Rain Gutter Repair Complete!

Building 33 finally has a fully functioning rain gutter from top to bottom. 

Good job, new BOD and Maintenance crew!

Rain Gutter Cleaning by Maintenance Worker

With all the water damage that happens to our buildings, resulting in high refurbishment bills to unit owners, it is apparent that a cost-effective and important maintenance item is keeping our rain gutters fully functional. Yet, in all the years that I've lived here I have never seen our maintenance staff clean out a rain gutter. 

I was happy to get these pictures from the Property Management of a maintenance worker engaged in the arduous and important work of cleaning out the gutters on building 47.  Now, only 46 buildings left to do!

Roofing Repair, Building 40

Construction Projects Around the Property

Building maintenance and renovation has been a difficult issue for many years here at TAJ. Any effort to make things better is met with suspicion, resentment, resistance, and even anger from the parties involved. It would probably be easier to do nothing than to face the difficult issues that arise with such an endeavor. That's why I appreciate that something is being done right now. They may not be doing the job to perfection, but at least it is getting done. The construction probably involves uncomfortable financial costs to unit owners, but at least the property will have more value because of the work that is being done.

I'm glad that work is being done on the buildings, whatever problems that might arise because of it. The only thing worse than those problems are the problems that arise from doing nothing.

Nova Building Construction license

Busy Maintenance Crew

Several new light poles and lights are being installed, with mostly great results.

Pole 78 is crooked.

Light 77 stays on all day.

Several buildings are getting much needed work done. In the past we paid general contractors to do all the work and we paid a premium.  It appears that we are using our own maintenance crew to do much, if not all of the work this time.  I have not seen the numbers but I suspect that will result in significant savings to unit owners.

Change of Staff

Apparently there has been a change in the Property Management staff. I do not yet know all the details, but Beth G. is reportedly not in the office anymore, and there have been changes in the maintenance crew.

More details will be provided as they become known.

New Parking Spaces: Great Solution, but New Problem?

In the picture below you see two cars parked on 9th Court. Before yesterday the car on the right (near the building) would have been parked legally and the car on the left (near the canal) would have been parked illegally. But that changed yesterday and now it is legal to park on the canal side of the road but not on the building side of the road. Anyway, I think that is what is happening. I do not recall receiving any notice or flyer or other form of explanation from the BOD or Property Management regarding the parking change. The maintenance crewman that did the painting said that he added 10 new parking spaces and removed 2 old ones.

The old yellow parking stripes,on the building side of the road, were "blacked-out" and new yellow stripes were added on the canal side of the road (pictured below). I assume that the sign that reads "no parking, Fire Lane" will eventually be removed from where they painted parking places in front of it (below, top-right picture).

There is no question that the extra parking spaces are greatly appreciated. The big question, though, is whether the new parking scheme will create an unsafe traffic situation. Parked cars along the road will narrow the street so much that two cars may not be able to pass each other. Worse, there is a blind corner at the end of the newly painted parking area.

Tree Trimming

Trees are being trimmed in preparation for the coming hurricane season. The Association is saving money by doing the work ourselves with the help of the rented cherry-picker.

Our Condolences

The Management Office sent out the following message in a mass email:

"It is a sad day here at TAJ, Robert Gregson (Robbie ) our maintenance man, has had a loss in his family. Sorry to say he has lost his mother this Easter Sunday. The Community would like to take any donation you would like to give to help him in his time of need. Please drop your donation at the office by Friday April 17, 2009 . Thank you for your support."

We are sorry for your loss, Robbie.