Harry Gural, president of the Van Ness South Tenants Association, sent a letter today to Equity Residential general manager Dan Burkes, requesting again that the company repair all broken exterior security doors at 3003 Van Ness.

For years, the tenant association has complained to Equity Residential about poor building security at 3003 Van Ness. VNSTA wrote reports on poor security, wrote letters and emails to building management, and asked city officials for help. For more than two years, it recorded video evidence of broken exterior doors at the property, and broken doors leading from the underground garages to the main building.

Today’s letter is another attempt to get the attention of Equity Residential, a $27 billion company based in Chicago. The letter not only provides evidence of exceptionally poor security at 3003 Van Ness, it cites possible penalties for such failures in in buildings that have had problems with drugs, prostitution or firearms. Specifically, it quotes a section of the law which names penalties that a court can order for violating the law:

“Ordering all rental income from the property to be placed in an escrow account with the court for up to 90 days or until the drug-, firearm-, or prostitution-related nuisance is abated;”

“Ordering all rental income for the property transferred to a trustee, to be appointed by the court, who shall be empowered to use the rental income to make reasonable expenditures related to the property in order to abate the drug-, firearm-, or prostitution-related nuisance;”

The letter is cc’ed to senior Equity Residential management, as well as DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, Department of Buildings Director Brian Hanlon, officers of the DC Metropolitan Police, members of the DC Council, and others.

Read the entire letter in print-friendly format.