Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2011 Co-op City Times
Vol. 46 No. 32
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Status report: Most remaining major capital projects nearing completion BY BILL STUTTIG The latest in a series of comprehensive capital projects status updates released by Riverbay management earlier this week and published in the Co-op City Times this week (see page 7) reports that 18 major capital improvement projects undertaken in the community, most made possible by the 2004 recapitalization refinancing, are either 100% complete or nearing completion by the end of 2011. According to the report, major capital improvements fully completed within the last few years include: new elevators for all 35 buildings, shopping centers and garages (179 elevators in total); new common area lighting in all buildings, much of it financed through a matching government energy grant; eight garages reconstructed; a new cogeneration plant which includes a new high pressure boiler, two new gas turbines and a new steam turbine; a new garbage transfer facility; nine new playgrounds, two new ball fields and one new Greenway; a new security command center which controls
more than 600 security cameras, many of them state-of-the-art digital; 59 new compactors in high-rise buildings; the Peartree garbage transfer facility, and 65 upgraded lobby convectors in all high rise buildings. According to the report, 16 of the community’s 35 buildings have had all their capital improvements completed. Among the major capital improvement projects not yet completed in the remaining buildings but still progressing towards final completion is the massive window replacement project which is now nearly 85% complete with just four buildings yet to be started and two additional buildings currently in progress: Building 32, which is 78% complete, and Building 31 which is 45% complete. The four remaining buildings expected to be completed by next year are Buildings 1, 2, 3 and 5. According to the report, as of July 29th, a total 119,835 windows and 4,961 doors have been replaced with (Continued on page 2)
National Night Out goes Hollywood BY BILL STUTTIG More than 700 shareholders enjoyed refreshments, music, information on available services and activities both inside and outside the community and, most importantly, a free movie under the stars as Riverbay and the Riverbay Fund, in association with Public Safety, the 45th Precinct, and Assemblyman Mike Benedetto presented the commu-
nity’s annual National Night Out Tuesday evening. Dora B. Schriro, the City Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, was on hand to present a Proclamation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg thanking Riverbay and the 45th Precinct for annually staging one of (Continued on page 3)
Captain Russell Green of the 45th Precinct and Michelle Sajous, Director of Community Relations for Riverbay, accept a Mayoral Proclamation from the city’s Corrections Commissioner Dora Schriro honoring the Precinct and Co-op City for consistently staging successful National Night Out celebrations each year. Photo by Bill Stuttig
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HCR considers proposed carrying charge increases BY JIM ROBERTS Co-op City residents have their chance to send written comments or speak in person about the proposed 1% carrying charge increases now being considered for approval by the state. Shareholders have until Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, to send written comments to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) about the proposed 1% carrying charge increase slated for implementation on October 1, 2011, to be followed by another 1% increase on June 1, 2012. HCR has also scheduled a conference on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Dreiser Auditorium when shareholders and representatives of the housing company can meet with HCR staff to discuss the proposed carrying charge increase and budget for the Riverbay Corporation. Written statements from shareholders on the application to HCR for the carrying charge increases should be mailed to Ricardo Cabodevilla, Housing Management Representative, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Housing Management Bureau, 25 Beaver St. – 6th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10004. Statements must be postmarked by Sept. 6, 2011. Officials from HCR can approve the 1% carrying charge increases as requested
by Riverbay or determine that higher increases are necessary to meet the company’s expenses over the next two years. At its June 22 meeting, the Riverbay Board of Directors approved budgets for the next two fiscal years, 2010/2011 and 2012/2013, which cover the period from April 1 of this year through March 31, 2013 and includes the 1% carrying charge increase in each year. Resolution 11-18, which was submitted by Director Eleanor Bailey, and seconded by Director Francine Reva Jones, was also approved by Directors Bernard Cylich, Leah Graham, Tony Illis, Andrea Leslie, Evelyn Santiago and Raymond Tirado. Board President Helen Atkins did not vote to approve Resolution 1-18, neither did Directors Bill Gordon, Daryl Johnson, Othelia Jones, Rev. Dr. Calvin E. Owens, Al Shapiro and Khalil Abdul-Wahhab. Total expenses in the budget rise from $191.75 million in 2010/11 to $191.971 million in 2011/12 and to $198.482 million in 2012/13. Tight controls over spending for everyday operations will limit the projected department spending increase in 2011/12 to just 2.2% more than last year, a $2.1 (Continued on page 4)
Water tower replacement to begin later this month on Building 19 BY BILL STUTTIG The task of replacing Co-op City’s five rooftop water towers, all of which are approximately 40 years old, and in varying need of replacement, is scheduled to begin later this month, according to management. Riverbay’s Director of Maintenance, Mike Sanders, said this week that work should begin later this month on the Building 19 water tower, which serves the residents of Buildings 17 and 18 as well as 19. Building 19 was chosen as the first replacement because the roof is due to be replaced as well and it only makes sense to complete the new water tower before the new roof is installed. The water tower on Building 19 is also in the most urgent need of repair. In a memo to the Riverbay Board of Directors last week, Herb Freedman, principal of Co-op City’s management agent, Marion Scott Real Estate Inc., explained: “The water towers on our tower buildings are showing their age. The water tower on Building 19 is in serious need of repair/replacement. The Building 19 roof is about to be replaced
hence it only makes sense to put a new water tower before we replace the roof. Due to leaks, the tower is an emergency.” Bids came in from known companies who replace and construct water towers earlier this summer. According to the Construction Department, Isseks Brothers, Inc., a Manhattan based water tank repair and construction firm with more than 50 years of experience, was chosen as the contractor. According to Construction, since the lowest qualified bid came in under $100,000, approval from Co-op City’s supervising agency, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, is not required, thereby expediting the project. According to Sanders, the only possible administrative detail that remains before work can begin is obtaining the rigging permits to allow the needed supplies to be hoisted up to the roof of the tower. Obtaining those permits is the responsibility of the contractor and is standard procedure for any rooftop water tower replacement project unless it can be accomplished quicker by using the (Continued on page 4)