renting when the landlords change

 Today is the 6th day of the 36th week, the 4th day of the 9th month, the 247th day of 2026 [with only 111 shopping days until Christmas], and:

• Bring Your Manners to Work Day
• College Colors Day
• Eat an Extra Desert Day
• National Chianti Day
• National Food Bank Day
• National Lazy Mom's Day
• National Leadership Day
• National Macadamia Nut Day
• National Newspaper Carrier Day
• National Spice Blend Day
• National Wildlife Day
• Stand Up to Cancer Day
• Wear Teal Day
• the moon is at its last quarter as of 3:51 AM EDT

Quote of the day:
"Time and memory are true artists; they remold reality nearer to the heart's desire"
~ John Dewey - American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer  [no relation to Melvil Dewey who created the Dewey Decimal Classification] 

Today in my photo memories app, this picture from 2017 pooped up.  The fountain was located in a gazebo in the middle of the grassy area between the three buildings.   It was a peaceful place on the grounds of my old apartment complex, The Enclave where I lived from July 2007 to September 2024.

The Enclave was a large complex built in 1965 - three high-rise buildings each 20 stories high, with 1,119 apartments, underground parking, a community center/management office, a well-tended tennis court, a playground, and a community pool.  

When I moved in, it was a great place to live:

• it was fenced in and the gates were closed and locked at 10 PM.  Access to the property had to go through a manned security gate
• there was a 24 hour concierge in the furnished, friendly lobby of each building who screened incomers and accepted packages
• the parking garage was pay only and renters had a fob that opened the door 
• The maintenance and housekeeping staff were friendly and knowledgeable.  The management company and staff was also accommodating and helpful.
• The owner had a contract with the DoD to provide military housing
• Gas and electric were included in the monthly rent 
• Every quarter there was routine treatments by a pest control company

in 2009, the owner was driven into bankruptcy when their bank called the renovation line of credit the owner was using to upgrade different apartments - something that happened to many smaller developers during the recession.  The bankruptcy court took over the management of the buildings.  There were some changes, the most painful one being utilities were no longer part of the monthly rent, but for the most part, things continued to function very well. 

Then in April 2016, a New York real estate LLC [I never could make my way thru the different layers of LLCs and holding companies to ascertain the real ownership].  The new owners fired all the existing staff,  changed the management company, and nullified all the existing contracts - and things started going downhill rapidly.  Buildings that are over fifty years old need constant maintenance to keep them going and these new owners were only interested in the income generated by the rents while cutting costs.    The decline was predictably rapid - broken elevators, heat and A/C issues, no security, rising crime rates.  Those who follow me on social media were treated to some personal and up-close views of what it meant to live under a slum landlord.   

In the spring, the property was sold to Beach Hill Capital.  This owner, based in Miami, made it clear they were only interested in tearing down the existing buildings to rebuild.  There was absolutely no motivation to do any substantial repairs, maintenance was being skimped, the management staff seemed unable to do anything, and rent increases were offered to long-term tenants.  My apartment was on the top floor, with a stunning view, and had been newly renovated when I moved in -  it was a pleasant home, and  I realize that inured me to the surrounding dilapidation until that sale jolted me back to reality. So I finally bit the bullet, accept the need to leave, and moved out.       

The picture reminded me that for years, it was indeed a very nice place to live and  that made me smile.