The Triangle

Issue date: 6/1/07 Section: News

Some of the other complaints are about the poor security services of the building. The deadbolts in many of the apartment doors do not work. Many times, residents are able to get access to the building without swiping their ID cards.

"There have also been occasional problems associated with loss of heat or air conditioning," said Scott Kiry, a junior majoring in biology who has been living in the building for over three years now. "I can't even begin to explain the anger and contempt we have had over the past year for the lack of urgency management has showed us regarding this issue [leaking roof]."

"There was a period of three months where the four of us roommates put our month rent in an escrow account and didn't pay until we felt problems were adequately repaired," said Kiry.

Other residents have complained about having to pay more rent than they were supposed to as per their lease. According to Brandon Sprague, a junior majoring in biology and business administration who has been living in University Crossings for about three years, "nothing in the building is handled with professionalism or with the resident in mind."

Sprague told The Triangle that when College Park took over ownership of the building, the management told all re-signing residents that payments for the new lease would only begin when their College Park lease was signed. Thus, signing on September 25, 2006 meant the resident was responsible for payments from that date on. Sprague went on to say that payments before that were supposed to be the responsibility of Philadelphia Management, who were the previous owners.

"However, nearly 1 year later, College Park comes back to those residents stating that all residents who signed their lease in September now owe the full amount," Sprague said.

According to Sprague, agreements were made between Melissa Impagliazzo, who was the former property manager, and the residents that payments could be made at the residents' convenience, so long as the resident agreed to pay. These were binding verbal contracts with Impagliazzo.

"Melissa was then fired, and a new 'property manager,' Chad, stepped in," Sprague said. "Chad disregarded any former payment agreements and began charging late fees to any outstanding accounts. I personally could not afford to pay until April, which is the agreement I worked out with Melissa. Chad did not care and continued to charge late fees for each day the balance wasn't paid."

According to Sprague, the residents are still charged late fees for the dues, which according to them, they do not owe.

Chad Broadwell, the current building manager for University Crossings, refused to interview with The Triangle. Pete Flaherty, regional vice president for College Park Communities, could not be reached for comment. Calls to College Park communities' President John DeRiggi and National Director of Student Housing Operations Rhonda Smith, were not returned.

< prev Page 2 of 2

Article Tools