Building Maintenance Updates

 

 
 

The missing lower parts of the building downspouts on the driveway side were recently replaced. This should alleviate some of the puddling and leaking that were happening on the basement level.

Scaffolding is scheduled to be delivered by the end of the week for the front façade refurbishment, per the Master Insurance Claim. This may cause some inconvenience for sidewalk traffic in front of the building, and tenants living in the front units should be aware that scaffolding and workmen may be directly outside their windows while the repairs are being done.

Lost Cat?

A recent e-mail from GESNA (Greater Endicott Street Neighborhood Association).
If you or anyone you know is missing a cat, please contact Bob at: gesna.salem@gmail.com

Dear Neighbor,

A GESNA member found a cat yesterday on Summer Street and sent me the pictures attached below.

If anyone recognizes the animal and knows who it belongs to, or is its owner, please reply to this message and I will connect you to the finder. We had success at reuniting a cat with its family a few years ago. Hope we can do so again.

Thanks for your attention,

Bob Femino
Co-Chair, Greater Endicott Street Neighborhood Assn. (GESNA) 

Jefferson Ave. Marijuana Dispensary Meeting, April 4

An adult-use recreational marijuana dispensary is being proposed for 38 Jefferson Ave. That location is just beyond Far From the Tree in a building currently being used by United Van Lines.  The business, to be known as Witch City Gardens, has scheduled an upcoming neighborhood meeting along with Ward 3 Councilor Lisa Peterson,  for the purpose of sharing their plans with the community.

The meeting will be:
Wednesday, April 4 at 7:00pm
City Hall Annex, 3rd Floor, 
120 Washington Street, Salem MA

All interested residents are encouraged to attend. Please see the attached flier for more information.

Imagine Salem Issues Progress Report

Initiative offers vision for Salem in 2026 on its 400th birthday

One year after it launched, the Imagine Salem community visioning initiative has released a progress report outlining the key findings and themes from a year’s worth of public workshops, surveys, focus groups, and more. Imagine Salem seeks to bring together people, organizations, and businesses from across Salem to have a conversation about what they want the community to look like in 2026, the year that Salem celebrates its 400th birthday.

The dialogue was framed around housing, jobs, and transportation with themes of equity and inclusiveness woven throughout the topics. The vision statement will serve as a guide for future decisions: “In 2026 we are a sustainable and livable city where we celebrate our diverse histories and where people of all backgrounds and means participate and thrive.”

“I want to thank everyone who joined the Imagine Salem conversation over the last year,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “We learned so much and are definitely excited to share the findings with everyone. I encourage all Salem residents to check out the progress report with details about the findings and ideas on how we can bring to life the suggestions from the report. Please reach out with your comments and ideas. The work is far from done as this conversation will continue onward into developing specific goals and action items to achieve those goals.”

Read the report at www.imaginesalem.org. To sign up for future updates or send in your comments on the progress report, contact Imagine Salem at imaginesalem@salem.com.

Household Hazardous Waste Day in Beverly Open to Salem Residents

March 24, 8:00 a.m. to noon, Beverly High School

Since July 2009 the Cities of Salem and Beverly have partnered to offer each City’s residents the opportunity to participate in both a fall and spring hazardous waste program. The next such household hazardous waste day will take place at Beverly High School, March 24, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Residents from both communities can drop off hazardous materials with a payment of $20.

Residents can drop off general hazardous waste materials such as light bulbs, automotive oil, pesticides, oil-based paint, motor oil and car batteries, rechargeable batteries, propane tanks, tires and aerosol cans. A driver’s license is required to prove residency. No e-waste will be collected on March 24 at Beverly High School.

Please note that this household hazardous waste collection day had previously been scheduled and announced for April 24. It will no longer take place on April 24 and, instead, take place on March 24.

Additional information on waste collection can be found at  https://www.salem.com/recycling-and-trash.

Riley Plaza Parking Issue

A message from Markwood Management:

Good afternoon all,

Arthur Sargent, owner of Unit 308 at 24 Norman and a Salem City Councilman, called let us know about an issue that will no doubt put pressure on available parking in Riley Plaza.

The parking commission put forth a proposal at the last city council meeting to provide valet service to the Riley Plaza lot.  The issue will not come up for council vote for a while, but Arthur wanted to be sure that we were aware of it.  The council posts its meeting minutes on salem.com, if the issue is discussed in the minutes Arthur will be able to let you know when they are posted.

Please be aware that this proposal may have a very real effect on the availability of parking in Riley Plaza.

How to be a Good Neighbor in 2018

It's 2018! We are well into a new year and recent complaints about noise in the building make it a great time to take stock of where you are and where you want to be. In that spirit, here are three things you can do this coming year to be a better owner/tenant/neighbor at 24 Norman Street.

1. Be Aware
We live in a small building with nonexistent soundproofing. The lack of proper soundproofing in this building cannot be overstated, especially in-between floors. It is possible to hear activity in this building that would go unnoticed in others. Walking around, flushing toilets, music and TV's playing, alarm clocks going off, coffee grinders, dishwashers, all can be heard. For this reason we have fairly strict sound ordinances in the condo rules, violation of which can cause all kinds of problems in the building community, and can get you fined or evicted.
There is some gray area in how that ordinance is interpreted by various individuals
however the wording is pretty broad. Below is the actual language of the condo sound ordinance.
"No Residential Unit Owner shall make or permit
any noxious or offensive activity or disturbing
noises in the Units or do or permit anything to
be done therein which will interfere with the
rights, comfort or convenience of other Unit
Owners. No Residential Unit Owner shall play
upon or suffer to be played upon any musical
instrument or permit to be operated a
phonograph or a radio or television or other
such device in such unit between the hours of
eleven o'clock p.m. and the following seven
o'clock a.m., if the same shall disturb or annoy
other occupants of the Units, and in no event,
shall any Residential Unit Owner practice or
suffer to be practiced either vocal or
instrumental music. No Residential Unit Owner
shall give vocal or instrumental instruction at
any time. "

Basically, any noise made after 11 PM and before 7 AM which could potentially irritate or annoy a neighbor might be a problem. Weather or not it is a problem depends primarily on the tolerance of your immediately adjacent neighbors. So be mindful. Nothing pisses people off like being habitually awakened in the middle of the night, or a "screw you, I'll do what I want, whenever I want" attitude.

Remember: as an owner you absolutely have the right to insist that the tenant respect the sound ordinance. You also absolutely have the right to insist that Markwood enforce that ordinance.

2. Be Considerate
Basic consideration of your neighbors goes a long way to heading off potential problems. Be aware of the sound ordinance in the condo rules, (noise between 11 PM and 7 AM) and if you are an owner make certain that your tenants are aware of them as well. Be mindful of your schedule. Try putting yourself in your neighbor's shoes. Don't assume that everyone keeps the same schedule that you do, or has the same tolerance for noise, or shares your taste in music. (Headphones are a wonderful invention, use them when possible).

3. Communicate
Recently a unit owner was doing construction in their unit...on a Sunday. It may have been necessary for the work to be done that day, that sometimes happens. There are no direct prohibitions against construction on a Sunday, but you still have to ask yourself the question, does anyone really want to hear hammering and sawing on a Sunday afternoon? Probably not. This owner followed the letter of the condo rules, but not the spirit of the rules.
Part of being a good neighbor is thinking about your neighbors. So, what should the owner have done in this situation? Reschedule? Probably not, but if they knew they were planning something that was likely to make noise, like say...renovations, it would have been a good idea to let their neighbors,
(above, below and on either side), what they were planning on doing,  when they were planning on doing it and for how long. Some owners have have been very conscientious about doing this. It makes a situation that could be really irritating, more tolerable.