DORCHESTERVOICE

THE
DORCHESTER VOICE
March/April 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Elections Coming in April................ 1
Swim Club Season......................... 1
Spring is in the Air!......................... 2
Move-Ins and Move-Outs............... 2
President’s Message........................ 3
Shredding Event............................. 4
When Is My Bill Due?..................... 4
Comcast Billing Problems?............ 4
Open Meeting: Audit Presentation
and Meet the Candidates............... 6
What’s this Fine?............................ 6
Messy Weather Items..................... 6
Bike Room......................................... 8
Occupants Not on a Lease.................8
Springtime Events........................ 10
M ANAGEMENT
Patricia Yonekawa, General Manager
[email protected]
Don Hadfield Jr., Building Engineer
[email protected]
Julie Zusin, Bookkeeper
[email protected]
Kyle Maloney, Resident Services
[email protected]
Jackie Ransom, Head Housekeeper
[email protected]
Management Office
(215) 546-1111
Elections Coming in April
The Annual Election for three (3) Open Seats has begun.
Our schedule this year is:
March 2nd
Call for Candidates letter sent out.
March 9thCandidate sheets must be received in the Management
Office no later than 5pm.
March 20thCandidate sheets and voting ballots will be mailed to
all Owners.
April 1stMeet the Candidates and presentation of the
2013/14 Audit.
April 22ndElections close at 5pm. All ballots must
be in the Management Office before
then to be considered valid.
Election results will be posted at the Front Desk
and will be printed in the May/June issue of the
Dorchester Voice.
If you feel you can contribute to the Dorchester
and would like to an opportunity to serve on Council,
be sure to bring your candidate sheet to
the Management Office by March 9th.
Swim Club Season
With spring just around the corner, it is
time for us to begin preparations for our
2015 Swim Club Season. Membership fees
for the 2015 season will be announced in
April 2015, though it is important to note
a nominal fee will be charged this year for
weekday memberships. Please remember
that a 2015 Swim Club Application must
be completed and a 2015 Membership
Card issued for pool access.
If you have any suggestions for the pool
area, feel free to email Kyle Maloney at
[email protected] or stop by
the office.
Visit our website at www.thedorchester.net
Spring is in the Air!
Events and holidays to look forward to this March and April:
Sunday, March 8th
Daylight Savings Time begins
Saturday, April 18th
Tuesday, March 17th
St. Patrick’s Day
Friday, March 20th 1st Day of Spring
Wednesday, April 22ndDorchester Elections
close at 5pm
Wednesday, April 1st
April Fool’s Day
Shredding Event
Wednesday, April 1stMeet the Candidates Night/
2014 Audit Presentation
Saturday, April 4th
Passover begins at sundown
Sunday, April 5thEaster
Move-Ins and Move-Outs
The busy season for renting
is right around the corner!
In the coming months, the
Management Office will be
flooded with requests for
move-ins and move-outs.
Kyle Maloney will have
his hands full making sure they all go smoothly, but he
will need your help to avoid any conflicts. In addition
to scheduling your move in or out early, here are a few
simple guidelines to follow:
Move-outs:
Move-ins:
• All fobs are to be returned to the Management Office
upon moving out. A $25.00 fee will be charged to unit
owners whose tenants do not return their fobs.
• All new tenants moving in MUST have a fully
executed lease with the Dorchester Addendum on file
in the office before scheduling a move-in.
• There is a $300.00 move-in fee that must be paid in
full before a new tenant moves into the building.
• New tenants must make an appointment with Kyle
before their scheduled move-in date to receive their
welcome packet, have their photo taken and be issued
a fob. Keep in mind, with the new security systems
active in the freight elevators; they will not be able to
operate those elevators without a fob.
• If no move-in is scheduled, new tenants will NOT be
able to use the loading dock.
2
• Move-out forms MUST be completed before a move
out can be scheduled. Kyle would be happy to provide
this form to anyone moving out, and it can also be
found on the website.
• Unit Owner’s are encouraged to check with the
Management Office for any outstanding bills their
tenants may owe. Unfortunately, with so many moveout’s happening at this time, we cannot be responsible
for contacting each owner with a tenant’s balance due.
• If no move-out is scheduled, tenants will NOT be able
to use the loading dock.
• Residents on auto-debit must contact Julie Zusin
([email protected]) to cancel the automatic
payments for internet, gym, and/or garage.
Any unscheduled move-ins or move-outs will result in
a fine of up to $300.00. Moves through the lobby are
expressly prohibited. Any damage caused to common
areas such as hallway walls and carpets, wall sconces and
elevators will be the responsibility of the Unit Owners.
Make sure your tenant’s moving company is insured!
President’s Message, by Ed Kurland, President
I checked
Accuweather this
morning and was
happy to see we’ve
almost made it
through the winter
and temperatures
are starting to
moderate. On
January 31st,
Punxsutawney Phil
predicted six more
weeks of winter
and we’ve made it
through 5 of those
weeks – only one
to go! Those 5 weeks of Global Warming were
really something!
With the slightly warmer weather, we’re starting our
spring cleaning. First, we’re returning to our annual
preventive maintenance projects. This winter, the 06
Units had four (yes, four) heating riser breaks leaving
them without heat for 12 to 24 hours at a time. Space
heaters helped and residents’ patience was appreciated
by staff and Council. To avoid
this from happening again, the
riser replacement project
has been revised to make
the 05/06 risers the next to
be replaced. This spring
we will be working on the
heating risers in the 06
living rooms and the 05/06
dining rooms. While we
don’t look forward to this,
it’s better than having
the riser burst without
warning, flooding and
damaging your Units
and possessions.
Feel free to contact
management with
any questions; they
will be sending out
letters with a time
schedule.
While we work on the heating/cooling risers, we’re
also continuing repairs to the garage. We’ve almost
completed half of the second level and we hope to
move faster now that the most difficult repairs on the
first and second levels are behind us. While garage
repairs are ongoing, management stopped accepting
new parkers and visitors, in order to minimize
damages to vehicles and to allow more area for the
garage attendants to maneuver in.
As work in the garage was beginning, we checked
the bike room and earmarked this area for immediate
attention. Management will soon be sending out letters
to all the bike room users asking them to hold their
bikes in their Units for a week. During that week, we
have multiple contractors set to redo the bike room.
There will be new lighting, new walls, additional
windows, new racks and the entire room will be
cleaned and painted. Hopefully, by the time the room
is renovated, we will also have a bike repair station
and an air hose installed in the front of the room.
With the major projects out of the way, I come to
Council business. It’s time to think about Council
elections again. This year there are four (4) seats open
on Council. The incumbents running are:
Allen Dubroff
Mary Lou Savarese
Ed Kurland
Frank Devine
A call has gone out to all Owners for candidates who
would like to run for office. If you have time and
would like to join Council, contact the management
office before the March 9th deadline.
Our Open Meeting/Meet the Candidates Meeting will
be held on April 1st this year. Yes we know that’s April
Fool’s Day. Each candidate running for Council will
have the opportunity to introduce himself/herself and
Dennis Connolly of Connolly, Grady, and Cha will
also present our 2014 Audit.
That’s it for now. Stay warm!
3
Shredding Event
The Dorchester will be hosting its semi-annual shredding event for our residents this spring.
The event will take place just after tax day, on Saturday, April 18th from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
Residents may take their old papers down to the loading dock to be shredded, on site, by
ProShred. If you’re unsure as to what records to keep and which to shred, take a quick
look at the guide below:
Bank Records
Individual Records
Bank Statements............................7 years
Tax returns – uncomplicated........7 years
Cancelled Checks..........................7 years
Tax returns – all others..................Permanent
Electronic payment records..........7 years
W-2s...............................................7 years
Corporate Records
Insurance Policies..........................Life + 3 years
Leases/mortgages..........................Permanent
Contracts – minor..........................Life + 4 years
Contracts – major..........................Permanent
4
Tax return support documents......7 years
Mutual fund annual statement......Ownership period + 7years
Home purchase documents..........Ownership + 7 years
Divorce documents.......................Permanent
Loans..............................................Term of loan + 7 years
When Is My Bill Due?
Comcast Billing Problems?
Management
has received
many questions
regarding when
payment is due for
monthly charges.
Condo and garage
fees are due on the
1st of each month
and are subject to a late fee if received after the 10th
of the month. Gym and internet fees are also due
on the 1st of the month. If you do not pay your gym
and/or internet fee on or around the 1st, a reminder
will be sent out mid-month. If the bill is not paid
timely, a late fee will be applied to your account.
Residents may wish to sign up for the Dorchester’s
auto debit program, authorizing our bank to deduct
your monthly fees from your checking account each
month. You can pick up an authorization form in the
management office.
If you are experiencing problems with your Comcast
bill, you must call Comcast at 1-855-638-2855.
Comcast recently upgraded their billing system, and
you may find errors in your bill, such as receiving
charges for extra standard cable boxes. Residents
at the Dorchester receive standard cable boxes, a
modem, basic cable, and HBO for free (residents
should not see a charge for the internet on their
Comcast bills, but are charged $20 monthly by
the Dorchester). Comcast will charge residents for
upgrades to service, upgrades to equipment (such as
HD cable boxes), and other equipment rentals (such as
wireless routers). If you are unsure about your billing,
you may speak to Kyle in the management office.
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5
Open Meeting: Audit Presentation
and Meet the Candidates
The next Open Meeting will be held on Wednesday,
April 1st, beginning at 7:30pm in the Ethical Society’s
main auditorium. Dennis Connolly from Connolly,
Grady, & Cha will be joining us to give our Unit
owners a presentation and summarization of the 2014
audit. Following the audit presentation, Unit owners
will hear from each of the candidates running for
Council. If any Unit owner has a question or concern
they would like addressed at the Open Meeting,
we ask the question/concern be submitted to the
management office no later than Friday, March 27th to
ensure a full and satisfactory answer can be given. you
are unsure about your billing, you may speak to Kyle
in the management office.
Messy Weather Items
With winter on its way out and spring right around
the corner, we can look forward to blooming flowers,
warmer weather and muddy boots! Your first impulse
may be to leave your rain gear (boots, umbrellas,
gloves, etc.) out in the hallway to dry before bringing
them into your home, but we ask that you remember
the Dorchester Rules and Regulations prohibit you
from doing so. Not only does this give the hallways
a poor appearance, it can also lead to carpet and wall
stains, or, even more seriously, injury if someone
trips on these items. Please be considerate of your
neighbors and follow the rules: keep your possessions
in your Unit and not in the hallways!
Dorchester Concourse
What’s this Fine?
It may not happen often, but occasionally rules are
broken and the Dorchester is left to clean up a mess we
didn’t make. Whether something gets broken and our
Housekeeping or Maintenance staff has to take care of
the issue, or there is blatant disregard for a rule and the
Management Office is left to pick up the pieces, there are
consequences for these actions. As a Unit Owner, you
are ultimately responsible for your tenant’s actions. Any
and all fines incurred by a tenant
will be applied to the Unit
Owner’s account and it
will be up to you to
collect from your
tenant. For a full
listing of these fines,
visit our website.
6
We realize the yellow foul weather barriers are
not attractive. Unfortunately with the slip and falls
that occur during bad weather, it’s a necessary evil.
Both Management and Council are actively seeking
alternatives to these barriers that
are both aesthetically pleasing
and effective. We appreciate
your understanding as we
work to make The Dorchester
concourse both safe and
appealing. We also invite your
suggestions as we consider
carpeting, non skid finishes,
and barrier ideas, or perhaps
you would like us to leave
the area open to access with
only warning cones. Let us
know what you think.
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Bike Room
Spring is on the way, and as the weather warms, the streets of Philadelphia will see the return of those Philadelphia
bikers! Biking is an excellent way to enjoy Fairmount Park, get around in Center City and even cut down on your
carbon footprint. The Dorchester is equipped with a convenient bicycle storage room right in the garage. There is a
small annual fee of $15.00 and the room can be accessed anytime with your key fob. In order to keep the bike room
organized and usable, all bikes must be registered with the Management Office and issued a permit. We will be going
through the bike room checking to make sure all bikes have a clear permit sticker on them. Any bikes without a sticker
will be removed and donated. If you are currently storing a bike in the bike room, please check to ensure it has a permit!
As always, if you have any suggestions for the bike room, please feel free to let the
Management Office know.
The bike room will also be getting a touch up this spring,
having its walls painted, floor coated, and will even have a
repair station installed just outside the room. During this
process, the bike room will need to be emptied. Notices
and emails will be sent out to notify residents when this
work will take place. At that time, all bikes must be
removed from the bike room. Any bikes left in the bike
room will be considered abandoned. Once the bike room
is ready to hold bikes again, all bikes will need to be reregistered with the management office.
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Occupants Not on a Lease
Have you and your girlfriend, boyfriend or significant
other decided to take the next step and move in
together? Is your son, daughter, mother or father
moving in with you? Is a friend staying with you
for an extended period of time? In any event, the
Management Office needs to know about it! If you
are a Unit Owner, this is as simple as having your
new occupant visit the Management Office with you
to fill out a quick info sheet and have his/her photo
taken. If you are a tenant, the new occupant will either
need to be added to your lease, or your Unit Owner
will have to sign off on our Occupant Registration
form. With the new security
measures being implemented
in the building, it is more
important than ever to
keep us in the loop!
Feel free to stop by
the Management
Office with any
questions.
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Springtime Events
Represent: 200 Years of African American Art
Philly Farm & Food Fest
Now through April 5th, the Philadelphia Museum
of Art is featuring more than 75 works by dozens
of African American artists. Museum goers can
find engaging works ranging from pre-Civil War
decorative pottery to 20th-century abstract paintings,
as well as politically motivated multimedia displays.
To learn more about this exhibit, or to purchase
tickets in advance, visit www.philamuseum.org.
The Philly Farm & Food Fest brings together regional
farmers, unique food producers, sustainable food
businesses and organizations under one roof for a
day of sampling, shopping, and learning in support
of our region’s diverse and delicious food system.
The third annual Fest will be held on Sunday, April
12th at the Philadelphia Convention Center. This year
will feature double the exhibitors as compared to last
year, bringing in dozens of new growers, producers
and business owners. Make sure to bring a bag
with you to carry home your local meats, cheeses,
plants, and baked goods! For more information, visit
phillyfarmfest.org!
Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival
Sponsored by the Japan America Society of Greater
Philadelphia, the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival
takes place in and around the Philadelphia area.
Attending events and gardens is a great way to
experience Japan without ever leaving Philly!
This year the festival runs from Monday, April 6th
to Sunday, April 12th. The Festival closes with
Sakura Sunday, on Sunday, April 12th in Fairmount
Park’s Horticulture center, home to hundreds of
blooming cherry trees. For more information on the
festival, as well as event locations and times, visit
subarucherryblossom.org.
10
Philadelphia Science Festival
The 4th annual
Philadelphia Science
Festival kicks off on
Friday, April 24th and
will run until Saturday,
May 2nd. The festival
will feature lectures,
debates, hand-on
activities, special
exhibitions, and a variety
of other informal science
education experiences for Philadelphians of all ages.
Activities will take place throughout the City, so
make sure to check out the calendar on their website
for more information. The Festival will close with a
Science Carnival on the Parkway on Saturday, May
2nd. Visit their website at philasciencefestival.org.
THANK YOU
Your LOYALTY AND TRUST helped us sell these homes in the past 12 months.
505 S. Philip * 205 Dorchester * 15H Academy House * 105 Pier 5* 2413 Hagert*
410 S. Front #406* 1811 Lombard* 234 S. Philip* 2B25 The Philadelphian * 1610
Hopkinson House* 800 Admiral’s Way #1834* 210 Locust Street #28G* 1420 Locust
#22O* 2506 Symphony House * 37B Penns Landing Square* 9GHJ Wanamaker
House* 233 S. 6th Street #2309* 1101 Locust Street #4H* Rittenhouse Savoy #212*
1709 Dorchester* 210 Locust Street #24C* 216 Dorchester* 210 Locust Street #18F*
Hopkinson House #307* 2031 Pine #201* 1420 Locust Street #33E* 757 S. Chadwick*
1420 Locust St. #32H* 31L Academy House*1205 The Rittenhouse* 1417 Dorchester*
210 Locust Street #2H* 804 S. 19th Street* 9L Wanamaker House * 1101 The
Rittenhouse* 1837 Addison Street* 27C Wanamaker House *2808 William Penn
House*1420 Locust Street #34H*409 Tivoli* 220 Locust Street #22G* 22B Penns
Landing Square*220 W. Rittenhouse Square #10A* 1420 Locust Street #21R* 210
Locust Street #15F** 201 Queen #8* 125-27 N. 4th #310*2508 Symphony
2412 Letterly Street **217 Dorchester*703 Dorchester*200 Locust #29E**
322 S. Juniper St.**200 Locust #28E* 214-30 N. 22nd #12B* 2030 Locust Street *
900 Pine #1F **10 Rittenhouse #2804* 1230 Arch Street #3E* 903 W. Montgomery
Ave. #504 *600 S. 24th #503** Center City One #1806 * 510 S. 20th Street **
506 S. 26th Street
**PENDING SALES SOLD IN 2014 AND DUE TO CLOSE IN 2015
*410 Front Street #406 * 200 Locust Street #29E* 322 S. Juniper Street *
200 Locust Street #15F*
th
600 South 24 Street #503* 903 Pine #1F* 510 S. 20th Street *2412 Letterly Street
1818 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103 *215-893-9800
SELLING THE DORCHESTER SINCE 1980
Some of our most recent sales at The Dorchester
306 • 403 • 410• 418 • 503 • 505-06 • 610 • 615A •
701 • 809 • 811 • 812 • 904 • 1006-07 •1018 •
1102 • 1118 • 1417 • 1613 • 1716 • 1803 • 1806 •
1914 • 1918 • 2002 • 2015B • 2102 • 2113 • 2508 •
2509 • 2616 • 2808 • 2913 • 2914 • 3001 • 3004 •
3009• 3016 • 3115 • 3118
Thinking about buying or selling a Dorchester condo?
Call us. We get the job done.
Architect’s rendering of The Dorchester, 1958
Allan Domb Real Estate
The Dorchester, 2015
PHILADELPHIA’S LARGEST LUXURY CONDOMINIUM REALTOR®
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Phone: 215-545-1500 | Web: allandomb.com
1845 Walnut Street, Suite 2200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Dorchester Condominiums
226 W. Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103