Spring Break
Charles and Blackstone tenants allowed to return
Issue date: 9/13/07
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After extensive renovations this summer, residents of the Charles and Blackstone Apartments have been permitted to move back into the buildings, but many residents are dissatisfied with how the renovations were dealt with from start to finish.
Many residents have complained about the bad communication on the subject of move-in dates during the summer, finding broken or missing furniture after coming back, and the buildings not being wired for telephone, Internet and cable access, of which they were also not informed before signing the lease.
"Basically last year before the summer after spring break, there were letters stuffed under doors saying that we had 60 days to vacate the building because Hopkins had acquired the building. It was right before finals. Everyone was so distraught," said Hopkins graduate student Maryam Jelvani, one of the many residents affected by the events this summer.
Though Hopkins Real Estate acquired the Charles and Blackstone in February of last year, at which time the administration reportedly did not plan on renovating the buildings, the residents were told to move out this summer so that the bulk of the renovations, which are presently ongoing, could occur.
Brian Dembeck, Hopkins' executive director of Real Estate, does not sympathize with Jelvani's views.
"We had to remove people from the building in order to do the renovations, as the buildings had to be unoccupied," Dembeck said.
Dembeck also contests the nature of the forced move-out of the buildings' residents.
"Residents' leases were terminated at the end of May. No paperwork was destroyed. Leases were terminated, and new lease agreements were issued. Forty-one residents expressed interest in returning at the commencement of this academic year," he said.
Though Dembeck stressed the legality of the actions of Hopkins Real Estate on 60-day notice, many students suffered the consequences.
"Sixty days is the minimum time span required by law. We had 60 days to find a place to stay, move everything and end our contracts, all of which had penalties. They didn't help us with finding another place to live or any of the fees associated with canceling contracts," Jelvani said.
Many residents have complained about the bad communication on the subject of move-in dates during the summer, finding broken or missing furniture after coming back, and the buildings not being wired for telephone, Internet and cable access, of which they were also not informed before signing the lease.
"Basically last year before the summer after spring break, there were letters stuffed under doors saying that we had 60 days to vacate the building because Hopkins had acquired the building. It was right before finals. Everyone was so distraught," said Hopkins graduate student Maryam Jelvani, one of the many residents affected by the events this summer.
Though Hopkins Real Estate acquired the Charles and Blackstone in February of last year, at which time the administration reportedly did not plan on renovating the buildings, the residents were told to move out this summer so that the bulk of the renovations, which are presently ongoing, could occur.
Brian Dembeck, Hopkins' executive director of Real Estate, does not sympathize with Jelvani's views.
"We had to remove people from the building in order to do the renovations, as the buildings had to be unoccupied," Dembeck said.
Dembeck also contests the nature of the forced move-out of the buildings' residents.
"Residents' leases were terminated at the end of May. No paperwork was destroyed. Leases were terminated, and new lease agreements were issued. Forty-one residents expressed interest in returning at the commencement of this academic year," he said.
Though Dembeck stressed the legality of the actions of Hopkins Real Estate on 60-day notice, many students suffered the consequences.
"Sixty days is the minimum time span required by law. We had 60 days to find a place to stay, move everything and end our contracts, all of which had penalties. They didn't help us with finding another place to live or any of the fees associated with canceling contracts," Jelvani said.
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