On April 12, the first tenants of Hunting Terrace began their journey to and from temporary housing while their apartments were repaired for ceiling and wall cracks. This was the beginning of a two month process that will impact all tenants.
During a tenants' meeting April 6, their landlord, Virginia Department of Transportation, made a laundry list of promises designed to give the tenant "a comfort zone" and make the displacements "as painless as possible."
To buttress those promises and financial commitments, VDOT appointed a tenants' advocate who was described at the time by Thomas F. Farley, district administrator, VDOT, as "here for you, working for us." That person is Steve Titunik, who has performed a similar task with businesses impacted by the Springfield Interchange construction project.
It has been Titunik's responsibility not only to field resident complaints but also to coordinate the overall moving to and from their apartments. This includes coordinating with the movers retained by VDOT and making sure tenant concerns and needs were met.
Time out of their apartments was estimated at five to eight days. Thus far, that has been on target.
Tenants have been given the choice of staying at either of two hotels in Alexandria or in a vacant apartment in Hunting Towers. No more than 10 apartments will be vacated at any one time and there are 10 vacant apartments in the Towers, according to VDOT. In either case, all expenses are being paid by VDOT, plus a per diem of $51 per day.
All items, except clothing, is being packed by VDOT movers and stored in climate controlled storage facilities. Upon completion of the renovations tenants are moved back into their apartments and all furnishing are restored to their original locations. Tenants have the option of personally overseeing both operations.
THREE OF THOSE moved out on April 12 and moved back in on April 17, were Todd Whitman, Jay Macrina and Elyse Goumer. All reside in Building F.
"My perception of everything thus far has been very favorable. VDOT has treated us very positively. They got everything done and lived up to the promises they made at the April 6 meeting," Whitman said.
"However, I must admit that I didn't have real ceiling problems. Just some regular cracks that could be attributed to settling. And I face the actual construction area," he said.
"My reaction is a lot better to the move than I had expected," Macrina said. "I was even able to delay a day since I was away for the Easter holiday and it didn't have any adverse impact on me or the others either in moving out or back." Instead of moving on the 12th, Macrina actually moved out on the 13th.
"The move itself went fine. I just took the morning off and made sure they did everything okay. I decided to move into one of the Towers apartments. They are fully furnished. They had everything I needed and I was close enough to walk over and get my mail," he explained.
The only dissatisfaction came from Goumer who said that the clothes she had left in her closet were "covered with dust." She also complained, "There didn't seem to be much coordination between the movers and VDOT."
She did admit, "VDOT has been good in ironing out the wrinkles in the moving process." All tenants were also promised at the April 6 meeting that cleaning bills would be paid for anything that got soiled in the process.
Charles Allen, a four-year Terrace resident who lives in Building G, was supposed to be moved, but, as he explained, "I was traveling at the time. But they are providing me with an apartment in the Tower."
His reaction to their whole process was, "I really can't complain about this. They [VDOT] seem to be doing a good job. I have been kept informed and I did receive my information packet even though I was not at the April 6 meeting."
Allen did raise the question as to whether or not it was money wisely spent by VDOT. "If they sell these after the construction is complete a private developer will probably tear them down and put in more expensive townhouses. I think people have been leaving in droves," Allen observed. "They probably should have just moved us out permanently."
ONE OF THE longest displaced tenants is Gary Miller who has lived in Building A since June 2001. "I've been out of my apartment since April 2, because when they did the initial inspections they thought my ceiling could be very dangerous," he explained.
"They told me I had to vacate in 24 hours. Since it was Cherry Blossom weekend the regular hotels they were counting on were full so I moved into Washington Suites. But they didn't move my belongings until last Thursday," Miller said.
He was able to be with the movers when they packed his things. He is scheduled to move back in this Thursday, April 22.
"But, to be honest, both Grady Management and VDOT have been very fair and considerate with me. Brent Eckard with Grady has been very helpful any time I have needed help," Miller said.
"In any type of move this extensive there has to be give and take on the part of both parties. The only thing I'm concerned with now is if there has been any damage to any of my things while in storage," he said.
He was not so kind to the former management company, Kay Management, however, prior to the property's sale to VDOT. "If they [Kay] had told me there was going to be all this bridge construction so close I would probably not have moved in," he said.
Joining Miller last Thursday as part of the second wave of moves was Leslie Rossi. She was joined by Amber Dugger and Jorge Martinez. They are residents of Building F.
Standing in her second floor apartment as the movers were packing her belongings, Rossi said, "Things are happening just as they said they would. I'm very pleased with the movers. They have delivered everything they promised. For being displaced, it's going really well."
Dugger and Martinez were busy making lists and taking digital pictures of their belonging. "So far everything seems to be going just fine," Dugger assured. "And the Executive Suites seems very nice." They had chosen the hotel on Bashford Lane because they have a dog which is permitted to stay with them.
KEEPING A WATCHFUL eye on the entire process are Ardith Dentzer and Fiona Simpkins, president and vice president respectively, of the Tenants Association. Simpkins has presented a "To Do" list to Titunik and VDOT.
The list was compiled from a taped recording she made of the April 6 meeting. In her transmittal to VDOT, Simpkins said, "I have sent this electronically to all...residents ... so that they are aware what steps they need to take over the course of the next several weeks."
It is a summation of what VDOT had committed to at that meeting and what tenants must do to satisfy those commitments. The tenant list included such items as: request a copy of lead and asbestos reports; inform VDOT of any schedule problems; inform VDOT if belongings require insurance above $100,000; inform VDOT of any specialized needs pertaining to business or personal requirements.
As for VDOT's 'To Do's', her list included: Make sure all residents have the information packet distributed at the meetings and are able to directly contact VDOT offices and Titunik; follow up with resident re: renters insurance; arrange for inspections of Terrace roofs; arrange individual appointments with tenants one week prior to moves; make sure tenants know the location and how to contact the storage facility; and ensure other conditions are repaired such as deteriorating walls.
IN ALL, THE LIST contained approximately two dozen items. It also requested VDOT respond "point-by-point" to the Terrace Residents' letter of April 5, conveyed the day before the April 6 meeting.
As of Tuesday, Titunik reported, "The 'To Do' list letter is being worked on an item-by-item basis. I have sent an update on many of the points raised."
He further maintained, "Many of the points raised have been overcome by events. My focus is to work with specific residents on specific needs. I don't want to deal with just general policy. I want to personalize it."
Titunik promised, "All the points on the list will be answered by next week." Hopefully, that will contribute to Dentzer's primary desire in the entire process.
"I just want VDOT to do the right thing," she said.