Complaints resurface at Hill Tower

By Ed Mahon

In 2002, when Korman Residential Properties purchased the Hill Tower Apartments, the building had a bad reputation.

In the prior two years, under the ownership of Empire Realty, the high-rise suffered a fire, a resident was murdered in the parking lot and neighbors complained about unfinished apartments.

While many of the maintenance and safety concerns have been addressed, some complaints persist. An anonymous flyer detailing poor living conditions was circulated throughout the building last month.

The flyer said Hill Tower management had been both verbally abusive and made threatening phone calls to tenants. The flyer also charged management with antagonizing residents, imposing above cost-of-living rent increases and forcing fixed-income senior citizens to leave. It also said unwanted pests (rats, ants and roaches) and minimal maintenance were problems.

The tenant association did not issue the flyer, nor do they know who did, according to the Samuel Lackey, president of the organization. Management does not officially recognize the group, Lackey said.

“Individually and collectively, the reaction was this: some people had basically assumed the attitude that it’s about time somebody said something about this,” said Lackey of the flyer.

"Some people had the attitude that they were ready to go to war,” he said.

When asked if the allegations were founded, Diane V. Botson, general manager of Chestnut Hill Tower, refused to comment.

However, Korman vice-president Abbey DiFusio offered comment. He speculated on the identity of the flyer's author, but declined to name anyone. He believes the author may be a former tenant who was evicted for not paying rent. Without naming anyone, DiFusio said he felt this was part of a “vendetta” against the management.

Regarding the complaints of verbal abuse and threatening phone calls, DiFusio said phone calls were placed to collect rent, but they were not threatening.

Management has done its best to meet tenant demands, DiFusio said.

Regarding the complaints about unwanted pests, DiFusio said the Tower provides an exterminator who comes to the apartments every two days.

“We try to manage every complaint,” DiFusio said. “Every rental property has a few problems.”

Many problems have surfaced because the building is approximately 50 years old, said Lackey.

Lackey, who has lived at the Hill Tower for about a year, has served as president of the tenant association, an unpaid position, since January. He said his personal complaints have been addressed. Lackey said the current management and maintenance team have been at the Tower for six months.

“At the time when I came in, I would submit work orders, ask the manager to repair things, and it just didn’t immediately happen,” Lackey said.

 The current managers are more helpful in getting repairs done, but Lackey said problems still persist.

“We’ve sent out letters, we’ve sent them to Korman management. Some of the problems were addressed,” Lackey said. “They try. They’re trying.”

Lackey offered an example of how the current management and maintenance crew have made efforts. The association issued a survey in which each unit had a chance to list any problems they had with the apartments. One of these surveys fell into management hands, and management turned the survey into a work order. Once Lackey found out they turned the survey into a work order, Lackey gave them a copy of other surveys.

“In my personal polling, some people have problems with management. I personally find they’re trying to meet the concerns that I have,” Lackey said

One concern tenants have expressed is about rent. While it’s true, Lackey said, that management is raising rent, they are also doing many renovations. “The rent increases were not commensurate with the renovations being done,” Lackey said.

Some people had the rent raised by $500 a month, Lackey said, “For some people rents were raised, but the quality of the units didn’t change.”

Studio apartments start at $809 a month, one-bedroom apartments start at $879 a month, and two-bedroom, two-bath units start at $1,379 a month.

“Some of the older people came here with the intention of this place being their last home,” Lackey said.

Some residents like himself who moved in after Korman took over, received renovated space, Lackey said. However, he said, residents who had lived at Tower prior to Korman’s take over had to pay higher rents, but they did not receive the same improvements.

“Many people moved out.” Lackey said.

When Lackey first became president of the tenant association in winter of this year, he wanted to organize some social events — and possibly trips — to help foster community.

“My view point had been that over the years they talked to many people, politicians, city officials, and nothing got done,” Lackey said. “I thought ‘I’m not trying to do what they couldn’t.’”

Lackey did not have many problems with the current management, but some issues that Lackey did raise involved air conditioning and marketing rooms to college students. Lackey said his apartment and the lobby, unlike the basement, always feel hot no matter how high the air conditioning goes. Lackey mentioned an incident where he saw a young man throw a beer can off the building. Lackey said he doesn’t have a problem with college students, just unruly ones.

There have been problems with leaks, complaints about signs outside the building, loose toilet seats, mold, rodents and insects.

Lackey had nothing but kind words for the actual management, calling DiFusio a good person.

“My purpose is not to create or permeate an adversarial relationship between residents and management, but to foster a mutually beneficial or win-win situation for all,” Lackey said.

Dr. Arlene Bennett, a former 24-year resident and member of the tenant’s association from 1997 until 2002 and president in 2001, blamed the current management for why she left “at the ripe age of 70.”

Some of the problems are out of the managements’ hands because of the age of the building, Bennett said, but she added, “At least the old managers had been civil. The new manager is not very professional.”

Bennett also was upset that she was asked to sign a commercial lease for first time. She also complained that she would have to carry enough liability insurance to not only cover her office, but also the lobby.

“My rent was never late. People kill for tenants like me,” said Bennett.

Korman lost senior citizens who left because of fixed income, Bennett said, “Now, they’re losing people, like myself, who do have funds, but don’t want to pay.”

The Local spoke with another tenant who wished to remain anonymous. She said that the previous management got less accomplished, but was friendlier and more accommodating.

“They’re just nasty. They have an attitude that you’re here, and you’re lucky to be here,” said another resident, who also would only speak on condition of anonymity, referring to the management and maintenance crew. The same resident also claims a maintenance person referred to her as a bitch.

The residents also complained about the flags and signs advertising air conditioning and pools. “I won’t let my maintenance in my apartment,” said the tenant.

Another complaint, one that was not mentioned in the flyer, that residents made concerned the lobby. In the past, chairs were in the lobby where people could sit. Many older women liked to sit in the lobby. However, all but two lobby chairs were removed.

DiFusio said he understands that the people liked to sit in the lobby, but there are benches outside, and “tenants don’t rent the lobby.”

Lackey’s message for the Korman management: “Look out for your current tenants, because they’re the ones who are providing revenue.”