URGENT Building Security Issue

The back door of the building is not latching properly and we had an intruder. Locksmiths have been called and should be here later today, however this has been a recurring problem, especially after heavy rain. The door is wood, and will sometimes swell after rain, making it harder for the latch to work properly.
We cannot over-stress the importance of checking to make sure the door is securely latched each and every time you go in or out of the building, and not propping the door open.
Why? "What's the big deal?" you say. Well this is the big deal. We end up with this:

This photo was taken today. If you can't tell what it is, it's basically a hobo-encampment under the back staircase.
The door was not latched securely, and one of the many homeless people we have living in the area took the opportunity to slip into the building and homestead in our basement, complete with bedroll, liquor bottles and bags of junk.
The homeless person was noticed and removed yesterday, and maintenance is coming to clean up the mess, but this is a huge security and liability issue. This has happened before, and will probably happen again unless you remain vigilant. All the locks and cameras in the world aren't going to do any good if you leave the damn door open.
Most homeless people are harmless, but we don't know that is true in every case. Do you want a homeless person in the building? Lurking in the basement where you do your laundry? Urinating in some corner? Probably not. This is why you need to CHECK and make SURE the DOOR is latched behind you. It will take five seconds, and may save yourself and the building a lot of trouble.
By the way, if you notice a homeless person hanging out in this space, do not confront them, call the police immediately, then call Markwood. Calling Markwood first just ads an extra, delaying step to the process. thank you for your cooperation.

Shut the Door!

The recent spate of rainy weather reminds me that it's that time of year again...when we start getting a lot more rain, wind and snow, and things are generally a bit damper than in the summer. That means that the front and back doors, which are old, and wooden, tend to swell up and not close properly.
There isn't much that can be done about preventing this unless we replace the wooden doors with metal ones, so please take an extra few seconds to make sure that the front and the back doors are closed securely behind you when you go in or out of the building.
They may seem like they are closed, but if you don't hear that "click" of the lock, it is still open and could provide access for people who do not live in the building...including drunken Halloween revelers and other undesirable non-residents. A little diligence now could head of a lot of potential issues down the road. Thanks!

Use the Back Door

With several new tenants moving in recently, it has come to Markwood's attention that people predominantly use the front door when loading and unloading their furniture. This is a problem.
The main issue is the stairs themselves. The back stairs are metal, whereas the front stairs are stone. Although stone looks beautiful, it is soft and prone to wear and chipping, as you can see by the large chunks missing from the treads in the picture above.
Lugging couches, appliances and other heavy objects up the front stairs potentially damages the stairs.

The other issue in using the front door for freight, is that it blocks the main access point for building residents. The front door is not only the main access point it is the only access point if you don't have your keys. If you are blocking that entry because you are hauling a piece of furniture up the front steps, that is a problem.

We don't have a freight elevator, but the back stairs are essentially our "freight stairs"and should be used as such. The front stairs may seem more attractive for hauling things, as it is a straight shot up the steps from the street, however both front and back steps are the same width, and unless you live on the first floor, both have 90° angles that must be negotiated.
Trash and recyclables should also be  taken out the back door.

Owners, when you speak to your tenants about moving in, or out of the building, please remind them to use the back stairway. Thank you.

Rain and the Doors

With all the rainy weather we've been having this week, just a reminder that when it rains, both the front and back wooden doors swell and will sometimes not close all the way on their own. When you go in or out please take a moment to make sure that the door is fully closed and latched. Not much sense in trying to have a secure building if people go around leaving the doors open. Thanks!

Hallway Repairs and Painting

After spending several months searching for and successfully plugging leaks around the roof access doorway, the maintenance crew has begun patching the walls in the back stairway. Anyone who is familiar with the large sections of peeling paint and damaged plaster that filled the walls of the back stairwell after the flooding rains of two years ago should appreciate this. This is just in time for the scheduled painting of the entire building interior.
This should greatly improve the overall look of the entire interior.

Fresh Varnish

The front and back doors, as well as the wood trim around the entry panel have been stripped, sanded and revarnished. Both doors were refinished both inside and out. You may have noticed the smell of varnish in the building the last day or so. This has eliminated many of the scratches and cuts in the door as well as some minor graffiti carved into the door.  The new varnish has improved the overall appearance of the entry and really brings out the wood grain in the doors. Just in time for the first day of spring!

SHUT the DOOR!

If you are going outside to load or unload your car, dump your trash, talk on your cellphone, break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend, or have a smoke, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE DOOR IS SECURELY CLOSED BEHIND YOU.
This has been a recurring problem and is a security concern for the building. The door does not always close on its own, especially in cold or damp weather, and sometimes appears to be closed, when in fact it is not. (see picture above).

Not to be an alarmist or anything, but we live less than a block from a homeless shelter, and near several court buildings. Homeless men regularly go through our recycling bins, and last week a convict escaped from custody at the Salem District Court and was at large for more than an hour before he was recaptured. If you want to run the possibility of strange people wandering the halls of our building, then by all means keep leaving the door open, otherwise take an extra two seconds to check and make sure that the door is indeed securely closed behind you the next time you go out or come in.Thanks!

The Back Door

In the past few weeks it has been noticed that the door at the bottom of the back stairwell has frequently been left unlatched. The locking mechanism can stick, and keeps the door from closing completely. Markwood Management had Secure Lock out last week to investigate. They could not duplicate the problem but lubricated the latch. It was noticed again yesterday that the door was again not latched.
We just want to remind residents who use the back door to be sure it has closed completely. The door seems like it has enough weight behind it to close on its own, but the lock sometimes sticks, and if you close it gently, it will sometimes not latch. It also can looked closed from the outside, but still not be latched. (see the picture)
Many residents, when dropping off trash, recycling, going out for a smoke or other errand, find it convenient to leave the door ajar, however, if you are leaving the grounds for any length of time, please make sure the door is closed. This is a potential security issue. Markwood will continue to keep an eye on it and call Secure Lock again if we continue to have problems.