Accident in the building. What to expect from mngmt company?

[Anonymous]

I live in the building in Ballston where the guy "jumped off" a few weeks ago.

It was very shocking for the entire community, we're all very scared but the management company haven't said a word.

I asked before to install some sort of net on my balcony as part of our childproofing crusade or at least an equivalent to the banister guard on our balcony.

They never allowed me to do that so we're not using our balcony at all since our baby started moving around.

Now with this new development I'm wondering if I should contact the management asking what happened and put again another request to babyproof our balcony.

We've had situations before where our safety has been questioned and they were quick to address it, but now they're pretending nothing happened. What should the residents do?

[Anonymous]

OP, it's your responsibility to babyproof your balcony. If something happens to your baby, it would be your own negligence, not your building, because it's your own foreseeable risk to your baby that you failed to avert as parents. Ditto someone jumping off a building. I don't know what happened in your building, but do you expect every tall building in town (in the country) to install a safety net because someone might recklessly/intentionally jump or go over to the edge? No.

As far as management "making a statement," maybe they don't KNOW what happened. Maybe the police are investigating. Maybe they don't want to spread rumor and innuendo during a family's obviously painful time. Maybe it's not about you and your need for information. And once again, if your balcony needs babyproofing, you need to do that. Pronto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's your responsibility to babyproof your balcony. If something happens to your baby, it would be your own negligence, not your building, because it's your own foreseeable risk to your baby that you failed to avert as parents. Ditto someone jumping off a building. I don't know what happened in your building, but do you expect every tall building in town (in the country) to install a safety net because someone might recklessly/intentionally jump or go over to the edge? No.

As far as management "making a statement," maybe they don't KNOW what happened. Maybe the police are investigating. Maybe they don't want to spread rumor and innuendo during a family's obviously painful time. Maybe it's not about you and your need for information. And once again, if your balcony needs babyproofing, you need to do that. Pronto.

OP here.

Every time there's police investigation here they send us a letter. This time they didn't send anything out. We had police investigation going on at least 3 times since we moved here and they always send out a letter explaining what's going on.

I asked for permission to install locks on the balcony doors and to babyproof the balcony rail and they WON'T ALLOW ME!!!!

We were waiting on the management because we asked to break the lease since it was not a safe environment for us anymore with their restrictions but now, with this accident I wonder if they'll just let us install the things we asked.

Nothing is permanent, there will be no damage to the unit's structure but it will look different from the others so they're not allowing us to install anything. Even the gates we had in the doorways they made us remove.

I wonder if anybody knows about the laws on this. Everybody is freaking out here and they won't say a word!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's your responsibility to babyproof your balcony. If something happens to your baby, it would be your own negligence, not your building, because it's your own foreseeable risk to your baby that you failed to avert as parents. Ditto someone jumping off a building. I don't know what happened in your building, but do you expect every tall building in town (in the country) to install a safety net because someone might recklessly/intentionally jump or go over to the edge? No.

As far as management "making a statement," maybe they don't KNOW what happened. Maybe the police are investigating. Maybe they don't want to spread rumor and innuendo during a family's obviously painful time. Maybe it's not about you and your need for information. And once again, if your balcony needs babyproofing, you need to do that. Pronto.

You didn't really pay attention when you read the op right? She said she asked "to install..." and "they never allowed me to do that..."

I think op wants to install the net but they are not allowing, probably due to some stupid code.

[Anonymous]

We've had situations before where our safety has been questioned and they were quick to address it, but now they're pretending nothing happened.

Every time there's police investigation here they send us a letter.

Thought Ballston was a safe area. What else has happened?

Maybe they didn't say anything if it was a suicide because it doesn't present a threat to other residents as would be the case with criminal incidents.

[Anonymous]

It is, don't ge me wrong... we've been living here for 7 years so it's one investigation every 2 years or so... for a community of 500 apts I think it's OK...

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't quite see what the death and your babyproofing have in common. However:

1. Install everything you want, and think about finding somewhere else to live as well.

2. If they find out they can either make you remove the lot or fine you. Of course you would then counter that you HAD to install minimal safety while waiting for their response about the lease.

Your baby's safety is far more important than aesthetic concerns from a bunch of idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's your responsibility to babyproof your balcony. If something happens to your baby, it would be your own negligence, not your building, because it's your own foreseeable risk to your baby that you failed to avert as parents. Ditto someone jumping off a building. I don't know what happened in your building, but do you expect every tall building in town (in the country) to install a safety net because someone might recklessly/intentionally jump or go over to the edge? No.

As far as management "making a statement," maybe they don't KNOW what happened. Maybe the police are investigating. Maybe they don't want to spread rumor and innuendo during a family's obviously painful time. Maybe it's not about you and your need for information. And once again, if your balcony needs babyproofing, you need to do that. Pronto.

Spot on answer.

[Anonymous]

I don't get it. Did the guy choose to jump? What does his offing himself and the use of your balcony have to do with each other? Your baby probably shouldn't be on your balcony anyway. What does mgmt have to with it? Use your own discretion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't quite see what the death and your babyproofing have in common. However:

1. Install everything you want, and think about finding somewhere else to live as well.

2. If they find out they can either make you remove the lot or fine you. Of course you would then counter that you HAD to install minimal safety while waiting for their response about the lease.

Your baby's safety is far more important than aesthetic concerns from a bunch of idiots.

OP, if you fear you baby going out on tha balcony, all you have to do is get a broom handle and cut to fit bottom of sliding door.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that the management company won't allow me to do this!!!!! They can come and go as they please and they already asked me to remove all the gates and locks/handle covers we installed!!! We already got a warning. It's ground for eviction if they come in and I still have the stuff up.

We don't know if it was a suicide, homicide or accident so in any case I'd rather be allowed to lock my balcony and install the protector to the rail.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'll take you at your word that you honestly think the management company is going to let itself into your residence and remove a sawed-off broom handle that is very temporarily wedged in the floor track of the sliding glass door. And then fine you for putting that object on the floor.

(I don't believe this for a second, but whatever)

Then your recourse is to move a heavy piece of furniture in front of your sliding glass door -- such as a chest of drawers. Block the door. Easy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that the management company won't allow me to do this!!!!! They can come and go as they please and they already asked me to remove all the gates and locks/handle covers we installed!!! We already got a warning. It's ground for eviction if they come in and I still have the stuff up.

We don't know if it was a suicide, homicide or accident so in any case I'd rather be allowed to lock my balcony and install the protector to the rail.

But what does the ADULT person jumping voluntarily off the building have to do with the safety of YOUR BABY? Your logic is flawed. You're not using the balcony anyway, so just place something heavy (like a big piece of furniture) in front of the doors to it and be done with it. Yeesh.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you saying they made you remove gates from INTERIOR doorways? Likewise with under the sink locks or handle covers? If so, that is CRAZY!

[Anonymous]

Is the spacing between the bars on the balcony so far apart that your baby can slip through them? If so, they likely violate code. You should look up the Arlington County code regulations. Fairfax Co has their's online and I suspect Arlington does as well. If they do violate code, you should report them to the county code inspector. If they comply with code, your child is unlikely to slip through them. If your concern is your child will climb on the patio furniture and jump off, well, then you need to remove the furniture. If you're talking about enclosing the balcony with netting and that is prohibited by the rules, I agree with the management company that you should not be allowed to do that.

I find it difficult to believe a management company would require you to remove gates and handle covers that are within your unit. Do they not allow you to hang pictures in the unit. It's really not any different. Or, are these gates and handle covers in common space?