Intervention #1:  Video Intercom

The total cost to provide and install video intercoms in this apartment complex is $102,051. To provide video intercoms for all 180 units in Aspen Heights Harrisonburg, it would cost $566.95 each from Alpha Communications for all the components (La Veglia, Tony, March 28, 2018). The components include the video display monitors, voice recorder and camera at gate, cords to plug each display in, and installation. To give Aspen Heights a sense of how great this expense is, compared to ONE 5-bedroom unit’s rent including the average utilities price- this can be paid off in 2.5 years (30 months). Maintenance will require training about how to service these displays in case of technical difficulty. Compared to ONE 4-bedroom unit’s rent including the average utilities price- this can be paid off in 3.25 years (39 months). (Aspen Heights Harrisonburg). Yes, this is a large expense for the apartment complex, but the added security on an audio and visual level greatly increases the safety of the Aspen Heights.

 

Intervention #2:  Quick Response Code

For the quick response, or QR codes, to be effectual and maintain safety for Aspen Heights Harrisonburg, the clubhouse must be staffed 24 hours a day, 5 days a week by one person to take care of sending QR codes to services like Uber, Lyft, and taxis while emergency services use their current method of gate entry. This would cost about $9 hourly for this staff member which would come to approximately $100 per night. The only other cost incurred by this intervention is the purchase of the QR scanner which can be purchased for only $66 on eBay and on many other sites (“eBay”). Comparatively, this is about the average utilities bill for a single Aspen Heights resident, not house, per month.

 

Intervention #3:  House Keypad Code

Assigning a code to each unit and the clubhouse only costs the time spent to generate these codes and email each code to the residents of each unit. The ease of Uber, taxis, Lyft, and emergency service drivers entering the gate is quite simple because Aspen Heights Harrisonburg registers a gate access code with each of those companies.