Re: The building

[EveL]

Jonathan, that's awful. Sorry to hear that...
Perhaps going through Suzanne Grappa will expedite the requests. but
i totally agree with you - waiting so long is unacceptable. And
what's up with that light bulb farce - Ken is totally wrong on that
one.
My experience is quite different - BUT i always email Suzanne Grappa
my maintenance requests. She puts on the web and we get response the
same day! I just asked her last friday about shower door handle and
bathtub's closure thingie - and Arthur stopped by at 10pm that friday
to see if i wanted it repaired asap or saturday is ok.... He did it on
saturday in less than 30min. I was actually bragging about the turn
around time to my friends...
dishwasher - after i do dishes, i just leave it open and let it air
dry after the cycle overnight. my doesn't have that smell anymore.
I'm using regular soap. the machine is probably not powerful enough
to have big vents to dry stuff. This is my first dry washing machine,
so i assume they all need to be left open for a few hours.
Let me know if you need Suzanne's email.
On Oct 8, 11:30 am, Jonathan Heines <jhei...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've lived here for about 2 1/2 months, I have to say that I've put 2
> maintanence requests on the building link website during that time -
> the first one took 4-5 weeks for them to even notice and fix and the
> more recent one, after 2 1/2 weeks and me calling the front desk a to
> look in to it (replacing a bedroom lightbulb) a number of times over
> that period, I finally emailed the building manager. I said how its
> ridiculous for it to take 3-5 weeks to see a repair request
> considering how much we pay in common charges.  Then he told me he
> will get on the lightbulb replacement but asked me if someone told me
> that I need to supply the bulb. I said no one has said ANYTHING to me
> and I have no clue what type of bulb to get since its so high up on
> the wall. After going back and forth where he (Ken) was just stubborn
> he finally said He will supply the bulb but bill me for it! What $2??.
> I said to him thats ridiculous and that if it takes weeks to notice
> repair requests when the building is 50% full I shutter to think about
> when the building fills even more.
>
> Also, the dishwasher, considering its Bosch (high end), after the dry
> cycle everything is still damp and stinks!!! whats up with that?? I've
> used scented dishwasher soaps but they do nothing.

[M Chen]

I recently changed my light bulb and the handyman did it on the same day. If it is a minor repair/fix, don't bother to use the maintenance request form on the building site. I just went to the front desk and asked them to send someone over right away. And they did. I also did not pay for the new bulb but it is probably due to the kindness of the doorman.
As for the dishwasher - have you tried leaving the door shut for the whole night (assuming you wash your dishes after dinner)? I usually just leave the door closed the whole night and the next day, the dishes are not only dry but no smell. The one caveat is that the beeping noise after each cycle can be annoying when you leave the door closed longer. I just ignore it. ;) The model operates on condensation dry to save energy. Therefore, leaving the door closed longer or like what Eve suggests, you can open the door slightly after each cycle to let the steam out. Also try to avoid plastic items. If this gives you any comfort, if you google Bosch dishwasher, many are complaining the same. Guess maybe in future, we can invest in a new one but for now, I am getting used to it.

[jeanette zwart]

I've lived here for over 2 years, and was told about a year ago that I had to provide my own light bulbs.  I do not have a problem with that, but they absolutely should post, via the website,  the types of bulbs used.  And such a long wait time is unacceptable.

 

I had a similar experience waiting for a response to a service request in the summer, when requesting fresh AC filters.   There was absolutely no response despite several follow up postings, and an email via the "feedback" form to Ken Gelman and Ian Levine.  Nothing.  I finally went to the front desk and called Danny Real, but I agree that this is completely unprofessional.  Jonathan, Ken's response to you is shocking but unsurprising in my experience.

 

Eve -- thanks for the tip about going through Suzanne Gappa.  I'll try that in the future.

 

It is helpful to hear others' experience with this issue of service requests.  We are far overdue a building meeting, and if it ever happens, this issue should definitely be raised.

 

And others have suggested the work-around for the dishwasher; I do the same and it seems fine.

 

You all should be aware that you need to replace your AC/heating unit filters every three-to-four months, especially if you have pets. Otherwise you risk ruining your compressor -- a $1000 repair, as I discovered much to my dismay.  The filters are non-standard sizes so you cannot purchase them at retail; the building has to provide them.  Last time I did it, they made noises about charging for the replacement.  I told them that I was ok with being charged, as long as the policy was clearly spelled out -- which it is not.

[jpbla...@yahoo.com]

It's been hit and miss with us- some things they come up the same day and some days it will take 8 weeks. I always go through Suzanne or Danny as well. They are great but staff are always rushed and so busy.

I think that despite the fact that we are paying common charges the building is understaffed. It feels like developer working with skeleton crew until a board is elected and tenants eventually take over.

A grocery store is so needed down here... I just wonder if the rumors about one coming are true.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

---

From: jeanette zwart <zwart.j...@gmail.com>

Sender: ob...@googlegroups.com

Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2010 18:20:11 -0400

To: <ob...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: ob...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: The building

[jeanette zwart]

It's been a stated goal on the part of the management company from the beginning, to have a grocery in one of the retail spaces.  It's more than time!

[Aaron Karp]

Apparently we're getting a pet supply store soon. We could all just learn to enjoy canned dog food.

[Jonathan Heines]

Haha. That's ridiclous. Get a grocey store/deli/convience store in here ASAP. Its insane that there isn't one... Once a lease is signed it will still take time to set up the place... And we aren't even at lease signing yet. I really wonder about the people in charge here sometimes...

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

---

From: Aaron Karp <aaro...@gmail.com>

Sender: ob...@googlegroups.com

Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 11:29:31 -0400

[Aaron Karp]

I've lived in a brand new (2 year old) luxury building in chelsea until now and in the entire time I've been here they still haven't filled the big retail space. Once a year they lease it out to an art exhibit and that's it. So I'm not entirely surprised to see the same from obbp

Sent from my Android device

On Oct 9, 2010 11:32 AM, "Jonathan Heines" <jhe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Haha. That's ridiclous. Get a grocey store/deli/convience store in here ASAP. Its insane that there isn't one... Once a lease is signed it will still take time to set up the place... And we aren't even at lease signing yet. I really wonder about the people in charge here sometimes...
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Aaron Karp <aaro...@gmail.com>
> Sender: ob...@googlegroups.com
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 11:29:31
> To: <ob...@googlegroups.com>
> Reply-To: ob...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: The building
>
> Apparently we're getting a pet supply store soon. We could all just learn to
> enjoy canned dog food.
>
> On Sat, Oct 9, 2010 at 7:49 AM, jeanette zwart <zwart.j...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> It's been a stated goal on the part of the management company from
>> the beginning, to have a grocery in one of the retail spaces. It's more
>> than time!
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Oct 9, 2010 at 9:13 AM, <jpbla...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> It's been hit and miss with us- some things they come up the same day and
>>> some days it will take 8 weeks. I always go through Suzanne or Danny as
>>> well. They are great but staff are always rushed and so busy.
>>>
>>> I think that despite the fact that we are paying common charges the
>>> building is understaffed. It feels like developer working with skeleton crew
>>> until a board is elected and tenants eventually take over.
>>>
>>> A grocery store is so needed down here... I just wonder if the rumors
>>> about one coming are true.
>>>
>>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From: *jeanette zwart <zwart.j...@gmail.com>
>>> *Sender: *ob...@googlegroups.com
>>> *Date: *Fri, 8 Oct 2010 18:20:11 -0400
>>> *To: *<ob...@googlegroups.com>
>>> *ReplyTo: *ob...@googlegroups.com
>>> *Subject: *Re: The building