that I will continue to seek to renew my lease for the foreseeable future.