When I think about living at the Waterbury Park Apartments, three things come to mind: The good, the bad and the ugly.
Let me start with the good. Through the years, management has changed so many times. I should know. I am a longtime resident of the property. I remember when Con-Am were property managers and even before that, it was managed by another owner. Yes, management sure has changed, and with the change also comes a new owner, new employees, leasing agents, community directors and with that comes new responsibilities. I believe in order to be a good property manager, you have to be able to be an excellent multi-tasker. Someone who can handle a full deck of cards along with the right crew. We had that until management decided to change…again. Before this big change, we had a good management team who cared about us as people, us as a community and even family. Our team has gone on to other properties and other projects, and we miss them dearly.
I understand that people have to move on, but I totally disagree with the manner that it was done to one of our own, who had established a good relationship with the residents while still keeping up with the demands of a low-paying job.
She was told without warning that she would have to move to another property, and that was that. Her job was on the line, so she had to go. The residents are now feeling the after effects of such a great loss, and it hurts.
When Weidner first took over, the property’s residents received notice on the same day they arrived. With the new management came lots of changes. Weidner did a lot to improve the outer appearance of the property: Resurfacing the pools, roofing, lawn care, remodeling the leasing office. Agents who were with Con-Am didn’t want to continue with Weidner, so they left.
People come and go here. Where is the consistency? There are so many changes, some good and some not so good.
Gone are the days residents could have the freedom of coming into the office to help themselves to coffee, tea, hot chocolate or even cookies. Gone are the community events we used to have. Gone is the use of the cabana for residents to rent out for birthday parties and meetings. Robbed, stolen, taken away!
Now what is left is new management who strictly go by the books, leaving no room for community, family or functions. You ask, they promise and don’t follow through. Where is our block watch? Where is the 24-hour security patrol? This is not a safe community at all. We have break-ins, car bashing, car thieves, apartment robberies, people dying and left alone in their apartments. I can attest to five deaths since I have lived here. Some were suicides.
I know we have sex offenders living within blocks of this community, but the residents are not being informed of this at all. There are kids running rampant with no place to play What once was a playground is now a dog run. Nobody uses that dog run. Dogs go dookie all over the place. Owners don’t pick up poop. Some owners do, though.
We do have a basketball hoop, which is broken and we need a new one. The once big court is now used for storage sheds and we get half of the court for basketball. We need a new hoop. We don’t need a dog run. What’s the point? They took away the playground and replaced it with a dog park. Yeah, right!
I had a suggestion of getting a new playground and got shot down by the management telling me that was totally impossible. I don’t like the words “no” or “it can’t be done.” I am going to make sure we get our playground for our kids. This complex is turning into a hotel for dogs: Big, small, whatever shape and size. There is poop everywhere — I stepped in some the other day and had to buy some more shoes.
Where’s our beauty bark, which used to line the entire complex? We need to do something about all of the squirrels too. Fallen trees, fallen branches!
When tenants move out, there are entitled to get their deposit back. Well, tenants are not getting nothing back at all. Tenants have rights too! This is not a concentration camp. I call it home!
Betty Taylor, Federal Way
