FRONT DOOR FOBS AND KEYS
Your front door electronic key fob unlocks the front doors of both East 13th St. and East 14th St.
Your door key unlocks all the following:
- East 14th Street front and stairwell doors.
- East 13th Street front and stairwell doors.
These doors should NEVER be left open or unlocked. Shareholders are responsible for anyone they let into the building. If you need additional keys, you may have them made at a hardware store or locksmith, or you can purchase additional keys or electronic key fobs from the Co-op at cost.
ELEVATOR KEYS
Do not use the “fire key” to operate the elevators. Use of the “fire key” is illegal and can result in a substantial fine by the Fire Department. Each apartment was given two elevator keys at no cost. In the event a shareholder loses an elevator key a new one will be provided at cost. It is difficult to obtain copies of these keys from hardware stores, and such copies may not work correctly. Therefore, if you lose your elevator key, please contact the Superintendent or a Board member to secure a new key. Also, since the elevator key represents a measure of the building’s security, please be sure to guard your keys at all time.
APARTMENT KEYS
Shareholders must provide the Superintendent with a copy of the keys to their apartment. These keys will be kept in a lock box and used only in case of emergencies or at your request if you misplace your keys. The keys are coded in such a way that only the Super knows whose keys are whose.
If you do not provide a set of keys, and the Co-op must enter your apartment by drilling out or otherwise removing your locks, you will be responsible for those costs. The Co-op will not re-install locks for that shareholder or be responsible for securing the contents of any apartment entered under these circumstances.
MAILBOX KEYS
Residents have keys to their mailboxes. Our Post Office, Cooper Station, NY 10003, is located at the corner of 11th Street and Fourth Avenue.
INTERCOM
The building is protected by an intercom system in each apartment. All visitors must identify themselves to the satisfaction of the shareholder before entering the building. NEVER ADMIT ANYONE TO THE BUILDING WITHOUT ASCERTAINING THEIR IDENTITY. Your safety and that of your neighbors depends upon it.
HEAT, ELECTRICITY, WATER AND GAS
Heat is provided by a gas boiler located in the 13th Street basement and a steam piping system that runs throughout the building. The building invested in a major upgrade of the heating system in the fall of 2002 to ensure that heat is more evenly spread throughout the building and the fuel is more efficiently utilized. Our building is old and difficult to heat evenly. Not every apartment can be heated to the same level at all times. Nor is it possible to provide individually controlled heat to each apartment at a price that the Co-op could afford.
If you experience either overheating or too little heat, please let the Managing Agent know. The Co-op can suggest ways to increase or decrease the amount of heat in your apartment. Shareholders, however, are responsible for the installation and maintenance of radiators and the steam piping that serves them once such piping emerges from the wall of each apartment. The Co-op has the authority to require shareholders to repair radiator units that leak, make banging noises, or do not work properly.
Electricity for hallways, intercoms and elevators is provided by the Co-op.
Electricity for individual apartments is the responsibility of the shareholder who occupies the apartment.
Water bills are paid by the Co-op, and thus by the shareholders. Shareholders are encouraged to conserve water particularly in the summer months or when New York State announces water shortages.
Gas is generally not available in the Co-op. A few tenants had gas pipes installed when the building was converted to a cooperative. These gas lines are not individually metered. Therefore, the annual gas bill is divided evenly among all apartments that have a gas connection.
TRASH, RECYCLING AND DISPOSING OF LARGE ITEMS
On 13th St., household trash should be deposited in the trash chute on each floor, enclosed in sealed plastic bags strong enough to resist the fall to the compactor room without bursting. On the 14th St. side, trash should be carried to the garbage cans located in each floor’s back stairwell.
Bottles and other heavy items should not be thrown down the chute as they can damage the compactor and/or injure the Superintendent. Furthermore, paint cans and other heavy or very messy items should not be thrown down the chute. Please leave these items in the back hall and contact the Superintendent to arrange for proper disposal.
Recycling newspapers, cardboard boxes and other paper recyclables should be placed in the recycling bins on each floor. In addition, metal and plastics and glass should be replaced in the appropriate bins loosely, not inside plastic garbage bags.
Special collection must be arranged for large items such as furniture, mattresses, or construction debris that cannot be bagged. Please contact the Superintendent about proper disposal of these items.
COMPOSTING (AS OF NOVEMBER 2024)
- Residents are required to bring their food waste materials down and place them in the composting bin. The bins are on the second floor of 14th Street and in the garbage area in the back of the lobby on 13th Street. They are in place and ready for use.
- Acceptable materials for the composting bin include all food scraps, bones, dairy, prepared/cooked foods, and food-soiled paper (napkins, paper plates, coffee filters).
- Recycling and trash procedures remain unchanged.
- Drain liquids before placing food scraps in the composting bin.
- Store composting materials in a plastic bag, brown paper bag, yogurt tub, or a designated organics container. Empty the scraps into the composting bin in the basement.
- To prevent odors, store scraps in the freezer if you cannot bring them down immediately.
- Newspapers, paper bags and certified compostable bags are acceptable in the composting bin. Plastic bags may be thrown in the bin as the DSNY has a method for removing them. Hard plastic, metal, and glass are not permitted.
As a reminder, plastic, cardboard, metal, and glass should be recycled separately and not placed in the composting bin. Regular trash items including Styrofoam, pet waste, or diapers must not be thrown into the composting bin.
SPRINKLERS, SMOKE AND CO DETECTORS
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors are installed in every apartment as required by New York City Law. These smoke detectors are the responsibility of the shareholders to maintain. They should be vacuumed periodically to keep them free from dust and debris, and each detector should be tested monthly by pushing the test button, which should cause the alarm to sound.
Defective smoke detectors must be replaced. Someday, your safety and that of your neighbors may depend on it.
Each Apartment contains fire-activated sprinklers.
LAUNDRY FACILITIES
Laundry rooms are located on the 3rd floor of the 14th Street side and the 5th Floor of the 13th Street side for use by residents.
In order to use the machines, you must download an app called MyMagicPass and use the code 7-11 East 13th Street to activate it and load money digtially into it. Once the app has money loaded, you can use it in the laundry room to run the machines.
As a courtesy to your fellow shareholders please do not leave clothes in the machines after the cycle has finished. Please turn off lights and close laundry room door when you leave.
Report any maintenance problems with the laundry rooms to the Superintendent.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
The Superintendent is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Co-op building, and for making minor repairs within his skill. Major capital improvements, repairs or replacement of building systems (e.g., elevator, heat, sprinklers) are the responsibility of all shareholders and the Board as the elected governing body of the building makes decisions about implementing these types of projects.
Shareholders bear full responsibility for the maintenance of the interior of their apartments. As noted in the section on insurance, shareholders are responsible for damage caused to other apartments by leakage or flow of water or gas from any pipe, basin, tub or other equipment within the their apartments.
If repairs are required on an emergency basis, contact the Superintendent and the Managing Agent. As noted above, the Superintendent is capable of performing minor repairs, if you make arrangements with him for compensation. Any major repairs (e.g., shutting off water, heat, gas or electricity, or repairing water damage) will certainly involve the co-operation of your neigh–bors and the involvement of the Managing Agent. Therefore, the sooner you alert the Managing Agent to the problem, the quicker the problem can be fixed.
1) The Super can fix minor problems within the boundaries of your apartment such as leaky faucets or bathroom grout. You should arrange a time with the Super that is at a reasonable hour. You should pay the Super for the work he does for a fee upon which you mutually agree. Whatever that fee may be, it will be far cheaper than calling in an outside professional.
2) The super can evaluate an infrastructural problem that is affecting your apartment. Problems within the walls and problems with the roof and exteriors, for example, are usually the responsibility of the co-op to solve. That includes wiring and electrical problems or various heating concerns. The Super works with the managing agent to bring in professionals to handle such things. This can take time, and it can also require gaining access to your apartment. Unfortunately, that’s a reality of life in an apartment building, and we need to cooperate, no pun intended.
If you call a professional to address what turns out to be a building concern, the Board may not reimburse you. And the Super is not required to call in a professional until he clears it with the Board and Akam (except in the case of what he deems a true emergency). This is important for obvious financial reasons.
One pivotal reminder: if the problem affecting one apartment is caused by faulty upkeep in another apartment—shareholder A’s leaky bathtub messes up shareholder B’s walls, for example—then shareholder A will be required to pay for all resulting repairs. This is not a new rule, and it’s the reason why the Co-op requires everyone to have homeowners’ insurance and to make sure their bathrooms are watertight and their apartments are ship-shape.
3) The Super can address true emergencies such as fire or a smoke condition or a cascading leak. The Super lives here and can be reached 24/7, but only for real emergencies. He is not on call at all hours for routine maintenance.
WINDOWS
Generally, windows are the responsibility of the Co-op, except that interior window frames and sills must be painted and maintained by shareholders. If a window breaks, the Co-op will pay for its repair and will provide a basic window. In some instances shareholders have requested special windows and the Co-op is generally willing to allow such windows if the shareholder pays the additional cost. Likewise, some residents undertake to replace windows. Such replacement must be approved by the Board, through the regular alteration approval process, described below. Shareholder-installed windows become the responsibility of the shareholder. The Co-op will not replace or repair them, except by installing basic, standard windows if necessary.
Stairwells, Hallways and Fire Escapes
Stairwells and hallways and fire escapes may not be obstructed by any personal possessions. This is most definitely not a storage area. In the event that the City levies fines against the Co-op for obstructions of any kind, the fine will be the responsibility of the offending resident.
In the future, a policy may be developed allowing limited use of the stairwells for the storage of bicycles. Currently, ladders may be stored on the 14th Street side, if mounted to the walls.
The hallways may not be decorated or furnished by individual shareholders.
Children are not allowed to play in public hallways, stairways, or fire escapes and are not allowed on the roof without an adult.
EXTERMINATOR
Our building has an exterminator who provides periodic service. The Superintendent will post notice of when the exterminator is coming and shareholders may sign up to have their apartments exterminated. Our preferred exterminator is called DDS pest control, 646-853-5281
CABLE TV AND INTERNET
Currently, the only cable television service available in the Co-op building is from Spectrum. For cable hookup, please contact Sectrum. No Board approval is necessary. Cable modem Internet service is also available through Spectrum.
Under federal law, certain residents may be able to install satellite television dishes. Any such installation requires prior approval of the Board, however, to ensure the safety of the building and compliance with federal law.
NOISE ISSUES
No shareholder shall make or permit any loud or disturbing noises in the building or do or permit anything to be done therein which will interfere with the rights, comfort or convenience of other shareholders. The board reserves the right to fine residents $100 for a verified violation of this rule.