WASHINGTON, D.C. — After years of enduring unsafe and unhealthy living conditions at the rent-controlled Marbury Plaza Apartments in Southeast Washington, residents have scored a significant legal victory. But despite the court’s ruling, their battle is far from over.
Earlier this month, a D.C. court reaffirmed that tenants are entitled to $5 million in rent credits, rejecting a previous appeal by the property’s former owner. While this decision marks a major win, residents say the struggle for justice and livable housing continues.
Years of Neglect and Unsafe Conditions
For tenants like Barbara Cooper, who has lived at Marbury Plaza for nearly 13 years, the fight has been long and exhausting.
“It’s holy hell,” Cooper said bluntly. “You could go in your bedroom and the ceiling could fall on your head. That happened to someone just today.”
Resident Geno Dunnington, who calls himself a “long-time survivor” of the building, echoed her concerns.
“We’ve been fighting for one simple thing — a place that’s habitable and up to code,” he said.
Tenants have faced issues ranging from asbestos warnings and crumbling infrastructure to uninhabitable units. The walls of the building are now lined with warning notices, but for residents, those signs only reinforce the years of complaints they say were ignored.
A Fight That Led to Court
For years, tenants organized rental strikes, held protests, and filed legal complaints to bring attention to the conditions. Their advocacy paid off when the D.C. Attorney General sued Anthony Pilavas, then-owner of Marbury Plaza, along with Vantage Management, for endangering tenant health and safety. In 2022, the pair were held in contempt.
“They’re selling false advertising to get tenants to come here,” Cooper said. “But the reality is dangerous.”
The court awarded residents $5 million in rental credits as compensation for their suffering. Pilavas later appealed in an effort to revoke the refunds, but in July 2025, the court ruled in favor of the tenants, citing overwhelming evidence of persistent and serious violations.
Name Change, Same Fight
The apartment complex has since been rebranded as Langston Views and now operates under new ownership by Clear Investment Group. However, residents say that cosmetic changes and new names haven’t solved the underlying issues.
“We’re still fighting for restitution going back to 2017,” said Dunnington.
Neighborhood commissioner and resident Tomora Redman emphasized that this win should only be the beginning.
“We finally have something out there to show that these people deserve better,” she said.
Empowered and United
Through this battle, many residents have educated themselves on housing law, court procedures, and even bankruptcy — skills they never expected to need just to demand decent living conditions.
“You’re talking about tenants who now walk to court, attend Zoom hearings, and understand the legal process,” Dunnington said proudly.
Despite the long road behind them, residents remain united and resilient in their pursuit of justice.
“Just because I live on the Southside, don’t treat me less than,” Cooper said defiantly.
“I’m up for the fight. I always love a good fight when I’m right.”
The tenants say they will continue to push for full compensation and long-overdue improvements, determined to hold landlords accountable and ensure that Marbury Plaza — or Langston Views — is a safe place to call home.
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