A group of residents at Chestnut Hill Tower (CHT) have formed a neighborhood watch in the wake of what they say are ongoing maintenance issues and recent safety concerns, including thefts and car break-ins.

On the morning of Sept. 23, residents awakened to find several cars in the complex’s parking lot at 7600 Stenton Ave. had been vandalized. According to police, 12 cars were broken into in the 7600 block of Stenton Avenue with either the passenger or driver’s side window broken, and various items stolen.

Photos provided by residents show shattered windows and damaged car interiors. One video sent by a resident shows several cameras on the property. After the break-ins, residents say the building’s front entrance, which is typically locked at night, was left unlocked.

Mike, a Tower resident who asked to be quoted under his first name, told the Local, “Recently, things have escalated to a point where I don’t feel safe anymore. … Our front door has been open for the last few days, set to unlock when it’s usually set to lock.”

He added, “We’ve had neighbors have their car stolen, and we’re told that the cameras don’t work. We’ve had neighbors say that their packages are stolen. The cameras don’t work.”

The car break-ins, along with thefts inside the building, have led to a handful of residents forming the neighborhood watch. Mike also raised concerns over what he said was slow maintenance response from management, and leaks and cracks around the building. He said the car break-ins have been an ongoing issue.

Photos and videos provided to the Local by Mike show leaks in his apartment and water damage in the hallway carpet. In an email exchange to management, Mike complained that it had been over a month since he requested they fix the leaks.

One resident, who asked to be called Alex, told the Local that his car was broken into on Sept. 23, with his insurance not covering the repairs. He asked the Local to quote him anonymously because he is on a year-to-year lease and Philadelphia has limited protections for tenant retaliation.

“I was going on patrol out in the parking lot to kind of see if the perpetrators are coming back at all, so I can actually catch them in the act. But yeah, the last week and a half or so has been terrible,” Alex said. “When me and the other residents were coming forward with [complaints about safety], the lady inside the management office was literally just shrugging it off, like just any other day, she was acting like it wasn’t her problem.”

He added, “It’s really frustrating that it’s the neighbors here who have to come out and join hands together and form a neighborhood watch.”

The property is run by Eagle Rock Properties, based in New York. In a statement to the Local, company spokesperson Bernard Brown said, “We take all feedback seriously and remain committed to providing a safe, well-maintained, and welcoming community at Chestnut Hill Tower.”

He added, “As with any large residential property, challenges may arise from time to time. Our focus is always on addressing issues promptly, keeping lines of communication open, and making improvements on a regular and ongoing basis.”

The statement emphasized a number of steps the company said it has taken to improve the living experience at CHT, including new LED lighting and upgrading camera systems, an upgrade of the call box entry system, coordinating with local police, and “prioritizing maintenance requests, particularly urgent items such as water intrusion to reduce disruption for residents.”

Longtime resident complaints

Stephanie Perrine, a resident of CHT for over 10 years, told the Local that these issues are not new, and says she has had a contentious relationship with management over the years.

“There’s a lot of water leaks and a lot of cracks in the walls, but they’re not keeping up on that,” Perrine said. “They just keep patching things. And when I called [the Department of Licenses and Inspection (L&I)], I specifically asked them for whoever they dispatch or whoever is assigned to a building to call me … The lady, when she got to the building, instead of calling me, she went to the office.”

Perrine said that over a year ago, when she filed a complaint, management found out through the L&I representative that she was the one who complained to 311.

In a statement to the Local, L&I spokesperson Shemeka Moore said, “When our inspectors respond to a complaint, they are required to contact the complainant to gain access if needed. If contact cannot be made, they are still expected to investigate the matter to the best of their ability. In buildings with security or management staff, such as high-rise or commercial properties, inspectors must state the reason for their visit and identify the areas requiring access.”

The statement continued, “Inspectors are strictly prohibited from disclosing any complainant’s name. However, in cases where unit access is needed, building management can often determine the resident based on their internal records.”

When residents previously complained to L&I about leaks, Perrine said that management caulked and painted over cracks and leaks around the building, but then the issue continued to get worse.

Beginning in May, management began charging tenants a monthly $20 renters insurance fee, according to Perrine and Alex. Both say they provided management proof of their own renters’ insurance, but continue to be charged.

“I have faxed over to [building maintenance] my insurance, and they said they don’t have it. So I went to the office last week, and I spoke to someone, but now she’s telling me where to send [the documents]. Now it’s in Ohio, it’s a P.O. box in Ohio.”

Alex echoed Perrine’s issue, saying that he attempted to provide proof of insurance to the post office box in Ohio, “but the front management keeps saying, like, ‘Oh, we never got it.’”

Perrine said that over the years, she and other residents have attempted to organize and form a tenants’ association, but have met with retaliation. The most recent attempt she was involved in was in 2023.

“They actually told me they weren’t going to renew my lease unless I promise to stop organizing. And I was like, ‘You can’t tell me that.’ I was like, ‘Okay, fine, I won’t do it,’” Perrine said. “When we had a meeting, we were going to have it in the basement, in our community room, and they locked us out of the community room.”

Philadelphia law does require a “good-cause” reason for a landlord issuing a lease nonrenewal, but that law only applies to leases that are for less than one year. Perrine is now on a month-to-month lease and plans to move, which she said has made her more comfortable about speaking out.

Philadelphia’s “Good Cause” bill was signed in 2019 by then-Mayor Jim Kenney, which outlines habitual nonpayment, nuisance activity, and substantial damage as some of the “good cause” infractions permitting nonrenewal.

City Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke previously introduced a bill amending Philadelphia code to modify the requirements related to good cause for ending a tenancy, adding protections against retaliation and harassment for tenants and tenant organizations. His office plans to reintroduce his proposal bill in committee as soon as possible.

Perrine said that tenants had planned to contact the news before, “but then people are afraid.”

In its statement, Eagle Rock said, “We also want to emphasize that we value our residents’ voices. We respect their right to organize and to share feedback with us, and we encourage open communication so we can continue working together on community improvements.”

It added, “Chestnut Hill Tower is more than just a building, it’s home to many long-term and new residents. We remain dedicated to their well-being, and to partnering with both residents and local authorities to keep the community safe, comfortable, and well cared for.”

Tommy Tucker can be reached at Tommy@Chestnuthilllocal.com.