I WANT THAT ONE | Main | The WTO
November 18, 2003
IF ALL ELSE FAILS
CREATE YOUR OWN COOP.
My neighbor, who was gracious enough to let the Time Warner man tromp through her back yard yesterday on the quest for my missing broadband, and I have been talking about joining our (non-existent) coop board. Since our building has a sponsor, there is no official tenant board that governs the daily workings and maintenance. I read in my coop book that he had attempted to give up governing rights last year, however could not because of lack of tenant interest.
Well, we're interested. We have a basement filled with old crap and no storage, and would very much like to install some washer and dryers down there. I'd like to landscape our front yard plot, which is badly overgrown. In all, we'd like to spruce the place up a bit...after all, it could only increase the value of our apartments.
I'm a little unsure of how to go about creating a coop board. We're going to try and have a "house meeting" at some point soon to figure out who actually owns and who rents. From there, we're going to submit a letter of interest to the management company and coop attorneys. Then what?
I never thought I'd want to be on a coop board, though the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Maybe I just want an excuse to pick through the junk in the basement. Who knows. Maybe it's power. Perhaps then, I can reject hopeful buyers based on the pedigree of their schnauzer. But I doubt it.
I wonder if Irving could be on the board.
Posted by callalillie at November 18, 2003 8:39 AM | Home Improvement
Be warned, Corie, that co-op/community boards can be more contentious than the U.S. Senate. My folks have discovered, in their Port Jeff townhouse utopia, how unbelievably hostile these things can be. Lawsuits between neighbors, threats, ongoing arguments about mere inches of property. Hopefully your building mates can make nice, but you know how that saying goes: "A limited amount of power regarding flower pot color and basement shelving units corrupts absolutely."
Off with thar heads!
Posted by: Will at November 18, 2003 1:05 PM
Yes, but remember where your parents live. Actually, my parents have encountered some of the same squabbling at their condo board. I don't see how anyone would argue with increasing the value of their apartments, but then again, you never know.
Honestly, I just want to landscape the front and a get a recycling bin!
Posted by: callalillie at November 18, 2003 1:08 PM
my friends have a coop in windsor terrace, with an established board. they had trepidations about getting involved, but when they did they found that pressure was pretty low. the tenants care enough to have the board but not enough to get in each other's business too much. you gotta figure, if you're just starting one up, it'll be a long while before you have to worry about coop politics getting in the way.
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at November 18, 2003 3:06 PM
