2005 Feb
2005 Feb Vol. 25, No. 2
Focus on...Communications&Technology
Resolving Property Damage Disputes
Renovating in existing, occupied buildings such as co-ops and condominiums is a challenge. There is no extra space to work in, and one little mistake can damage a number of apartments. Not only is all the space already spoken for, it's fully occupied with people who are greatly inconvenienced and annoyed by any noise or heavy work being done in or around their space - yet the work has to be done. The odds of renovation work causing some damage are great - especially in older buildings - but problems aren't inevitable. Read More
The Historic Districts Council
Though we tend to think of New York City as modern and up-to-date, this helluva town has a history spanning more than 350 years. Only a few remnants of 1654 survive to remind us of that fact, but of more recent vintage - say of the 19th century - there are whole neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Brooklyn Heights, the Upper West Side, reminiscent of that era. Some of them are protected from unrestrained demolition because they have been designated historic districts by the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). Others are not, and unless somebody looks out for them, they could vanish like their predecessor neighborhoods. Read More
Mixed Signals
Ever since the government deregulated the telecommunications market nearly ten years ago, more and more cable and satellite TV providers have been vying for our attention, constantly improving technology, service, and convenience. Read More
The City By the Bay
The neighborhood of Bay Ridge, located in southwest Brooklyn, is known for its 100-year-old houses, off-street parking and sunlight reaching between the buildings. It's also the place where Saturday Night Fever was filmed back in the late 1970's. The big city with a small-time feel has quite a colorful history that goes back more than three hundred years. Read More
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Park Slope has long been one of Brooklyn's most desirable residential neighborhoods. Windsor Terrace, south of the Slope, and Prospect Park South are also much in demand, and the part of Eastern Parkway near Grand Army Plaza has also been attracting positive attention for several years now. But would any of these areas be as sought-after if they weren't near Prospect Park? Read More
Are You In?
Tranquil gated communities in quiet suburban condo developments are probably not the first things that spring to mind when you think about New York City and its outlying boroughs. The city is known for brownstones, high-rises, and skyscrapers but there are indeed gated communities, some of which are more than 100 years old. Read More
Read All About It
Most people read a magazine or a newspaper every day, looking for the news and events that shape their world. Like a daily paper or monthly magazine, building newsletters are more than just a source of timely information, current events and pertinent business matters; they can also help foster a better sense of community among residents. But a good newsletter is more than just a Xeroxed flyer or piece of unread junk mail; it takes thought to make it relevant and readable. Read More
Netiquette 101
Gone are the days when friends and associates corresponded with each other via long, handwritten letters on lovely watermarked paper. Today, most of what gets said and done is done so via e-mail; it's faster, easier, and more convenient than sending messages by hand and waiting for a reply. Sometimes, e-mail is even quicker than the telephone. Read More
You've Got Mail
Returned quicker than a phone call and, lately, more powerful than a postal letter, e-mail has become the superman of communication for all facets of life. Today, not only are e-mails used in everyday business and for personal communication between friends and family, but e-mail has extended into the communication between physicians and patients, teachers and students, and between property managers, board members and shareholders. Read More
Hand in Hand
Some co-op boards and their attorneys are reluctant to allow their tenant-shareholders to obtain reverse mortgages. They tend to apply a forward mortgage criteria and a forward mortgage mindset to such a request - but this type of thinking I believe simply isn't appropriate. Read More
Getting Up to Speed
In today's fast-paced world, it seems technology is moving faster than it ever has. Just when you think you have the latest equipment for anything from telephones to televisions to computers, along comes something else designed to be better, quicker and more efficient. Read More
Mansions By Mouse-Click
In the past, if you were considering buying a co-op or condo apartment, you would have relied mostly upon the classified ads in the local newspapers and journals to find your broker and your new home - or perhaps you would have passed several real estate offices on your way to work or on your Sunday stroll and stopped to read the listings posted in the windows. Buyers, sellers and brokers now have another powerful tool at their fingertips"¦ their computers. As easy as it is to order pizza, groceries, or a new pair of pants, anyone anywhere in the city or around the world can visit brokerage firms online and see what listings they have to offer; all from home or office. Read More
Intelligent Buildings
Advances in technology are influencing virtually every area of our lives and for decades, condos and co-ops have taken advantage of technology to make their buildings run smoother. Things that are now commonplace - like intercom systems, video surveillance, or fire detectors - were once cutting-edge technology, so it's important for board members, management companies and employees to know what new technology is available now and recognize its potential value to shareholders. Read More
