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Green Exteriors
More often than not, when boards or associations broach the issue of their
buildings “going green,” images of bamboo flooring, hemp drapes, or solar panels on the roof suddenly
spring to mind. The impression seems to be that in a condo, green upgrades are
difficult and costly—if not impossible—to do.
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The Chicagoland Cooperator's Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo
It’s time to turn our attention to The Chicagoland Cooperator’s first annual Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo, a must-attend event for the Chicagoland area’s property managers, board members, real estate professionals, shareholders and
unit owners.
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Facade Maintenance
For those who might not know, building facades are the exterior walls of a
building—they're important not just for their architectural and aesthetic significance, but
because they're built to withstand the elements and preserve the underlying
structure.
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Deck it Out
When you consider all the different exterior components that a condo association
has to deal with, decks are sort of like the Rodney Dangerfield of the list—they rarely get any respect.
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Close Encounters of the Wild Kind
Rick Wilberschied of All That’s Wildlife in Chicago once had to catch a raccoon that had climbed 64 stories
and was sitting on an apartment building balcony. Three months ago, in Chicago’s Boystown, a mother deer found an unlikely spot to give birth to two fawns—right outside an apartment building.
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A Team Effort
As anyone who’s ever had their heat go out in the dead of winter can tell you, condo buildings
don’t maintain themselves. It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a
knowledgeable, experienced team comprised of a qualified property manager, an
experienced custodian or janitor and a competent board member to keep the
lights on and the mortar sound. But when something needs to be fixed or goes
wrong, who ya gonna call? Well, often the answer is, ‘it depends.’
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Let There Be Light
There was a time when most large residential developments relied on glaring
floodlights to brighten parking lots, front porches and entryways. Today, there
is more to exterior lighting than just chasing shadows away and discouraging
crime. Lighting is now a deliberately thought-out part of residential community
design, with a lasting impact on value.
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Breathing Easy
Keeping indoor air clean is critical to maintaining a healthy environment. The
inner workings of a building’s operating system is often a mystery to the untrained person or board member.
Since it’s easier to determine the cleanliness of common rooms such as garbage and
recycling areas, more attention is often paid to keeping these shared spaces
sanitary. However, there are no federal or state guidelines that require a
building to have its air ducts cleaned, for example, and these systems often
need attention because danger could be brewing from within.
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Green Days
Traditional household cleaners may leave sinks, floors, carpets and countertops
gleaming, but they also leave behind traces of toxic chemicals. According to
PlanetGreen.com, in any given home in America, you’re likely to find up to 10 gallons worth of potentially harmful chemicals;
Eco-friendly company Gaiam, Inc. puts that number as high as 25 gallons. When
inhaled or ingested, these substances may cause short-term discomfort like
headaches or nausea, and have been linked to long-term negative effects
including fibromyalgia, rashes, allergies, asthma and other respiratory
problems, as well as behavioral and neurological issues like ADD and Alzheimer’s—even some cancers. Not to mention the fact that the chemicals can wind up in
landfills, and thus the soil and water supply, affecting the greater
environment.
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Concrete Concerns
In Chicago, urban high-rises with sidewalk frontage and suburban HOAs containing
walking paths, parking lots, and service roads are reliant on their paved
surfaces for conducting their everyday business. Therefore, it's crucial that
buildings and associations regularly inspect and maintain their concrete.
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