Colesville Towers Apartments

I wish zero stars was an option. We have been living here for a year and a half now, and it’s gotten progressively worse. Currently, it is 98 degrees in our apartment, which is on the top floor with south-facing windows, because the A/C for the whole building was turned off on October 6th, well before cold weather fully arrives in the DC area. We have 4 fans going full blast, all curtains fully closed, and no ice maker. Our cats are suffering, as they cannot leave the apartment to seek “relief”... outside in the 80 degree weather. Cattle and inmates have more rights when it comes to temperature regulation than do the residents of Colesville Towers. We have spoken with management about the issue, with no resolution offered whatsoever. Not even an extra fan to borrow or an ice tray. This is not the first time our apartment has reached the 90s, as this has happened three other times since we moved in. Every spring and fall are unbearable, as they refuse to leave the A/C on for the comfort of their tenants, instead opting to save money and only offer us A/C from mid-May through early October. Those of us facing south (roughly half of the units in the building) have no use for heat year-round, though it’s on and available from October through April, thus saving Ross Management money on HVAC expenses while their tenants endure inhumane conditions.

Beyond that, we have had repeated issues with cockroaches, and even a mouse one time – again, on the 11th story – despite our diligent cleanliness and pest deterrents. Management is unresponsive to emails, making in-person visits to the office the only way to communicate with them. The gym is in great disrepair, multiple laundry machines are often out of order, and the windows to the lobby have been broken three times over the past year by unruly tenants. Packages routinely have been stolen with few repercussions. Tenants are encouraged to purchase their own doorbell cameras to protect their packages from being stolen, rather than management spending any resources to install a single security camera on each floor (they’re in the elevators only).

We see no reason to provide a notice of moving out, as management has put in no effort to make us want to stay any longer than is absolutely necessary. We plan to make a formal complaint with Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs. No one should have to live like this. Lee mas

Expect many days in the 80's and several in the 90's before they turn on the AC. If you try to contact management to find out more information, expect to be ignored. Expect the front desk "concierge" to block any attempt you make to talk to management. Also, expect the "concierge", when they're actually there, to be completely useless and actively unhelpful. As for the amenities, don't expect a grill. If you pester them enough, they might put one out, but without propane. Also, no... lifeguards, because they don't want to pay them, so no pool either. A lot of the gym equipment is either broken, missing, or not safe to use. Think a package you order will be delivered? Well the concierge stopped accepting packages at the start of the pandemic and the front desk staff (frequently not actually at the front desk) will often just ignore anybody trying to get in to make deliveries. So will your package arrive? Depends on how long the delivery person is will to wait for somebody to randomly let them in.

The laundry facilities have been unusable twice now. The first time was for about two weeks. Management offered no good solution during that time. They suggested going to the laundromat a mile away or hauling laundry to one of their other apartment complexes and hoping that those machines would be available. Two weeks of that!

You may notice that this mentions nothing about the bugs or mice that run rampant. I think most of the other reviews cover that nicely, so I won't repeat that, but yeah, it's bad. It's too bad for any one company, heck, only one van, to do anything about it when they only come once a week. Want to complain about the bugs? Management will "required" that you completely empty your kitchen so it can be treated. They'll give you only 24 hours notice (which you might get late if you get the notice when you return from work) and they'll threaten to fine you $65 if you do not comply. Also, their treatment is nowhere near effective enough.

Want a positive comment? Their maintenance and custodial staff do a good job and work hard. It's too bad the apartment complex and management are awful and take away from that.

I have no clue how their average rating is a 3.8. Everyone her complains about the apartment complex and management. Want to bond with a fellow resident? Just start complaining about these things, and they'll quickly join in. Lee mas

The reviews are on point !! There is a very big problem with mice and roaches. If you think that pest control will do the trick, you are sadly fooled. There is a hole behind the stove, hence, mice and roaches will come through and there is nothing you can do about it. Being super tidy and buying pesticide will not fix it. The property management has no ear for this problem. Your call will almost always go to voice mail. Do not be tricked. If you ask the staff, they will probably say that this... is an old problem that was solved(as was said to me). This is a review dated June 25, 2019. I will update this review every month so that future tenants are well informed Lee mas

It took maintenance over a week to respond to our complaint of water leakage/mold, and a decaying ceiling. Then when they finally came, all they did was slap a layer of paint over it... which made the problem worse. Not to mention the building is infested with roaches, bed bugs, and rodents. Living here is a nightmare.

This is my fourth year at Colesville Towers, and I have never been so disappointed. First, they changed an outstanding group of managers, and hired people that care less about the residents. Since then, I have had more problems with my plumbing, my kitchen is infested with roaches and mice, and the HVAC system is worse than ever. For the past year, I have submitted about 15 work orders, which is tripled the number I have done in 2 years. It's always about the same issues: running toilets,... roaches, and mice. They are the first to request feedback, but the last to perform great work. In all, I am an unhappy resident, and I can wait for the day my lease is up to move out. Take it from someone who has loved her apartment very much, do not get an important unless you want to live with roaches and mice 24/7! Lee mas