“The trees along this city street, Save for the traffic and the trains, Would make a sound as thin and sweet As trees in country lanes.” -Edna St. Vincent Millay Trees provide us with many benefits, from the obvious to the not-so-obvio…
First impressions may not always tell the full story of a building (or a person, or a book, for that matter), but in the case of a multifamily building or HOA, the very first experience of a property—its exterior, entry spaces, even how sta…
Did you know that March 23 is World Elevator Day? Now you do. (You’re welcome.) On that date way back in 1857, the first passenger elevator was installed in the E.V. Haughwout Building—an upscale, five-story department store in Manhattan’s …
Talk to anyone familiar with common-interest community governance anywhere in the country, and they will tell you the same thing: apathy is rampant among residents of co-ops, condos, and HOAs. Not only is it difficult to get owners and shar…
With severe weather events becoming ever more common—and more intense—waterproofing your building’s envelope against rain, wind, snow, and ice is a growing concern. To counter the effects of climate change on buildings both old and new, our…
At the heart of every shared interest community is the person who makes it run. That person is known by many names: superintendent (or just ‘super’), building engineer, resident manager, community manager. Their duties and responsibilities…
Along with competent, engaged leadership, good management is fundamental to the successful operation of any shared interest community—and the basis of good management is in large part spelled out in the contract between the community and it…
New England Condominium has been reporting on matters related to multifamily living, governance, and operations for the better part of four decades, covering communities large and small throughout this northeast corner of the country. Withi…
The data is in: striking a balance between our personal and professional lives is a key component of happiness and general wellbeing. But how does one do that when one’s job is potentially a 24/7 situation? Take multifamily residential man…
All over the news, from coast to coast, reports of fires and explosions caused by lithium-ion batteries describe blazes that are out of control, difficult to extinguish, and excessively smokey. Tragically, many have resulted in fatalities a…