2005 Sep
2005 Sep Vol. 25, No. 9
Focus on...Energy Conservation
Green Buildings
With the rise of environmentalism and recycling, and the renewed emphasis on energy efficiency since the 1970s energy crisis, has come the idea of the “green building,” which are buildings that actively conserve energy. The idea first took hold in the commercial and institutional sectors, but is now gaining strength in the residential sector, including multi-family housing. Read More
Inside the Ansonia
Of all the awe-inspiring, historically significant buildings that make the Upper West Side of Manhattan so aesthetically pleasing and popular to the masses, perhaps few are as architecturally exuberant or hold such colorful history as the Ansonia building and hotel. Read More
The Mayor’s Anti-Graffiti Task Force
Just about anyone who lived in or visited New York City in the 1980s or early ‘90s probably has vivid recollections of how the city looked back then. The streets were dirty, whole neighborhoods were “off-limits” to anybody who wasn’t looking to get mugged—and the buildings, billboards, and subway system were covered in a thick, ever-changing layer of graffiti. Read More
Responding to Shareholder Complaints
One of the biggest complaints heard by attorneys, managers, neighbors, —and yes, even publications like The Cooperator—from co-op and condo dwellers is that board members do not respond promptly to shareholder/owner complaints, or worse, they don’t even respond at all. Polite inquiries and even urgent problems are met with silence, and repeated requests for action seem to fall on deaf ears. Read More
Windows on the Future
Windows—the number, shape, tint, and finish of the glass—are as much a factor in a building’s overall character as its architectural design and construction materials, and can either add or detract from a building’s curb appeal. Even the most beautiful windows lose a lot of their appeal if they’re not properly cleaned and maintained, and sometimes older models need some help to counter the realities of a modern city. Today, windows are available that can help reduce noise and UV rays, along with the usual wind, rain, and snow. Changing or upgrading your building’s windows is no weekend project—it’s expensive and time-consuming, and requires a certain amount of legwork to understand what’s on the market and what’s best for your building. As with any major improvement project, a well-trained professional can be a great help in navigating your project. Read More
Adding Value to Your Building
Co-op and condo owners and managers continue to face operations and maintenance issues that directly affect ownership costs and property marketability. Among these are: building modernization, equipment and building component repairs and replacement, controls utilization or lack of adequate controls, and, of course, wrestling with ever rising and ever volatile utility bills. Read More
Taking Out the Trash
It’s your twice-a-year, floor-to-rafters marathon house-cleaning session. You’ve recycled all your newspapers, taken your soda bottles back to the market and disposed of that fern that’s been gone for a few weeks now. Cleaning is nearly done, except for that small pile of “what do I do with those?” materials in the corner. Read More
The Heat of the Matter
The importance of a boiler to a building can’t be measured. It provides heat and circulation to its residents and, as anyone who has lived through the harsh New York winter in the past few years can tell you, that’s mighty important. So why is it that some people don’t even think about the boiler until there’s a problem? Read More
