Page 3 - New England Condominium March 2020

NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM -MARCH 2020 3 Yale Robbins Publisher Henry Robbins Executive Vice President Joanna DiPaola Associate Publisher Hannah Fons Senior Editor Darcey Gerstein Associate Editor Pat Gale Associate Editor Shirly Korchak Art Director Anne Anastasi Production Manager Victor Marcos Traffic Coordinator Alan J. Sidransky Staff Writer Alyce Hill Director of Sales Copyright 2020 by New England Condominium Magazine LLC, dba Community Association Publishing.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. New England Condominium is published monthly in New York, New York by New England Condominium Magazine LLC, dba Community Association Publishing, 205 Lexington Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016. 508-753-4630. ISSN 1550-946X. Periodical postage paid at New York, New York and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions are available free by request to condominium and homeowner associations. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to New England Condominium Magazine, 205 Lexington Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016. FREE Subscriptions for Board Members, Trustees, Property Managers and Real Estate Decision Makers. To Subscribe, please visit us at: newenglandcondo.com/subscribe TABLE OF CONTENTS M anaging hrough The oronavirus risis T C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. Here in the US, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has detailed recommenda- tions for individual preparation and response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. T C he hallenges of M anaging a isTresseD roPerTy D P . . . . . . . . . . 1 Despite the best intentions of board members, residents, and even managers, co-op and condominium properties don’t always run like well-tuned machines. Sometimes they hit a bump in the road... and sometimes they break down completely. The reasons behind such a breakdown can come from many directions, including financial missteps, physical plant problems, and interpersonal disputes. r elaTionshiPs on The oarD B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The motivation for volunteering to be an uncompensated (and sometimes underappreciated) condo, HOA, or co-op board member is usually a sense of civic duty combined with the desire to protect one’s own investment and quality of life. This means that the majority of board members actually live in the buildings and communities they serve. And that means that most board members are neighbors, serving with and for people who share not just common areas with them, but maybe even actual walls and ceilings. s Pring leaning C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 With the end of winter comes relief—gone are the grey skies and slush-puddles, and the promise of balmy days and sunshine is in the air. But the board of a condo, cooperative, or homeowners association cannot be content with simply waiting for April showers to bring the long-awaited May flowers. Amenities don’t maintain themselves, and neither does landscaping, pavement, or any of the host of other elements a board of trustees has to keep tabs on. CoviD Q&a. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 i nDusTry ulse P . . . . . . . . . 5 M arkeTPlaCe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Dear Readers, As the world navigates the new reality of the rapidly shifting COVID-19 pandemic, we are resolved to continue bringing you useful, relevant news and information for yourselves and your communities. For now, this means shifting our editorial focus to how the crisis is affecting our readership—whether that be safety and legal considerations for property managers and boards, alternative products and services for buildings, changing legislation and developments in government, or advice and ideas for residents and owners in co-ops, condos, and HOAs across the country. As localities increasingly recommend or require people to remain in their homes as much as possible for the duration of the pandemic, the implications for multifamily communities are constantly evolving. The adjustments that buildings and communities make will have a profound impact on slowing the spread of the virus and keeping populations safe and healthy. Yale Robbins Publications will endeavor to be a part of that process, delivering timely and proactive guidance on our website and in our newspapers, and eventually bringing industry players back together at our future Expos. We all wish you, your families, and your communities safety, health, and cooperation as we face this disconcerting time together. Sincerely, Yale Robbins Publisher A Message From Our Publisher....