Chanting “Fix the Enclave” and “Less Pests,” residents of Enclave Apartments in the White Oak section of Silver Spring rallied together to air their grievances Thursday.
Many living in one of the 1,000 apartments complained of rat and bug infestation, bed bugs, nonworking elevators and a lack of security that allows homeless people to sleep in hallways and the garage.
As some of the residents in the recently formed tenant association spoke, a management staff member stood in the back listening. When a tenant, who would only say his name was E for fear of being evicted, called the management personnel up to hand him a list of demands, the man accepted the letter and shook his hand.
He then walked toward Enclave’s leasing office, giving the letter away to reporters, saying he had no intention of reading it. When asked by reporters to respond to the tenants’ complaints, he stayed silent.
Marguerite, a tenant since 2016, told MCM there was so much water in her walls that mold crept throughout her apartment. “Roaches and mice, you name it,” she said.
“I have a homeless person living outside my door every day,” she said, adding that if police or security make the person leave, he just returns the next day.
For all this, she pays $1,600 a month for her two-bedroom apartment. “I am trying to get out,” she said.
“Today, we unite as a community,” said Abu, a resident and member of the Enclave Tenant Association organizing committee. “We demand the immediate reinstatement of staff and concierge at every lobby, 24 hours a day, and security cameras in every hallway.”
E told those gathered that it was important to stick together and keep demanding that problems, including frequently broken elevators that force some to climb most of the way up the 20-story building, get repaired.
County Executive Marc Elrich called the Enclave a long-time problem building that takes up a great deal of county employees’ time. Between July 2019 and July 2023, 6,000 notices of violations were issued as were 1,229 citations for previously cited violations that still weren’t corrected.
County enforcement staff visit the Enclave on average a minimum of four days per week.
Bad landlords ask for extension after extension, only fixing the problems the day before they are called to appear in court. Then, when the landlords tell the judge that the problem was fixed, the case is dropped and no fines levied, Elrich said. Maryland needs to write laws guaranteeing financial punishments, Elrich said.
“I and my staff have spent significant time here since I took office last December,” Councilmember Kristin Mink said. “We’ve canvassed multiple times, we’ve held and attended meetings with residents, and we’ve responded on-site to follow up on complaints. We have amplified countless complaints with the Enclave’s ownership.”
She promised the tenants, “I’m not going away.”
“We’ll be with you no matter what, and we’ll keep advocating with you,” said District 20 Maryland Delegate Lorig Charkoudian. “But you shouldn’t need to contact your delegate or your councilmember to get an elevator fixed or to meet basic health and safety conditions.”
I joined tenants, @CMKristinMink, @LCharkoudian, @Progressive_MD & others in calling for overdue safety & maintenance improvements at The Enclave in White Oak. Heard firsthand the housing challenges residents face – from pests to safety issues. We demand better for our community. pic.twitter.com/04L6LcNfm1
— County Exec Marc Elrich (@MontCoExec) October 20, 2023
Since elected, I have been getting calls for help from Enclave residents re basic health & safety issues. I have advocated for them w/ management, state, & county inspectors. Yesterday, tenants organized a rally. We call on Enclave ownership to make these homes safe & heathy pic.twitter.com/o0JeGofKex
— Lorig Charkoudian (@LCharkoudian) October 20, 2023
