Washington Plaza

[CaptainFlannel]

carpeting in the hallway reduces noise in the hallway. And if the carpeting is the squares, it means sections of the carpet can be easily replaced.

[Lilybell]

What's up everyone!!!!  Work has been insanely busy so I haven't been here for at least 3 months.  I have so much to say.

1.  The hallway reno photos above - I'm pretty sure that is not the finished product and that there will not be carpeting. I'll see what I can find out.
2.   They are going to have to offer higher buyouts if they really want to get rid of tenants. 
3.   Welcome to all of the new people - and Dan, it was nice to meet you in the laundry room even though I was dressed like a hobo.
4.   I closed three months after the estimated date (for those of you who are still waiting for your renos)
5.   Mr P - I have photos to send you and will email them today or tomorrow.
6.  I am still waiting for some of my punch list items to be completed.  I just got a working dishwasher a few days ago (I moved in the first week of January so it took a long time). I feel very sorry for the owner because the contractors are useless jerks and it's been difficult to get them to be responsive. She is going to have to get tough with them.  I hope she has different contractors doing the lobby and gym.
7.  The gym is going to be in between the D and E buildings around the corner from the trash room, I think.  I hope we will have access to the basement for longer hours.  I would prefer to use the gym before 6am (the elevator doesn't go to the basement between 9pm and 6am). 
8.  Every board officer works for or has a relationship with Washington Plaza. I don't know how long their tenure will be - I missed the first owner's meeting.  There's another owner's meeting next week.
9.  I had even worse luck with my furniture order than with my move-in date.  It was all custom made, took 2 months longer than they said it would, and the delivery truck didn't show up three different times.  And then it showed up with crooked cushions and I am returning it all.  Grrrr. If any of you are thinking of getting furniture from joybird.com BEWARE. 
10.  Advice to new owners:  make friends with Robinson (the super).  He is a great guy and is naturally helpful but he is swamped right now with all of the changes. He works for the tenants but he is always willing to lend a hand if you are friendly to him and tip him when he is helpful to you. He has been an absolute lifesaver to me and has taken care of most of my punch list problems instead of the contractor.

I hope you are all doing well! 

[newjhuser]

Town hall meeting is next Wed at 8 in the laundry room. Do you guys know the doorman's schedule? Seems everytime I try to get something they aren't there. Also the door to door package deliveryservice has been hit or miss

[MrPlaza]

It's great to have you back Lilybell! I can't believe your punch list still isn't done! I'll be surprised if the carpeting isn't the reflective of the final product. Why put it down in the first place then? Finally, I'm excited to see the photos! They said they would finish in June. Despite this, however, given what I saw a few weeks ago, I'm also expecting a three month delay to September (putting me at an October move).

[jh35]

Yea I mean relative to the old hallways the new hall is an improvement. They did it the easy way though. Just a paint job and put carpet over the old floors. I can see the carpet getting dirty really quickly.

Did you notice the crown molding sample in picture hall-1 ?

[Lilybell]

Do you guys know the doorman's schedule? Seems everytime I try to get something they aren't there. Also the door to door package deliveryservice has been hit or miss

Hi, I don't know their set hours but they are responsible for cleaning up the grounds and lobbies so it can be difficult to find them.  I usually have good luck at around 6pm because they know people are coming home from work and want to pick up their packages.

I don't know if this has changed, but they aren't required to deliver packages door to door - some of them do it in the hopes of getting tips but others don't do it at all.  Carlos and Jose tend to deliver them.  Luis retired last week and there's a new guy who just started so I don't know what he'll do.

I hope they will create set hours where someone will be sitting in the guard booth - like from 5-7 every evening.

[N00b]

I'm closing next month and got the moving instructions.

Do we have to hire a professional moving company? The instructions provide that you need to provide a certificate of insurance from the mover to the building to schedule your move.

How strict is that? Also how strict is the carpeting requirement?

[MrPlaza]

I'm closing next month and got the moving instructions.

Do we have to hire a professional moving company? The instructions provide that you need to provide a certificate of insurance from the mover to the building to schedule your move.

How strict is that? Also how strict is the carpeting requirement?

Congratulations! I haven't moved in, but I would imagine the certificate of insurance is pretty much non-negotiable. Just about every building strictly requires one for movers.

[Simka]

Do you guys know the doorman's schedule? Seems everytime I try to get something they aren't there. Also the door to door package deliveryservice has been hit or miss

Hi, I don't know their set hours but they are responsible for cleaning up the grounds and lobbies so it can be difficult to find them.  I usually have good luck at around 6pm because they know people are coming home from work and want to pick up their packages.

I don't know if this has changed, but they aren't required to deliver packages door to door - some of them do it in the hopes of getting tips but others don't do it at all.  Carlos and Jose tend to deliver them.  Luis retired last week and there's a new guy who just started so I don't know what he'll do.

I hope they will create set hours where someone will be sitting in the guard booth - like from 5-7 every evening.

Hey Lilybell—good to see you! Remember how I laughed at the real estate rendering showing a smiling doorman sitting in the guardhouse?    I doubt anyone will be manning it during regular hours anytime soon. But I will say I have seen it occupied more often lately than it used to be (in the evenings, at least).

1.  The hallway reno photos above - I'm pretty sure that is not the finished product and that there will not be carpeting. I'll see what I can find out.

I hope you're right. Carpeting is hard to keep nice. And I don't think we need it to dampen noise—I've never noticed that our hallways were noisy, except when renovations have been going on. The way they're constructed, there isn't much echoing.

[Lilybell]

Hi - to any owners who are already living in the complex - did our maintenance fees go up?  I just received my bill via email and it's $24 higher than usual.  Does anyone know what's up with that? 

[newjhuser]

Yes around six cents a share. Was announced via a mailing package

[MrPlaza]

Yes around six cents a share. Was announced via a mailing package

Wait. What? When? Does that apply to those who haven't even moved in yet? The maintenance fee on our unit is already astronomical...

[NYC Peromyscus]

Yes around six cents a share. Was announced via a mailing package

Wait. What? When? Does that apply to those who haven't even moved in yet? The maintenance fee on our unit is already astronomical...

Maintenance goes up, almost never down! At least you don't have any assessments yet!

[newjhuser]

If you closed on it you Will have to pay

[MrPlaza]

Yes around six cents a share. Was announced via a mailing package

Wait. What? When? Does that apply to those who haven't even moved in yet? The maintenance fee on our unit is already astronomical...

Maintenance goes up, almost never down! At least you don't have any assessments yet!

I know it never goes down. But the place JUST opened as a co-op and there's already an increase?