Elevator Upgrade

July 28: We have one volunteer for floor duty and we're looking for five more. Please consider helping out your neighbors the renovation.

July 19: Strollers won't be easy to get up and down the stairs, even if the strolee isn't inside. We're looking for a way to provide stroller storage for you. Any suggestions? Send your ideas to Elevator@ThePinehurst.org.

July 13: The renovation will be a challenge for all of us, the elderly in particular. We're looking for kind-hearted souls who are willing to help look after their needs during the upgrade. Please let us know if you're available.

July 8: The summer issue of the newsletter comes out tomorrow, and it's packed with information on the elevator project. Watch for it under your door (or if you're an out-of-town shareholder, check your e-mail) and take a look. We're looking for volunteers to help with neighbors' groceries and for your suggestions on what the cab should look like. (Update: Out-of-towners should watch their mailboxes, not their in-boxes, for the newsletter. -July 11)

July 2: Thanks to all who answered the questionnaire we distributed in May. We've incorporated your input and suggestions into our renovation plan, which will start in the fall. The Board will host an all-residents' meeting to explain the process and answer your questions. We're looking to hold the meeting late this month or in early August. You can also ask us any question by e-mail at Elevator@ThePinehurst.org.

New, stricter laws are tougher on old elevators

     Over the last several years, the Board of Directors has been looking at options to update our elevator and make it more reliable. Maintaining the machinery, which is about fifty years old, has become increasingly costly.

     Part of the bigger expenses come from the equipment's age. But new, more strict elevator maintenance rules contribute to the cost. They came into effect in January. Read about the new rules here.

      Currently the Board is considering a modernization project. If the right bid is received and we go ahead with the plan, we would expect to begin work around September or October. 

     We intend to do the modernization within our financial means and without an assessment.
 
     We anticipate that the project will take approximately five to ten weeks to complete. The elevator will be out of service while work is in progress, meaning  residents will need to use the stairway. The Board will develop plans to lessen the impact of the elevator being out of service and will update you when a firm plan and schedule are available.

     The biggest challenge is the two main pieces of equipment, the motor and the controller. The motor runs the elevator up and down and the controller stops it at each floor. These components have survived many years past their expected useful life.
 
     Replacing them is not a matter of slipping out the old and slipping in a substitute—new ones would need to be built.  If this is done as part of a planned upgrade, the elevator will be out of service for a number of weeks.  If, however, it were done on an emergency basis, the elevator would likely be out of service for several months and the cost would likely be considerably higher. Read more about replacing elevator systems here.
 
     The Board hired a professional elevator consultant to survey our equipment and suggest options for us.  His work showed that although we could replace only the controller, the elevator would still need to be shut down for an extended period of time after which we would continue using the old motor, which could fail at any time.  The Board felt this plan was not cost-effective and would require shutting down the elevator twice, once to replace the controller and again, eventually, to replace the motor.
 
     The Board understands very well that this is a big undertaking and will significantly disrupt our daily lives. We agree that thinking outside of the box will help us make the best of the situation. For example, we may organize neighborly service for errands and groceries, arranging trash pick-up on each floor, rest areas at each landing, and help with getting up and down the stairs. We welcome your ideas, suggestions and questions. Please visit with any Board member or send an e-mail.
 
     Watch for periodic updates as new information becomes available. If you have questions, we'll answer them for you. We’ll let you know about building-wide meetings to share details as our plans develop.

     Links
     "A Witness Program for Elevators," The New York Times, explains the rule maintenance rules and why they're expensive.
    "Elevator Upgrades," by the engineering firm Rand, explains in layman's terms the costs associated with elevator improvements.
    

Capital Improvements

Recent additions and other construction work

     The Pinehurst's Board of Directors is committed not only to maintaining our home but to improving it as it enters its second century. Over the last several years, the shareholders have invested in important projects that keep the building sound and make it more enjoyable.
     Improvements to the building's energy efficiency were significant enough to give shareholders an energy tax credit equal to about five percent of their maintenance fees paid in 2009.

     Pigeons pester us as they do most other buildings (and people) in New York. So in the summer of 2009 we hired a pigeon abatement company that strung wire, hung nets, and installed other methods to harmlessly keep pigeons off our facade. The change is so dramatic that we're going to pigeon-proof the south side later this year.

                                                                                                               (C) RoughAcres/RL McKee
We hired a crew to enlarge the sidewalk opening (right) for our tree,
and to adjust the fence to fit the new space (left).

     We also upgraded our laundry machines and laundry room in 2008, added a fitness room in 2007, and installed storage cages in 2006.

... and after.