A few weeks ago I had the privilege to sit in on Judge William Pileggi's court call.
My developer, Carlton Knight, was back in court about the Marquette building.
It's been over two years since the city filed a lawsuit in an attempt to compel Mr. Knight to bring the back porch into code compliance.
Two years of continuances. Two years of not bringing the porch into compliance.
With that in mind, I left the south side and went to see Mr. Knight's latest court appearance about this matter.
Sadly, his case was moved up in the call and I missed his appearance.
As a bonus, I did get to see him outside of the courtroom.
And no I did not hiss at him as I passed by.
I seized the opportunity to see the wheels of justice in motion and stayed for the rest of court.
To see people who are overwhelmed with trying to do right by their homes and their communities is a humbling event.
I have a Ph.D from the school of hard knocks with a minor in getting my ass kicked.
But it was also gratifying to see the judge give irresponsible home owners and landlords the business.
Honestly speaking, that comprised only a few of the cases but it was still fascinating to witness.
Judge Pileggi genuinely and honestly seemed to fairly balance the needs and resources of the home owner, the codes and laws of the city of Chicago and the safety of the community.
In short, he seems like a stand up guy.
Which makes me wonder if his good nature is being taken advantage of.
Showing posts with label Back Porches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Back Porches. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Here Comes The Judge, Part 2
I just don’t get the Honorable William Pileggi.
He seems like the real deal.
He’s cosigned on common sense initiatives and has even received an award from Neighborhood Housing Services.
From what I’ve been able to find on the web and glean from my lawyer friends, Judge Pileggi is okey doke.
He seems like a jurist who will put some bite and muscle into the maze of building codes in our fair city.
This makes his rulings concerning the property at 1512-1514 E. Marquette and Mr. Knight all the more troubling.
Court records indicate that on numerous occasions Judge Pileggi has given Mr. Knight more than enough time to comply with the City’s order.
My question is why was he granted so many chances?
If I can find the numerous actions filed against Carlton Knight in Cook County court system, surely he can as well.
One would think that those records alone would serve as a litmus test of Mr. Knight’s actions & behaviors.
Clearly I’m in the minority on this one.
As a result case number 2007-M1-402799 has been dragging out since October 4th of 2007.
But as I was recently mulling over the judges’ actions, I took a gander across the way and saw something miraculous.
A brand new porch.
Maybe it’s because I rarely look out of my back window or raise the shade. Perhaps with the sun rising earlier and setting later, it gave me an extended opportunity to gaze across the way.
Whatever the reason, that looks like new porch construction to me.
If the porch is new, I would be the first to tell you that I have no clue why Mr. Knight would all of a sudden comply with the city’s order.
I could offer up any number of theories but it would be a waste of both blog space and your time.
The bottom line is that the porch was built.
Now whether it’s up to code is the city’s call.
He seems like the real deal.
He’s cosigned on common sense initiatives and has even received an award from Neighborhood Housing Services.
From what I’ve been able to find on the web and glean from my lawyer friends, Judge Pileggi is okey doke.
He seems like a jurist who will put some bite and muscle into the maze of building codes in our fair city.
This makes his rulings concerning the property at 1512-1514 E. Marquette and Mr. Knight all the more troubling.
Court records indicate that on numerous occasions Judge Pileggi has given Mr. Knight more than enough time to comply with the City’s order.
My question is why was he granted so many chances?
If I can find the numerous actions filed against Carlton Knight in Cook County court system, surely he can as well.
One would think that those records alone would serve as a litmus test of Mr. Knight’s actions & behaviors.
Clearly I’m in the minority on this one.
As a result case number 2007-M1-402799 has been dragging out since October 4th of 2007.
But as I was recently mulling over the judges’ actions, I took a gander across the way and saw something miraculous.
A brand new porch.
Maybe it’s because I rarely look out of my back window or raise the shade. Perhaps with the sun rising earlier and setting later, it gave me an extended opportunity to gaze across the way.
Whatever the reason, that looks like new porch construction to me.
If the porch is new, I would be the first to tell you that I have no clue why Mr. Knight would all of a sudden comply with the city’s order.
I could offer up any number of theories but it would be a waste of both blog space and your time.
The bottom line is that the porch was built.
Now whether it’s up to code is the city’s call.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
2008 Version
A lot of things got sacrificed this year due to unemployment but the garden wasn't one of them. Don't worry kids, I caught the end of the stock sales in mid June and put both the back and front gardens down for a steal.
Seriously.
We all have little things that keep us sane and grounded; gardening just happens to me mine. I shudder to think of the bundle of joy I'd be without watering and deadheading flowers.
Despite the fact it went down pretty late in the season, I think everything has grown in nicely.
For your viewing pleasure---the back porch.
Seriously.
We all have little things that keep us sane and grounded; gardening just happens to me mine. I shudder to think of the bundle of joy I'd be without watering and deadheading flowers.
Despite the fact it went down pretty late in the season, I think everything has grown in nicely.
For your viewing pleasure---the back porch.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Makin' It Rain
I realized that it’s been awhile since I’ve reported on the antics of my favorite developer, Carlton Knight.
Last September, I wrote a post about a building that’s being converted by Mr. Knight needed major corrective work, despite the fact it was currently on the market.
According to DCAP an application was submitted to replace an existing porch.
I think any rational person can agree that it was a step in the right direction.
But that little voice inside my head told me there had to be more to this story. So I took a little trip down the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office to dig up any possible paperwork.
Let me tell you folks, that was the best $1.75 I ever spent on a bus ride. The court papers did not disappoint.
So I don’t bore you I’ll cite a few samplings from the 27 page filing:
“Defendants Carlton Knight and the 1512-1514 E. Marquette LLC (‘The LLC’) are the developers of the subject property.”
“Beginning on or about January 2006, Defendants Carlton Knight and 1512-1514 E. Marquette converted the 6 unit apartment building that is the subject property to condominiums. That conversion required extensive renovations.”
“Defendants Carlton Knight, the Trust, and the LLC financed the renovations with a construction loan valued at $1,202,000, which included approximately $600,000 for the acquisition of the property.”
“Defendant Carlton Knight applied for several permits for the property. Defendant Carlton Knight failed to secure a certificate of occupancy for the property.”
The best part comes in the following eight counts the city alleges against Mr. Knight:
1. Failure to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.
2. 56 separate building code violations.
3. Fines aren’t enough motivation to correct these issues, the city wants to building put into a receivership.
4. Making false statements of material fact.
5. Failure to obtain a general contractor’s license.
6. Failure to obtain a residential real estate developer’s license.
7. Failure to obtain a business license as a general contractor.
8. Failure to obtain a business license as a residential real estate developer.
My particular favorite is in count 4 (false statements of material fact) the city alleges:
“On August 18th, 2006, Carlton Knight applied for a permit for work being done on the subject property with the Department of Construction and Permits.”
“The application stated that the project was valued at under $10,000. The true value of the project was over $400,000.”
“Carlton Knight failed to disclose the true costs of work undertaken to rehabilitate the property when he falsified the amount of the rehabilitation project, and as a result violated 1-21-010 (2006).”
“Carlton Knight has violated and continues to violate section 1-21-010 of the general provisions of the municipal code by his continued failure to disclose the true costs of the work undertaken as required by DCAP and his knowingly falsifying his original application for a permit.”
I know each and every one of your are shocked by all of these allegations.
And just so you don’t die of curiosity, a few of the 56 separate building code violations range from the condition of the back porch, to inadequate lighting at an exterior entrance to the basement.
I cant imagine why the city would have a problem with various electrical code issues and failure to arrange mechanical ventilation or warm air heating system final inspection when the work was completed---do you?
I have to give the Department of Buildings and the Coporation Counsel mad props as they just seemed to finally inspect and document everything I’ve been writing about for the past two and a half years.
Only time will tell if the repairs are made or if Mr. Knight squeaks through another loophole.
Methinks the city just “made it rain” all over shady bootleg developers.
'Bout time.
Last September, I wrote a post about a building that’s being converted by Mr. Knight needed major corrective work, despite the fact it was currently on the market.
According to DCAP an application was submitted to replace an existing porch.
I think any rational person can agree that it was a step in the right direction.
But that little voice inside my head told me there had to be more to this story. So I took a little trip down the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office to dig up any possible paperwork.
Let me tell you folks, that was the best $1.75 I ever spent on a bus ride. The court papers did not disappoint.
So I don’t bore you I’ll cite a few samplings from the 27 page filing:
“Defendants Carlton Knight and the 1512-1514 E. Marquette LLC (‘The LLC’) are the developers of the subject property.”
“Beginning on or about January 2006, Defendants Carlton Knight and 1512-1514 E. Marquette converted the 6 unit apartment building that is the subject property to condominiums. That conversion required extensive renovations.”
“Defendants Carlton Knight, the Trust, and the LLC financed the renovations with a construction loan valued at $1,202,000, which included approximately $600,000 for the acquisition of the property.”
“Defendant Carlton Knight applied for several permits for the property. Defendant Carlton Knight failed to secure a certificate of occupancy for the property.”
The best part comes in the following eight counts the city alleges against Mr. Knight:
1. Failure to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.
2. 56 separate building code violations.
3. Fines aren’t enough motivation to correct these issues, the city wants to building put into a receivership.
4. Making false statements of material fact.
5. Failure to obtain a general contractor’s license.
6. Failure to obtain a residential real estate developer’s license.
7. Failure to obtain a business license as a general contractor.
8. Failure to obtain a business license as a residential real estate developer.
My particular favorite is in count 4 (false statements of material fact) the city alleges:
“On August 18th, 2006, Carlton Knight applied for a permit for work being done on the subject property with the Department of Construction and Permits.”
“The application stated that the project was valued at under $10,000. The true value of the project was over $400,000.”
“Carlton Knight failed to disclose the true costs of work undertaken to rehabilitate the property when he falsified the amount of the rehabilitation project, and as a result violated 1-21-010 (2006).”
“Carlton Knight has violated and continues to violate section 1-21-010 of the general provisions of the municipal code by his continued failure to disclose the true costs of the work undertaken as required by DCAP and his knowingly falsifying his original application for a permit.”
I know each and every one of your are shocked by all of these allegations.
And just so you don’t die of curiosity, a few of the 56 separate building code violations range from the condition of the back porch, to inadequate lighting at an exterior entrance to the basement.
I cant imagine why the city would have a problem with various electrical code issues and failure to arrange mechanical ventilation or warm air heating system final inspection when the work was completed---do you?
I have to give the Department of Buildings and the Coporation Counsel mad props as they just seemed to finally inspect and document everything I’ve been writing about for the past two and a half years.
Only time will tell if the repairs are made or if Mr. Knight squeaks through another loophole.
Methinks the city just “made it rain” all over shady bootleg developers.
'Bout time.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Shocking
Well Ladies and Gentlemen it was bound to happen sometime.
A building that’s being converted by Carlton Knight has to have major corrective work performed after it’s already been on the market.
That isn’t that unusual believe it or not.
Many times individuals purchase into a “phase” of a condo development prior to all of the work being completed.
Then of course these associations usually tend to be larger than a six flat.
From what I understand three of the six units of the building have sold.
It does give one pause to wonder if the people who plunked down their hard earned cash knew that the permit to replace and/or repair the plumbing, the hot water fixtures, flooring and kitchen cabinets had the final data review on the 8th of this month?
I have to ask my friends who know this type of stuff if the data review is supposed to be completed prior to any sales.
Moreover, if the data review on a permit is completed after some people have already closed, what guarantees will they have to ever get a certificate of occupancy?
Just a few questions whirling about my little brain---don’t mind me.
Anyhoo…
The major corrective work on this building concerns the porches.
Apparently that bad boy isn’t up to current city code.
Hell, standing on my back porch and looking across the way I could of told them that.
Per the DCAP website it seems that an application has been submitted to replace an existing back porch.
Boy oh boy I bet that won’t come cheap.
Getting the new porch plans through DCAP, demolishing the existing porch and building a new porch is costly. I’m gonna ball park it at about $30,000-$40,000.
Of course you could do it on the cheap but this bad boy must pass a city inspection. A real city inspection---not the ones that happened with a wink and a nod back in the day.
See how the bad things that you do come back to bite you in the ass?
Karma is a mother, eh?
We’re getting a new sidewalk, Carlton has to come out of pocket for big money and the Cubs won another nail biter.
This is a good day.
A building that’s being converted by Carlton Knight has to have major corrective work performed after it’s already been on the market.
That isn’t that unusual believe it or not.
Many times individuals purchase into a “phase” of a condo development prior to all of the work being completed.
Then of course these associations usually tend to be larger than a six flat.
From what I understand three of the six units of the building have sold.
It does give one pause to wonder if the people who plunked down their hard earned cash knew that the permit to replace and/or repair the plumbing, the hot water fixtures, flooring and kitchen cabinets had the final data review on the 8th of this month?
I have to ask my friends who know this type of stuff if the data review is supposed to be completed prior to any sales.
Moreover, if the data review on a permit is completed after some people have already closed, what guarantees will they have to ever get a certificate of occupancy?
Just a few questions whirling about my little brain---don’t mind me.
Anyhoo…
The major corrective work on this building concerns the porches.
Apparently that bad boy isn’t up to current city code.
Hell, standing on my back porch and looking across the way I could of told them that.
Per the DCAP website it seems that an application has been submitted to replace an existing back porch.
Boy oh boy I bet that won’t come cheap.
Getting the new porch plans through DCAP, demolishing the existing porch and building a new porch is costly. I’m gonna ball park it at about $30,000-$40,000.
Of course you could do it on the cheap but this bad boy must pass a city inspection. A real city inspection---not the ones that happened with a wink and a nod back in the day.
See how the bad things that you do come back to bite you in the ass?
Karma is a mother, eh?
We’re getting a new sidewalk, Carlton has to come out of pocket for big money and the Cubs won another nail biter.
This is a good day.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Easy Come, Easy Go
Yes, I’m still dealing with the repairs to our back porches.
Lucky for the association I’m unemployed and can spare the time to make sure these repairs are done properly.
Now the Porch People did come out about a week and a half ago and made 95% of the needed repairs.
It’s just that last 5% that needs to be completed.
Naturally the only person who was bilingual (English & Polish) had to leave the site; my attempts to communicate with the rest of the crew was futile.
They only did what the bilingual master carpenter directed them to do. Any further repairs weren’t going to happen that day.
I was on the phone to the Porch People before the work crew left our property.
The rest of the repairs needed to be scheduled so we could be done with this business.
Of course a game of phone tag ensued.
It seems that my phone calls to the master carpenter were about as useful as dialing for Oprah tickets.
As luck would have it, the office manager is out for a few weeks.
My persistent phone calls to the office paid off as someone else finally picked up the office manager’s messages.
He said that he would have to check schedules but the work should be able to get done shortly.
I’m kind of afraid what “shortly” means.
It’s because of the Porch People’s crappy follow up they will be banished from my links at the left side of the page.
Anyone can love you when you give them $90,000 of your money, but who’s gonna slap your ass and call you Sally when you call them on the mat about the quality of their goods?
Moreover, who’s gonna give the love when the aforementioned goods need follow up care?
This blog aside, I know tons of people. When I like what you do I can (and will) talk you up.
There are so many people and businesses that get professional referrals off of me it’s absolutely ridiculous.
Apparently the Porch People won’t be one of them.
Lucky for the association I’m unemployed and can spare the time to make sure these repairs are done properly.
Now the Porch People did come out about a week and a half ago and made 95% of the needed repairs.
It’s just that last 5% that needs to be completed.
Naturally the only person who was bilingual (English & Polish) had to leave the site; my attempts to communicate with the rest of the crew was futile.
They only did what the bilingual master carpenter directed them to do. Any further repairs weren’t going to happen that day.
I was on the phone to the Porch People before the work crew left our property.
The rest of the repairs needed to be scheduled so we could be done with this business.
Of course a game of phone tag ensued.
It seems that my phone calls to the master carpenter were about as useful as dialing for Oprah tickets.
As luck would have it, the office manager is out for a few weeks.
My persistent phone calls to the office paid off as someone else finally picked up the office manager’s messages.
He said that he would have to check schedules but the work should be able to get done shortly.
I’m kind of afraid what “shortly” means.
It’s because of the Porch People’s crappy follow up they will be banished from my links at the left side of the page.
Anyone can love you when you give them $90,000 of your money, but who’s gonna slap your ass and call you Sally when you call them on the mat about the quality of their goods?
Moreover, who’s gonna give the love when the aforementioned goods need follow up care?
This blog aside, I know tons of people. When I like what you do I can (and will) talk you up.
There are so many people and businesses that get professional referrals off of me it’s absolutely ridiculous.
Apparently the Porch People won’t be one of them.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Patience
The Porch People and I seem to have a huge communication gap lately.
Not too long after I wrote my last Porch People post, I received a return phone call from my contact and an appointment was set with the master carpenter.
Of course at the appointed time he didn’t show up.
I was fit to be tied. Saying I was pissed was an understatement.
I put a phone call into my contact that very day.
Since the appointment was for last Saturday, my contact and I played phone tag on Monday.
Oh---did I mention that the appointment was set on August 9th? A full nine---count ‘em nine days before the actual appointment on August 18th.
Can you believe that bullshit?
Adding insult to injury, one of the phone messages I received from my contact was that the master carpenter actually was there and left notes on what needed to be repaired or replaced.
We paid that company $90,000 for our porches and the level of communication that we receive on follow up problems takes the form of a note left on a porch?
Are you kidding me?
I was also told that he showed up at our association around 9:25 A.M. because of “traffic.”
Our appointment was at 9:00 A.M.
It was at that exact moment my head spun around.
What happened to professionalism? Moreover what happened to common courtesy?
And at the very least what the fuck happened to calling when you were late?
I took me a full day to calm down so I could clearly and more importantly---civilly speak to my contact.
I informed him that his master carpenter being late due to traffic wasn’t my problem. When an appointment is set---it’s set. And if for some “good” reason you’re going to be late, you at least have the common courtesy to call and let someone know.
Personally speaking I think these jokers are trying to blow smoke up my ass.
I have a feeling that the master carpenter didn’t want to get off of his can and schlep down to the south side.
We have a porch that’s roughly 18th months old and has questionable structural issues and a company that seemingly doesn’t want to do anything to correct their mistakes.
I’m quickly losing my patience with this situation and the Porch People.
Not too long after I wrote my last Porch People post, I received a return phone call from my contact and an appointment was set with the master carpenter.
Of course at the appointed time he didn’t show up.
I was fit to be tied. Saying I was pissed was an understatement.
I put a phone call into my contact that very day.
Since the appointment was for last Saturday, my contact and I played phone tag on Monday.
Oh---did I mention that the appointment was set on August 9th? A full nine---count ‘em nine days before the actual appointment on August 18th.
Can you believe that bullshit?
Adding insult to injury, one of the phone messages I received from my contact was that the master carpenter actually was there and left notes on what needed to be repaired or replaced.
We paid that company $90,000 for our porches and the level of communication that we receive on follow up problems takes the form of a note left on a porch?
Are you kidding me?
I was also told that he showed up at our association around 9:25 A.M. because of “traffic.”
Our appointment was at 9:00 A.M.
It was at that exact moment my head spun around.
What happened to professionalism? Moreover what happened to common courtesy?
And at the very least what the fuck happened to calling when you were late?
I took me a full day to calm down so I could clearly and more importantly---civilly speak to my contact.
I informed him that his master carpenter being late due to traffic wasn’t my problem. When an appointment is set---it’s set. And if for some “good” reason you’re going to be late, you at least have the common courtesy to call and let someone know.
Personally speaking I think these jokers are trying to blow smoke up my ass.
I have a feeling that the master carpenter didn’t want to get off of his can and schlep down to the south side.
We have a porch that’s roughly 18th months old and has questionable structural issues and a company that seemingly doesn’t want to do anything to correct their mistakes.
I’m quickly losing my patience with this situation and the Porch People.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Excuse Me?
Would you believe that we’re getting the cold shoulder from the Porch People?
Can you imagine that phone calls or e-mails aren’t being returned---by anyone?
That after almost two years a brand new porch with what was supposed to be constructed of high quality lumber is severely splitting.
And I can’t get a return phone call?
To add insult to injury now the “answering service” is picking up.
This must be a bad dream. Is someone pulling my leg?
Perhaps I’m overreacting. Perhaps they have a European mentality about vacation and they’re taking the month of August off.
Or perhaps we’re getting the shaft.
And if we are getting the shaft do they think that I personally don’t have every step of this process documented five ways to Sunday?
They have to know that I have every e-mail and every contract about our business together.
That I will go to the department of Consumer affairs and the news papers at the drop of a hat.
I hope I get a return phone call soon---like before the end of business on Friday.
If not, I’ll consider the gauntlet thrown down and it’s on like donkey kong.
You’re not taking $90,000 of our money and giving us substandard work.
I don’t think so.
Can you imagine that phone calls or e-mails aren’t being returned---by anyone?
That after almost two years a brand new porch with what was supposed to be constructed of high quality lumber is severely splitting.
And I can’t get a return phone call?
To add insult to injury now the “answering service” is picking up.
This must be a bad dream. Is someone pulling my leg?
Perhaps I’m overreacting. Perhaps they have a European mentality about vacation and they’re taking the month of August off.
Or perhaps we’re getting the shaft.
And if we are getting the shaft do they think that I personally don’t have every step of this process documented five ways to Sunday?
They have to know that I have every e-mail and every contract about our business together.
That I will go to the department of Consumer affairs and the news papers at the drop of a hat.
I hope I get a return phone call soon---like before the end of business on Friday.
If not, I’ll consider the gauntlet thrown down and it’s on like donkey kong.
You’re not taking $90,000 of our money and giving us substandard work.
I don’t think so.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Oy! or Infastructure-a-go-go
With an older building there is always some maintenance issue that needs to be addressed. Truthfully it seems like there are more issues or potential issues to be dealt with than hours in the day (or willing volunteers).
Or the short way to say it is there's always something.
The porches that are a little over a year old are already having problems with severely splitting wood and rails coming apart from the posts.
Our porches should have that type of weathering in year eleven or twelve, not going into year two.
You know I'm all over it with the Porch People. Naturally any lack of timely response to my e-mails from my neighbors is slowing the process down significantly. I mean people pissed and moaned about the porches at our last meeting yet haven't responded to an e-mail asking them to detail their concerns.
Jesus take the wheel.
You'll be hearing alot of that phrase in the future. 'Cause at this point, I just have to put it in Jesus' hands 'cause I can't do any more.
Anyhoo...
I'll send another e-mail and post signs in the foyers to give people a last ditch effort to throw in their two cents. After that, Mama takes over.
The latest drama is that someone got a barbecue grill stolen off of their back porch highlighting the back fence issue and one of our buildings has a Noah's Ark type flood going on in the basement.
God I hope my vintage Christmas ornaments aren't ruined.
Jesus take the wheel.
Or the short way to say it is there's always something.
The porches that are a little over a year old are already having problems with severely splitting wood and rails coming apart from the posts.
Our porches should have that type of weathering in year eleven or twelve, not going into year two.
You know I'm all over it with the Porch People. Naturally any lack of timely response to my e-mails from my neighbors is slowing the process down significantly. I mean people pissed and moaned about the porches at our last meeting yet haven't responded to an e-mail asking them to detail their concerns.
Jesus take the wheel.
You'll be hearing alot of that phrase in the future. 'Cause at this point, I just have to put it in Jesus' hands 'cause I can't do any more.
Anyhoo...
I'll send another e-mail and post signs in the foyers to give people a last ditch effort to throw in their two cents. After that, Mama takes over.
The latest drama is that someone got a barbecue grill stolen off of their back porch highlighting the back fence issue and one of our buildings has a Noah's Ark type flood going on in the basement.
God I hope my vintage Christmas ornaments aren't ruined.
Jesus take the wheel.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Let There Be Light
The lights are finaly going up on the back porches.
Ladies and gentlemen, I can finally see the end of the tunnel.
Since an open roof option was chosen, the lighting system that we previously had wouldn't work. When it rained, the fixtures would fill up with water and the last time I checked water and electricity didn't mix.
We found the electrician via The Porch People and had him come out and do an estimate a few months ago. One of the last things I remember presenting to the rest of the board was his estimate but it took around three months to pull the trigger.
Truthfully there may have been scheduling problems as this is the high season for construction and home improvement work. Getting a construction permit in the city of the Chicago ain't exactly a speedy thing as well.
Then of course, that's not really my direct concern anymore is it?
I'm just happy the work is being completed and we can finally put a fork in this project.
Now if only paying for it was that easy.
Ladies and gentlemen, I can finally see the end of the tunnel.
Since an open roof option was chosen, the lighting system that we previously had wouldn't work. When it rained, the fixtures would fill up with water and the last time I checked water and electricity didn't mix.
We found the electrician via The Porch People and had him come out and do an estimate a few months ago. One of the last things I remember presenting to the rest of the board was his estimate but it took around three months to pull the trigger.
Truthfully there may have been scheduling problems as this is the high season for construction and home improvement work. Getting a construction permit in the city of the Chicago ain't exactly a speedy thing as well.
Then of course, that's not really my direct concern anymore is it?
I'm just happy the work is being completed and we can finally put a fork in this project.
Now if only paying for it was that easy.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Gutter Ball
I never knew it took so long to seal roofs and re-attach gutters.
These guys have been at it since last Thursday and the only progress I can see is the roof line has been trimmed back on all three buildings and the board has been attached right under the roof line on one building.
Perhaps because we're so eager to be 95% done with the project (we still have a lighting system to reattach) that it seems that progress is crawling at a snail's pace.
I just hope that all of this work can be done prior to the next deluge from the heavens.
These guys have been at it since last Thursday and the only progress I can see is the roof line has been trimmed back on all three buildings and the board has been attached right under the roof line on one building.
Perhaps because we're so eager to be 95% done with the project (we still have a lighting system to reattach) that it seems that progress is crawling at a snail's pace.
I just hope that all of this work can be done prior to the next deluge from the heavens.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Deluge
Who knew not having gutters would be such a pain in the ass?
With our recent spate of snow melts and early spring rains, our gutterless association is taking a drubbing.
While some of us aren’t affected by the recent soggy weather, some of my other neighbors are being soaked to the bone.
Why? Since there are no gutters to catch the run off, water is streaming down the building and in some cases through my neighbor’s back windows and into their units.
Obviously we need to seal the roof from where the porch roof was taken away and reattach the gutters. All of the remedies have been set in motion to make this happen as quickly as possible.
The other important point that this brings to the forefront is the poor quality of workmanship performed on our building during the “rehabilitation.”
There should be no reason for water to come pouring into and around a window frame if the façade of the building and the window was installed properly. Perhaps it may also be a tuck pointing issue.
All I know is that you should not be greeted with buckets of water pouring into your home at 1:00 in the morning.
With our recent spate of snow melts and early spring rains, our gutterless association is taking a drubbing.
While some of us aren’t affected by the recent soggy weather, some of my other neighbors are being soaked to the bone.
Why? Since there are no gutters to catch the run off, water is streaming down the building and in some cases through my neighbor’s back windows and into their units.
Obviously we need to seal the roof from where the porch roof was taken away and reattach the gutters. All of the remedies have been set in motion to make this happen as quickly as possible.
The other important point that this brings to the forefront is the poor quality of workmanship performed on our building during the “rehabilitation.”
There should be no reason for water to come pouring into and around a window frame if the façade of the building and the window was installed properly. Perhaps it may also be a tuck pointing issue.
All I know is that you should not be greeted with buckets of water pouring into your home at 1:00 in the morning.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Rounding Third
We’re $3,300 to the good.
At least $3,300 to the good as far as the porches are concerned.
The third porch is up and relatively speaking only nominal work needs to be completed. But if you’re an avid reader of this blog, you realize that not only is it all in the details but those details, or rather the lack of management of those details have come back to bite us in the ass in the past.
While this time was shaping up to mimic the our recently history, we finally broke with tradition.
As the final preparations were being made for cutting the final check to the Porch People for constructing our porches, a thought popped into my little head---review the contract. Make sure we’re getting what we’re paying for.
Sure enough, there was a big inconsistency.
Per the contract we’re being charged a set amount for twenty-two footings of a certain construction. I only counted that sixteen of those footings were constructed per the contract.
Six of the footings were not constructed per the contract and thus I didn’t understand why we were being charged the full amount.
I made sure that our project manager knew about my concerns.
Less than three hours later, we had a $3,300 credit.
Of course I was reassured that despite the six footings not being per the contract, they were still code compliant and structurally sound.
You know I’m going to try and get that in writing don’t you?
At least $3,300 to the good as far as the porches are concerned.
The third porch is up and relatively speaking only nominal work needs to be completed. But if you’re an avid reader of this blog, you realize that not only is it all in the details but those details, or rather the lack of management of those details have come back to bite us in the ass in the past.
While this time was shaping up to mimic the our recently history, we finally broke with tradition.
As the final preparations were being made for cutting the final check to the Porch People for constructing our porches, a thought popped into my little head---review the contract. Make sure we’re getting what we’re paying for.
Sure enough, there was a big inconsistency.
Per the contract we’re being charged a set amount for twenty-two footings of a certain construction. I only counted that sixteen of those footings were constructed per the contract.
Six of the footings were not constructed per the contract and thus I didn’t understand why we were being charged the full amount.
I made sure that our project manager knew about my concerns.
Less than three hours later, we had a $3,300 credit.
Of course I was reassured that despite the six footings not being per the contract, they were still code compliant and structurally sound.
You know I’m going to try and get that in writing don’t you?
Monday, February 20, 2006
The Trifecta
It appears that major construction on all three porches has been completed. Now for those small things like the roofs being sealed and the gutters...
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Photos
Well snapfish can't link a photo album to a blog so if you want to see Phase I of the porches, you'll have to click on the "View My Complete Profile" link to get to my contact information so you can e-mail me.
Once you send me your e-mail address, I'll be able to send you an invitation to view the photos Please note that snapfish registration may be required to view the complete album. Don't shoot the messenger; these are their rules---not mine.
Frankly I think the progress that our porch crew has made has been nothing short of amazing.
Once you send me your e-mail address, I'll be able to send you an invitation to view the photos Please note that snapfish registration may be required to view the complete album. Don't shoot the messenger; these are their rules---not mine.
Frankly I think the progress that our porch crew has made has been nothing short of amazing.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Home Stretch
The third porch was lying in a pile of broken wood by the end of last Friday.
It continued to lie on the ground until yesterday.
I guess seeing our porch crew work on a few Saturdays made me think that that they would be working every Saturday. Apparently that is not the case.
Then of course the recent cold snap of weather may have played a part in the rubble not being removed until yesterday.
So at this point we have two quasi-completed porches (about 90%) and a clean slate on the last building.
Due to the temperatures, it’s more than likely concrete will not be able to be poured until it warms up a bit. Hopefully everything will be completed---lock, stock and barrel some time before St. Patrick’s Day.
I’m working on a porch photo album on snapfish. I’ll post when it’s completed and instructions on how to view the contents.
It continued to lie on the ground until yesterday.
I guess seeing our porch crew work on a few Saturdays made me think that that they would be working every Saturday. Apparently that is not the case.
Then of course the recent cold snap of weather may have played a part in the rubble not being removed until yesterday.
So at this point we have two quasi-completed porches (about 90%) and a clean slate on the last building.
Due to the temperatures, it’s more than likely concrete will not be able to be poured until it warms up a bit. Hopefully everything will be completed---lock, stock and barrel some time before St. Patrick’s Day.
I’m working on a porch photo album on snapfish. I’ll post when it’s completed and instructions on how to view the contents.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Let's Play Two
Porch number two is all but complete.
Our crew started demolishing the third and last porch this morning and there should be a big empty space where it stood when I return home tonight.
Our crew started demolishing the third and last porch this morning and there should be a big empty space where it stood when I return home tonight.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
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