Gelman Management Company

I would not live in a Gelman Management building (especially The Savoy) if they promised to pay MY rent for a year. I had nothing but aggravation, and broken appliances since I moved in. The halls smell and the neighbors unfriendly. The on-​site managment is unhelpful and useless. The only plus, is location. It is close to everything but that is still no reason to pay top dollar for a bad living environment.

Live at Macomb Gardens. Marla the «property manager» is the worst. All of my requests since I have moved in have been ignored. I requested a window AC unit. I ended up with one from the 80s that you can hear running with my door closed down the hall. Was so looking forward to it being fall. Then the heat came on and I’ve been sleeping with my windows open every night. It’s now January. The property manager says she ignores my concerns and requests because of a personal issue she has with me which falls under DC housing code of Retaliation by landlord. But why would the company care? People are running their ACs in January. Windows are wide open. I get told over and over by the mangager I’m too busy but yet I hear her making personal phone calls all the time. She told me to call Gelman after she didn’t have time for me but funny two minutes later I called her and she answered her phone? She admitted why she ignores my requests. Which is a bit ignorant. This company doesn’t care. Can’t wait until May.

I couldn’t agree with this statement more: I’m sure they’re making money, because they sure aren’t putting it into their buildings [or staff]. If you want to live in a building where the least amount possible is done each year to maintain the living conditions, then choose Gelman management.
I have lived at 1930 Columbia/​Gelmarc Towers for 3 years. The property manager is nearly impossible to catch in the office or on the phone, and if she does respond to a request, it always takes several days. This makes simple questions around rent increases, move-​out policies, etc. seem nearly impossible to get answered. Extremely frustrating.
The only improvements I have seen in the building over the last 3 years were made to the manager’s office only, a space where she may spend 4 hours per weekday. Even worse, when I moved in, a wonderfully responsive maintenance guy worked there but he has since been replaced — even despite a disapproving petition from the building’s residents. Now when something needs fixed, I inevitably come home to something else broken in my apt — last time it was a bottle of my favorite perfume. Forget trying to get them to replace it!
I’m cutting my losses and moving out next month, and will not look back!

I live in The Elaine Apartments on 3210 Wisconsin Ave and have lived here since 2009. I agree with all complaints on this site and have major complaints to add. I cannot count the number of days (weeks even) that we have been without heat and hot water AND air-​conditioning — Gelman Management refuses to address the problem and consistently leaves its tenants without heat and hot water during fall, winter and spring as well as leaving tenants without air-​conditioning in the summer due to continued issues with the boiler. They refuse to spend the money to completely rehaul their boilers thus illegally forcing us to live in freezing cold conditions, unable to shower or take a bath. This is illegal — they have no problem breaking the law by violating the District Housing Code and I quote:
«If the heat in your apartment is not under your control, the law dictates that the landlord must keep your apartment at a minimum 68 degrees Fahrenheit between 6:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., and at a minimum 65 degrees the rest of the time.»
They have never offered a rent reduction or long term solution to these problems. DO NOT RENT FROM GELMAN MANAGEMENT!!!

Do not live in Alto Towers.
I hate giving a 1 star, but «eek!» is definitely more appropriate than «meh!»
In 2 years I have experienced the following:
* disgusting odor in the stairwells, the essence of dead rats mixed with fungus-​infected foot juice is not pleasant
* waking up to a bathtub full of poop water and some poop. not sure if it was my own or that of my neighbors. when they went to fix the plumbing, they didn’t shut off the water. when they pulled my toilet from the ground it flooded my bedroom
* fuse boxes instead of circuit breakers means that 2 AC units + the microwave = no power.
* i have seen brown/​yellowed water coming from my pipes. i don’t care if it’s safe or you just need to run it for a second. We do not live on the semi-​periphery.
* recently the key fob swiper was broken… on a weekend. which means that it’s not getting fixed until monday/​tuesday — which means I need the security guard from the building next door to let me in or im stuck waiting for a neighbor. The guy last night (friday) had been waiting for an hour until we showed up w/​security.
* pro’s include the utilities are included in the price. the building manager yami is wonderful. the maintenance man escobar is extremely nice, skilled and accommodating. the building just SUCKS
* for the 1325 I pay now, I could be paying the same, have a roommate and experience a swimming pool on my roof (a NICE roof), a gym, tea time, movie theater and underground parking.
Prices in DC do not vary too much. look somewhere else
Oh ya… you can only pay your rent by check. No online funds… its 2011!!!

I’m sure they’re making money, because they sure aren’t putting it into their buildings. If you want to live in a building where the least amount possible is done each year to maintain the living conditions, then choose Gelman management. Our hot water has been out 4 times this week.

These people charge $ 2 per machine for laundry, do not address egregious problems like mildew covered HVAC units or closet doors that are unable to open or close. They also do not have any automatic debit options and will fine people at the drop of a hat. They fined us for late rent during the 90-​year record breaking snowstorm – when the USPS shutdown for three days. In addition, the walls in our apt are crumbling from water damage. All requests for repairs of any kind have been ignored.