2008 Nov
2008 November Vol. 28, No. 11
Focus on...Building Maintenance
Intelligent Buildings Technology
Technological applications to residential building life are becoming more prevalent, and in some cases, they’ve even become more affordable than in the past. An “intelligent” building is able to monitor its environmental, mechanical, and lighting (among other) systems, through a computerized network of electronic devices. Maintenance, communications, security, and other residential building functions are now being handled by these new systems, whose upgraded operations are helping building personnel do their jobs more effectively. Read More
If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It
As technology leaps forward, countless pieces of formerly indispensable equipment become obsolete, outdated, and replaced. In light of these technological advances, it’s interesting to think of the things that have not changed—inventions that function the same way today as they did when they were first introduced, having warded off replacement by newer, shinier incarnations. The short-list of timeless classics would have to include the Hula-Hoop, the Slinky…and the roof tank? Yes, the rooftop water tanks that dot the New York City skyline. Read More
Doing it Yourself, and When to Call a Professional
No matter how conscientious your residents, no matter how dedicated your super
and support staff, it’s inevitable: your building’s common areas are going to take a beating. Foot traffic can damage flooring,
and everything from luggage to people’s hands can add wear-and-tear to walls and fixtures. There are steps your
building’s staff can take, however, to lessen the potential for damage done, and to
repair it once it happens. Here’s what you need to know, and when you’ll need to call in the professionals to keep your common areas looking their
best.
Read More
More Than Just Scratching the Surface
Whether a building is old or new, built of stone, brick, glass or some other
material, trouble with or damage to its façade is a serious emergency. Telltale signs of building breakdown on the outside—a growing crack or crumbling mortar for example—is unintentionally advertising to potential residents that the building is,
sadly, being poorly maintained. Anyone who can see the deterioration on the
exterior will rightly wonder how well management is taking care of the
interior.
Read More
The Role of the Super
The co-op we owned in Astoria was a huge brick prewar building. Three of its sides were either attached to other buildings or else sealed off by
high barbed-wire fencing. The only way into the building was the front door, and that meant going through
the lobby, past the super’s apartment. Read More
Dealing with Building Violations
No matter how conscientious your residents, no matter how dedicated your super and support staff, it’s inevitable: your building’s common areas are going to take a beating. Foot traffic can damage flooring, and everything from luggage to people’s hands can add wear-and-tear to walls and fixtures. There are steps your building’s staff can take, however, to lessen the potential for damage done, and to repair it once it happens. Here’s what you need to know, and when you’ll need to call in the professionals to keep your common areas looking their best. Read More
Transitioning from Sponsor to Board Control
Building a successful enterprise from the ground up involves the talent and
commitment of dozens—if not hundreds—of people. It’s no different with a co-op or a condo, especially in the earliest days of its
existence when it makes that transition from sponsor-run to board-run.
Sometimes that transitional road can be bumpy, and it can be a challenge
turning the seeds of a co-op or condo into a full-grown, fully functioning
community—especially if the sponsor and the board in question don’t always see eye to eye. If all of the parties involved can maintain focus and
keep the greater good in mind, however, the effort ultimately will pay off. Read More
When Repairs Need to Be Done
When you live in a Manhattan co-op or condo, one of the things that you need to
be aware of is what sort of building systems exist on the property, and more
importantly, which of these you are accountable for. Read More
Finding the Money
Taking the plunge and renovating an existing multi-family building to be more energy-efficient is an important and exciting endeavor. The long-term financial payback from increased energy efficiency in a building is well documented. These significant potential savings, while tempting, doesn’t always seem to be enough to encourage people to make the necessary upgrades to their own buildings. To renovate a building can require a considerable initial investment and capital expenditure that can easily dissuade people from choosing to go through with a project. Securing financing and paying for a project can be difficult and is getting more complicated as financial markets are tightening. Thankfully, there are options available to help a residential building finance a large construction project in the short term to allow them to take advantage of the long-term financial benefits? Read More
Preserving a Unique Heritage
New York City has long been defined by the wide array of ingredients and
seasonings thrown into its cultural pot. Though the flavor of the Big Apple has
changed and evolved constantly over the years, at the city’s center are the deep-rooted ethnic neighborhoods that make New York the diverse
place it’s always been. And of those neighborhoods, Little Italy has always held a
special place in the city’s history. Read More
Letting the Sun Shine In
From paying $15 to travel 10 gridlocked blocks in a taxi to shelling out about
$10 for a kosher deli sandwich, New Yorkers are used to paying through the nose
for the privilege of living in their beloved city. But the dollars really add
up, and they don’t stop at transportation and entertainment. Fuel prices continue to climb as
well, and as city dwellers are forced to pay more and more to heat, cool, and
power their homes, real estate developers and building administrators are
looking for alternative ways to power their buildings while saving themselves
and their residents money. Read More
