Highland Park

I have lived in Highland Park for 1 year now and just renewed my lease for another year. Based on other reviews, it looks like HP used to be terrible, but things seem to have changed quite a bit.
I live on the 7^th floor facing the alley. This does get a bit noisy due to the first floor restaurants throwing out trash and kids sometimes hang out in the alley, but it’s mostly just city noise. The building itself is well insulated and I never hear my neighbors or people in the hall.
The price is average compared to other «luxury» buildings in DC. Price for the location is great. Having such easy access to the metro, Adams Morgan, and 14^th St is excellent.
Matt at the front desk is by far the best concierge in the city. He knows everyone and goes out of his way to make HP a pleasant place to come home to. There used to be a very rude young lady, but thankfully she is gone now! Also want to give a shout out to the awesome maintenance crew and cleaning crew. Lobby floors are always clean, hallways vacuumed. I really appreciate their hard work to make our home a nice place. My maintenance request are always handled quickly and efficiently and the crew does an excellent job of keeping my place tidy.
The amenities here are great, especially the large gym. I have seen quite a few gyms in buildings around DC and HP did a fantastic job. It is a two story gym with tons of weights and machines. Plus a yoga studio where free classes are offered. The community room lounge is nice, although I have never used it. The rooftop deck is my favorite spot in the summer and the first floor courtyard is a fun place to bring friends, as it has 2 bocce courts and a huge outdoor kitchen and grill.
I only gave 4 stars because the management office is incredibly difficult. I went through renewing my lease recently and getting them to answer an email is next to impossible. The young guy (Yosef? I think) that works in the leasing office doesn’t seem to know how to respond to anything. I repeatedly ask that he confirm receiving personal documents I had sent (tax info, etc.) and finally had to go to his office to discuss. I don’t feel like I was asking for much — just a short confirmation email and I would have been satisfied.
I also docked a star because they do not use AC in the hallways in the summer. I don’t mind walking down a hot hall, but it causes my apartment to be very hot as well and I feel like my AC is working nonstop during summer months. Bill is usually $ 200+ during summer, which is crazy for 600sq ft. I know Bozzuto has enough money to turn the AC on!
Lastly, the security here is awful. They will literally let anyone walk in and wonder the halls. Residents seem very willing to let non-​residents catch a ride on the elevator. I recently encountered two guys who wanted me to let them up. When I said no they got very upset and started cursing at me. Luckily I had a key fob and could escape on the elevator. But I don’t understand how they made it in to begin with!
Overall, I am quite pleased with Highland Park. No building is going to be perfect and I have so far really enjoyed living here. I have a feeling this will be my last year at HP, but that is only because I am ready for a quieter block. I will certainly miss the amenities, Matt, maintenance/​cleaning crews, and of course the fish!

I just moved out after living here for 2 years, so I feel like I have a good sense of the place.
Summary: really nice building, terrific location, good management, but probably not the best value proposition for the money. Overall, if you don’t mind paying a bit more for a new building with amenities, I would recommend Highland Park.
First, the negatives:
It’s pricey. It might be the most expensive apartment building in Columbia Heights. Most apartments here are well over $ 2000/​month, plus an annual amenity fee. It is a new building with plenty of amenities, but it’s not cheap, and ultimately it was the reason I left. For me, I just didn’t feel the value for the money was quite there.
The fire alarm problem. While I lived there the fire alarms went off a dozen times or more. I heard one of the biggest culprits was the first floor restaurants, but I’m not sure. To some extent that can happen anywhere but it really seemed excessive here.
Gym noise: I lived on the 6^th floor straight up from the gym on the 1^st floor. When guys were lifting and dropping dumbbells the sound would reverberate up through the duct work to my apartment like it was the next floor down. I actually thought it was a neighbor making noise until I figured it out. I’m not sure if this was just my unit or all of the ones above the gym, but it was a (minor) problem.
No pool. This is a minor complaint, but it does seem like there was space for it on the roof, but they never installed it.
Positives:
Great location: on top of Metro, 16/​14^th/​Irving street buses, near Mt. Pleasant Adams Morgan, Rock Creek Park, Tynans Coffee, Pete’s Apizza, Five Guys… next to DC USA/​Target, banks, Starbucks, Phở 14, Chipotle, D’vines (booze), dry cleaners… a few blocks from Meridian Pint, the Coupe, Wonderland Ballroom, and the other 11^th street bars and restaurants. It’s really tough to beat the convenience.
Unit design: I really miss my unit! It was «unit type 1D.» Pretty much ideal for a 1BR. Terrific layout, nice bathrooms, great storage space, big windows, granite countertops, smooth concrete floors, new appliances, in-​unit W/​D, etc.
Amenities (except no pool): it has a great gym and rooftop with a sweet view of the city. I used the gym quite a bit and it has weights, cardio and a yoga room. Very nice and pretty much satisfies all but the biggest of gym rats. There is also a community room, pool table, bocce court, but I rarely used them. There’s a 24 hour concierge, which can be useful.
Management/​customer service: Very good. One time I left for a summer trip and forgot to pay rent, and they extended my grace period. Repairs were always done on time and the staff was always friendly to me. Matthew and Gwen are my favorite concierge staff. Always helpful and cheerful. I already miss them!
Quiet: aside from the gym noises, my 6^th floor unit was really quiet. The street could be filled with people, noise and craziness below, but I rarely heard any of it. It’s clear to me the building is well built with good sound insulation. This was a major plus for me.

I would like to complain about how me and my fiancée were treated yesterday when we came to visit the property.
First of all when we got there, I was told because we were 13 minutes late, even though I was on the phone for 3 – 4 minutes of that trying to figure out the entrance, that my spot was given to another person and the sales person is showing now and that I have to come back. I am surprised that they could find a person in 13 minutes decide to give our spot.
Because of the early visiting hours, both me and my fiancée had to leave work early to come, and we were sent away by the door man who was not very helpful. We even asked to wait until the tour was over and speak to the sales person, but the doorman was not very helpful with that.
Like a robot he kept on repeating the same thing, and he really made us feel like our business is not wanted there. Bozzuto is a reputable company and I am surprised that this type of customer service is tolerated. Needless to say that in the saturated market in DC, it is really key to show your potential tenants some courtesy and good face upfront to get their business.
This was a place we considered very seriously but I doubt that we can convince ourselves to come again, when there are many other companies competing to make us a great offer. I just thought I would pass this on so that you can look into your staff because they are the faces of the company and they should represent it well.

Updating my review. Fire alarm hasn’t gone off in months, and with my impending lease break, the staff has been so accommodating and made it easy.
Matthew’s the absolute best. He’s SUCH a sweetheart. He works really hard at trying to keep all the residents happy.

Creeping up on living here for 5 years and this place is awesome.
Location cannot be beat, you literally cannot get any closer to the metro, Target, Best Buy, Giant… everything you need to live, and you do not need a car. Oh, and a great dog park a coupel blocks away, and easy walk to multiple parks in NW.
Front desk staff, maintenance staff and management are also excellent, really care about the quality of living in the building. Everyone that works with the front desk is awesome — Tricia, Matthew, Gwen, Sam are all rockstars.
The apartments are awesome… a little expensive for the area, but I am a big beliver in the «you get what you pay for» mentality, and with the higher price comes a higher level of service.
I alot of negative reviews on here, specific to the fire alarms recently… frankly, I’m comforted by the fact that they work… plus, we share a building/​system with multiple retail locations, including restaurants, and it is my understanding those locations have been dropping the ball on ongoing maintenance and each issue has been resolved in a timely manner.
Overall, would highly recommend this property to anyone… best apartment that I have ever lived in.

I’m rather shocked at the negative reviews of HP. Because a fire alarm went off? If questions were asked one would find that they went off as they were suppose to. There was no faulty system. Personally for me although it can be inconvenient Id rather lose sleep then my life, but hey that’s just me. (and for the record I’ve been in a high rise apartment fire– scary). So let me get this straight, You were woken up by a properly working emergency alert and you want cheaper rent. Yep that makes sense. I also see many negative reviews are because the tight security. Did you not know elevators etc needed fob access to use? Because, if it bothered you why move in?
Apartment living is what it is but HP offers so much more than many. The front desk staff are phenomenal. Friendly, helpful, organized and for the record probably the best concierge staff in DC. Trust me I know, due to my job I deal with up to 15 building concierge staffs daily.
I’ve also have to deal with leasing and management personnel in each of these buildings and can say without a doubt HP residents have the best team possible.
This management team has made HP more then an apartment dwelling but a community.
Every month they have special FREE events for residents, to go a long with the excellent gym facilities, community center, business center, rooftop, and garden area. HP offers almost as many amenities as a hotel.
This is one property I can honestly say is worth every cent. And oh yeah, I’ve been here for a few years.
I’d recommend this apartment to anyone.
It’s top notch

It’s probably not fair for me to write this right now — right after a 2:30 fire alarm woke us up and sent us out of the building AGAIN, but I’m tired of this happening with no apology, explanation, or – god forbid — a reduction in rent. Seriously, I think the least you should ask of your apartment building is a place to sleep, and we haven’t been getting that lately.

I’ve been here more than two years, so that’s gotta say something. I’d give it 3.5 stars, but I’ll go with 4 to make up for some of the bad old reviews.
There’s a beautiful gym, but unlike previous reviewers it didn’t make me any more likely to work out (not that it’s the apartment’s fault). They also have been holding a few free classes there, so that’s a nice touch. Great community room and bocce courts that you can reserve. Also a really nice guest suite that you can rent for a reasonable price. Comes with a parking spot and is great for getting some personal space when you have visitors.
Generally really amazing staff. The front desk people become your buddies, and really seem to care how your day is going. They’re dedicated and interested in helping you resolve issues quickly and efficiently. Negative one star for the leasing office never, ever returning emails in a reasonable time frame. When they do, they resolve issues quickly, so I appreciate that.
Spendy. This is not a budget apartment complex. But, you’re right above the metro (and Pete’s Pizza), so you are paying for the convenience. The apartments are nice inside: granite countertops, stainless appliances, washer/​dryer, and concrete floors. Not sure about the new building, though. Rent has gone up each year by about $ 100.
Parking is normal price for garage parking in DC ($ 225/​month), but occasionally you are UNABLE to get out of the garage. Yes. Unable. Because of the deliveries being made to the neighboring restaurants and the gate to the health center being closed, you can sometimes be stuck in the driveway waiting for the delivery to finish. Time: unknown.
Maintenance used to be out of this world. Planets literally orbited around Jorge. Now it’s so-​so. They usually arrive same-​day, which is great, but your walls and carpet may look a bit worse for wear after they leave.
Every apartment has it’s ups and downs. I think that, on average, this apartment has fewer downs than most so I would recommend it for someone looking to live in the area.

I’ve been living here for a year and a half and I love it. It’s not cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for. Here are some of my favorites:
Two floor (!!) gym complete with a large weight room (has everything you need), 5 treadmills, ellipticals, and even a aerobics/​yoga room where they have free classes each week. Saves me a ton of money because I don’t need a gym membership and even better, I’m more likely to work out since it’s right downstairs.
«Party room,» which is a big community room with a bar and plenty of seating, and TVs. This is key because if you want to host a bunch of people and can’t fit them in your apartment, you can easily fit a crowd here. We use this all the time to host people for drinks (for free!). The room is huge, and you can also host people in the free billiards room upstairs.
The same thing applies to the rooftop and the brand new courtyard on the ground floor, which is complete with two bocce courts, fountains, lots of seating, grills, and a bar. You can host people out here for a barbecue or attend one of the many free events that the building puts on. On nice days I’ll sit out in the courtyard and get some work done.
Business center– a nice sectioned off area with 6 computers and a printer that anyone can use (including 3 brand new iMacs!). This is big because it saves me from keeping a bulky printer in my room and buying ink for my printing needs. There’s also a small conference room that fits about 5 people if you need to have a private space. I do tutoring on the side and will often meet my students in here (or in the courtyard!).
Most of all, the thing that I love the most about this place is the management and staff. They really care about the residents– they listen to our suggestions and do not hesitate to spend money to make improvements to the place. If you have any issues in your apartment they respond quickly and professionally. They make tons of accommodations and work with you on issues, instead of being super strict on policies. Above all this, they’re just plain awesome people. They know everyone’s names and really take the time to get to know you.
You can walk into any apartment building, scout out the floorplan and make a decision based on square footage or layout. But if you’re going to pay for a premium high rise, what really matters is what you get outside of your unit. Highland Park gives you a beautiful building that constantly improves, fantastic amenities, and a first class staff. We renewed our lease without hesitation.

Just moved in and it has been the easiest process ever! The office staff (Julia) has done a great job in communicating with me the few weeks before moving and up until the move day. The apartment itself is of course great since I was able to get a brand new apartment in the second phase of the complex. (Completed in Jan 2013?) The amenities are top notch, including: the bocce court and fountain with several grills and seating, two floor gym, billiards room, party room, and one amazingly huge rooftop (no pool though:(). The building (s) are super clean and the concierge staff have been very helpful and polite as well. The building is also in one of the most convenient places in DC. It’s right next to the metro, and right across form DC USA. It’s only been one week, but with all that being said, there’s not much to complain about.

I’ve lived at Highland Park for over 3 years and have seen amazing changes to the property. Love the bocce ball courts and the fountain!!! The current management team led by Doug has cleaned-​up the place! The office has new people, and my interactions with them have been good so far. Only complaint, I wish the building had a swimming pool on the roof-​top, it almost looks like they thought about it and changed their minds…? who knows… I love living here!

Absolutely horrible experience. I’ve lived here for 3 years and have watched the quality of management erode significantly. For the past 3 months in a row, I have turned in my rent check on time, and it has been cashed within the first 5 days of the month. Each month I get a threatening letter for legal action from the management office about delinquent rent, and they have the audacity to blame the bank. Clearly the bank is doing it’s job and it’s the management team that is not. While the woman I was in contact with in the management office was apologetic and polite, the same issue had happened for 3 months in a row and no amount of niceties can make up for the threatening letter or the obnoxious inconvenience.
I do not recommend moving here at all. The staff is incompetent, rude, uncommunicative and all around shitty. I can’t move out of there fast enough.

The staff are super friendly, very supportive, and were totally responsive. The building itself is in really nice condition. Sometimes I would see some sketchy people wandering the halls, but for the most part it was pretty safe and secure. There do tend to be a lot of false fire alarms in the building, usually late at night, which is very frustrating. Additionally if you’re in the new part of the building you cannot connect to the rest of the building you can only get to the rest of the building through the lobby, so you feel a little disconnected.
I lived in the building for a year, and I probably would have stayed a lot longer except that they really wanted to jack up my rent to renew the lease. Not only did they ask for a $ 500 amenity fee, that I never paid the first time, they also wanted $ 150 per month for a 12 month lease. I felt that was a very exorbitant increase and although I did talk them out of the amenities fee I still felt that$ 150 extra rent per month was not worth it.

I moved into this building in Mar 2012 and had a subpar experience overall. I would not live at this building again.
Pros: The location is convenient (close to Metro, U-​Street, Adams Morgan, etc.) Amenities are nice (gym has new equipment, rooftop is convenient and spacious). Rent is reasonable for a full-​service building (although management raised it $ 200 /​mo for us at the end of our lease).
Cons: The lobby and common spaces are very poorly maintained (the elevator paneling is scratched, hallway walls are scuffed and have not been repainted since I moved in, carpets are dirty and have not been cleaned since I moved in, the hardwood in the party room was torn out and not repaired for several months, etc.) Air conditioning in the hallways and certain common spaces is left off during the summer (presumably to save energy) and that makes walking from the elevator to your apartment very uncomfortable. The prickly building manager Doug Tallman is unpleasant and unaccommodating.
Highland Park looks nice upon first glance because of its convenient location, modern décor, and decent price but I would look elsewhere first at least until the building management is replaced. I no longer live in the building and two of my other friends in the building were dissatisfied with their experiences and have also moved out as well.

Like many of the other reviews state, Highland Park is full of great neighbors and a really helpful staff. The location is ultra convenient, though definitely shady at times (there was a shooting at IHOP across the street at 6AM this past weekend. The building throws lots of holiday parties and runs things very professionally.
However, I give this apartment a very low rating because the noise is nearly intolerable. We live on the 7^th floor facing the alley, and are greeted each morning (Mon-​Sat) at 7AM with extremely loud construction noise. There has been consistent construction since we moved in nearly a year and a half ago, and the latest phase of construction is being done by the owners of the apartment complex, as they are expand the building. The restaurants in the building also make a habit of throwing out all of their glass bottles around 1 AM, creating a startling crashes that wakes us up each and every night. We are on the top floor of the building, so I can only imagine what it must sound like for the lower floors. We find that there is good sound proofing between units (we never hear our neighbors), but the windows do not sound proof the apartment at all.
Despite all of the construction occurring next door, the management saw fit to raise everyones rent considerably this year. After our annual increase and a fee for renewing our lease for less than a full year, our rent ended up being increased by over 35% from the year before. We were told that the rent would be adjusted, and that it would be higher for shorter term leases, but we never expected such an increase in just a year — especially when they were doing construction!

I’ve been here since Aug 2011, or as I like to call it, the month that God attempted to destroy the Capitol of the United States of America. Yes, I’ve survived both an earthquake and hurricane Irene (cough-​downgraded to tropical storm-​cough) within these walls. I feel like in these moments when we are closest to death, our eyes perceive with the most clarity what really matters in life:
1.) Proximity to the Metro: Cannot be beat. It is literally beneath the building. C’mon.
2.) Rooftop accessibility: Expansive roof with grills available to residents, beautiful views of the city (including the National Cathedral and Washington Monument), and even a patch of grass on which residents’ pets may or may not have relieved themselves. Sunbathe at your own risk. Also, most apartments have a balcony or access to a large, shared terrace.
3.) Gym: The 2-​story gym has enough lifting equipment to get your swole on. Alternatively, I’ve never had to wait for an elliptical when I go get my heart-rate-elevated-for-30-minutes…on.
4.) Staff: The building staff are friendly and typically responsive in a timely manner to issues. Issues have included: door-​handles falling off, strange noise emanating from the shower head, terrace furniture hidden somewhere following the hurricane and never returned. Nothing too ridiculous.
One issue: the ground floor of the building houses a few restaurants (FIVE GUYS OMG) but also a couple bars. Lou’s is generally quiet unless there is a big game on, and only then do the noises generally associated with male machoism waft upwards to the 2^nd floor apartments on that side. However, the 2^nd story apartments on the Acre 121 side are actually unbearable to be in when there is any music playing at Acre — there is absolutely no sound insulation — and they have music almost every night of the week. You’ve been forewarned: avoid the 2^nd floor.

I am somewhat surprised by the negative reviews here. I have lived here for fifteen months and have been very satisfied — in fact, I think the customer service of building management has only gotten stronger.
The person who first showed us the apartment still works for Bozutto Management and has been very responsive with repairs, questions, etc. Yes, the building has a young vibe, but what else would you expect from a lobby that changes colors. The view from the rooftop is gorgeous, the gym is well stocked and maintained, the maintenance staff keeps the common areas clean, the building just introduced separate recycling bins on every floor to make it easier to keep green and the front door staff is friendly and professional.

I feel bad, bc the staff at the front door are so sweet, but I have to say, this place is not what I had hoped for. It’s like the big dorm party that never ends. I am 29 years old and have almost a decade on all the other residents. Every weekend is some insane party in the party room– you will be riding the metro with a bunch of kids dressed in club clothes and you realize they are heading to your apartment building! The club like atmosphere is a bit much after a long day at work– I come home to come home and go out to go out.
A few weekends ago was the worst– the party had moved to the entrance/​foyer– at 7pm on a Saturday, people were trashed and draped all over each other, slinging around red cups and hoisting a keg. All fun and games until someone started puking all over the entrance. Our friends were coming over to meet us and it was mortifying. We are professionals and we can’t have anyone over on the weekends without that kind of scene.
It’s like being locked in Heaven and Hell or something and paying thousdands of dollars for the privilege. Sigh.
Also, it’s new construction. We’ve had our lights fixed six times, the towel rod broke and soap dish just fell off and shattered all over the bathroom– and each of these incidents requires multiple phone calls and written requests in order to be fixed. In the common areas, the famed hammocks are broken, the tvs in the gym don’t work, the pool table doesn’t have all the balls, etc. Meanwhile, there are stabbings on the metro and shootings in the street, and the streets are crowded with these random religious protestors and just throngs and throngs of high school kids. For the price point, we could stay in place Dupont/​U St for about 200 extra sq ft that’s more classy and high quality.
I am really looking forward to that.

Bait-​and-​Switch… plain, simple and illegal!
I’m not a tenant, but was a potential one. On Saturday, 5÷1÷09 I called the leasing office to inquire about the building and the offers on their website. The offers (they are still there) were 2 free months, $ 99 move in/​security, yadda yadda. The website also indicated there were 2-​bed apartments in the $ 2,300-$ 2,600 range. With 2 months free pro-​rated over 12 months, that wouldn’t be a bad deal. During my call, they indicated there was more than one 2-​bedroom apartments available for $ 2,340 and I should come in to look.
On Sunday, my roommate and I visited the leasing office. According to the leasing agent, what was on the website does not actually exist. He said that there NEVER was an apartment available for $ 2,340 and that the website does not say there is. At this point, I’d direct you to their website because it’s still there… he refused to go check the website, despite there being a computer with internet access behind him. According to him, the best they could do was $ 2,800.
I pointed out to him who I spoke to the day before and he told me there are multiple vacancies for 2-​beds at the $ 2,340 price. He denied that I called or that the conversation took place, until I showed him the email hid office sent me after we had first spoke on my BlackBerry. At that point, he said that the person I spoke to was only filling in and had no authority!
Did they think that once they got me in the door I would fall so madly in-​love with the place that I would suck up a $ 400+ increase in price? I’m not new to the city, nor am I a wide-​eyed intern that would pay anything. They don’t even include utilities! $ 2,700 I can get a hell of a lot more than 840 square feet! Columbia Heights is still a shit-​hole that won’t command that kind of premium for another 5 years, if that!
Way to waste my time.
This place is a bait-​and-​switch scam! I can’t reiterate that you just can’t deal with these people. I’ve already contacted DC’s Attorney General and the BBB with screen captures of their website, the email confirmation they sent me, the saved flash files from their site and video I shot while there with the leasing agent saying that the website doesn’t say what it says.

Highland Park is one of those luxury condos-​turned-​apartment buildings owned by Donatelli & Klein and operated by Bozzuto Management. If these names mean nothing to you, then you should start Googling reviews on these companies. I’ve learned that management companies are like brand names with reputations that greatly affect your experience.
The apartment building sits directly above the Columbia Heights metro station and Potbelly, Pete’s Apizza, Five Guys, and Commonwealth. There were supposed to be other restaurants but those projects died long ago. Across the street is DC USA (Target, Best Buy, Bed Bath, and Beyond, and Washington Sports Club). And with the 16^th Street buses, the 14^th Street buses, the H Street buses, the McPherson Square Circulator, and the Green/​Yellow Metro line, it’s harder to find a more convenient place than Highland Park.
The apartment building is pretty nice with a futuristic lounge that changes colors (something to show off), one of the best in-​house gyms (no need for WSC), billiards entertainment room, and a picturesque rooftop. The apartments itself have stained concrete floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and gas stoves. The reality is that Highland Park has a lot of potential and some of the most alluring amenities there’s a huge drawback.
Two words: Bozzuto Management. Ever since I’ve moved-​in it’s been one annoyance after another. It’s a tall tell sign when the entire leasing office team is gone after its first year and there’s a problem retaining residents. Most of the neighbors I met last year are moving away in search of better apartments and better prices. In all fairness, Bozzuto’s bringing in a new management team but that’s not enough assurance that things will really change. As a result of the past year’s poor management, Bozzuto has created a resident culture of apathy and distrust.
Obviously, I dislike Bozzuto but let my experience be a cautionary tale when you speak with Highland Park’s leasing office (or any other leasing office). When we first visited Highland Park, there was a lot of talk and a lot of promises. Few of those promises ever materialized until long after we moved in. For instance, we were supposed to have classes at our own gym. But then we learned they wouldn’t do it until we reach 80% occupancy; at which point 80% of us have already signed up for classes elsewhere. The leasing office originally told us that storage units were free but then they started charging $ 50/​month. We were first allowed to take pets to the rooftop. Then there was an abrupt policy change that prohibited a common habit. The promised «pet area» turned out to be a heap of compost next to the dumpsters. Most dogs won’t even go inside the pen. The grills on the rooftop is always often out of propane and the printer is always out of ink. Of course the residents share the blame but resident apathy is the result of a culture fostered by Bozzuto.
Then there are the maintenance issues like the fish tank that’s always dirty; the lack of a rooftop bathroom; the dirty hallways that weren’t cleaned from June 2008 to November 2008; the smell of urine in the staircase; the lounge chair that’s always missing a cushion; or, the broken fixture that’s never been replaced. These are small things that only residents notice but these minor annoyances compound everyday into giant eyesores. It’s made worse when you start wondering what all the rent money goes to pay.
There were arbitrary and abrupt policy changes that were entirely dependent on «the owner’s mood.» One day, the owners would go upstairs and say «I don’t want dogs on the rooftop.» On another day, the owners would say, party room rentals are now $ 500 (up from $ 250). Parking for residents is $ 200 but non-​residents is $ 195 (let that sink in for awhile). We used to host resident socials because Bozzuto was too pre-​occupied finding new tenants. And even though we were doing them a favor, they just kept hassling us. After awhile, it just became very tiring just dealing with management on a daily basis.
My first year at Highland Park was a struggle. It felt that Bozzuto was more interested in finding new tenants instead of taking care of its existing residents. My advice to Bozzuto: Set realistic expectations and deliver on promises. My advice to you: Don’t fall for the upsale and get everything in writing.
[Residency period: June 26, 2008 to June 26, 2009]