The spring 2009 EGM

I do not disagree with any of your comments about the need for post boxes at Don Juan, in fact I am 100% behind the idea. What I do disagree with is, is the location. Since when has block 2 become the new Don Juan community building! Do any of the current committee live there...? It sounds to me like the committee has put no effort into finding a neutral location for this new post box building and they have made their decision without asking how the residents block 2 will feel. Have you any idea how nearly 200 post boxes will look outside block 2! Please can you post a drawing or sketch showing the proposed location and dimensions of the new post office building that is to be situated outside block 2. I would also ask the committee to look a bit harder and consider some other locations for this new proposed building at Don Juan.  

Regards, Andy

For the record Andy there is a committee member living in block 2. I will, as requested, look again for an alternative location.

I agree how the structure looks is important. We don't yet have a definite proposal to share with you.  

Location of the mailboxes:

Could against the ecological wall on block 1 be an alternative to be considered?

Thus we would not have to look at it from our terraces and eventually it could stabilize the wall. 

Gordon

Hi David,

Thanks for having a relook at the location, it would be great , as Gordon says to put them somewhere like at the bottom of the wall in the front of block one (assuming people in block 1 are ok with that) near the communal parking spaces as I suspect that many people that have cars will do a "drive by" when collecting their post. I will also post a few pics later in the week to show how these post boxes may look and also try to come up with some suggestions on other locations.

Regards, Andy 

P.S Its good to hear that there is a committee member in block 2.. :-)

Hi All, I have done some rough calculations and 188 postboxes at 300mm wide  x 150mm depth will take up approx 8.5m2 of facing . This equates into row of post boxes about 5m long ,1.7m high if you add the wall and roof construction you must be looking at a building about 6m long and at least 2m high and 0.5m deep. Unless I've got my figures wrong I cannot see how this will fit at the back of block 2 without absolutely destroying the look of the back of the building. I have posted a couple of old pics which show the areas behind block 2 and also in front of block1.

Regards, Andy  

I have also posted a sketch of how the new building would look at the back of block 2 and also a suggested location to the left of the front of block 1, the benefit of this location is that it is away from all blocks (nuetral location) and is also next to parking spaces to allow people and the postvan to park to collect/deliver their post.

Regards, Andy

Hi Andy

I am in block 1. I love the way you worded block 1 as a neutral location away from the blocks. I think block 2 looks much more like a post office building and would blend in well :-)  To tell you the truth, I think it should be located outside the block that has the most outstanding community charges, just to remind them that this is where bills come from. Actually, I would not be against the post boxes being located at the far end of the parking bays below block 1, not the end where the electricty building is, the other end. Would that mean the owners of block 1 would get a discount for having an ugly structure outside our block.

Just seen your photos. I believe where you have drawn the red square outside block 1, that is where the new road coming into Don Juan will come through. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Westport

I was under the impression that the post boxes were going to be on the wall of Block 2 not attached to the green part with the plants etc.

I dont think that the wall is big enough. I have looked back at my estimations and I have made a mistake, there are actually 10 blocks in DJ 1 and not 9 with 188 apartments as originally proposed, this means that there will be a requirement for 208 post boxes. I also forgot that post boxes will need to be situated off the floor so people can access them without straining their back, if you take this into consideration you are looking at a wall of postboxes at least 8m long. The other point is that the wall is very close to the footpath any construction will substantially encroach on to the foot path itself. 

Hi Andy,

The proposal is to build it against the blank wall to the right of your marked area in block 2.

There is a stoned area between the footpath and the wall so they will not interfere with the footpath. The advantage of doing this is cost. We only need to build gable walls (rendered the same colour as the wall) and a tiled roof. We had considered putting them behind the electrical substation (on the right of your 2^nd picture) but the wall is not big enough.

Hello Everyone

Regarding the postboxes.  Do they have to be in one block or would it be possible to have 2 smaller ones.  If the one block is at least 8 metres, 2 x 4 metres blocks in the 2 positions mentioned would be less intrusive, and if it is built to blend in with the buildings they would be less of an eyesore.  Just another option that the committee might like to consider.

Jim and Joan

I believe that the wall at the back of block 2 is not big enough and is not the "right" location for 200+ postboxes and a neutral freestanding location needs to be found and agreed on. Postboxes are extremely important "long term" to the community and should not be done "on the cheap". When you consider the amounts previously spent on cleaning, security & the "Tardis"  etc.. I think that the cost of doing the job properly on the mailboxes will be fully justified.

Regards, Andy

This message was last edited by otterandy on 10/05/2009.

Thanks to everybody for their input on this subject - both pm's and e-mail as well as here. Just about the only thing I am sure of is we will not be able to please eveybody 100%.

René was laughing at me from his balcony as I was pacing out the length of walls etc today. I know it is not that accurate but there is room on the wall of block 2 for 21 boxes across by 10 deep if we decide to put them there.

We need to check the cost of this option and the cost of a free standing block somewhere more discreet so that an informed decision can be made. We will spend a few weeks to get all the facts so that we can be sure we make a decision we will not regret.

I guess that it is now a done deal now as the majority of other DJ residents will consider block 2 as a nice convenient location to get their post and if it is cheapest option I am sure the committee will go for it. I am very disappointed that the committee are intending to completely ruin the look of a block by placing 200 post boxes on the external wall. Please let me know as soon as you have made your decision and also the costs involved. I believe that this new construction maybe illegal as you are not allowed to change the physical look of the buildings.

As residents in Blk 2 we totally agree with Andy that both time and some major thinking needs to be put in before another eyesore is placed anywhere near  Block 2 .

The Tardis is bad enough without adding another non suitable structure on site, hopefully the comittee will be able to find a suitable location that will have the least impact on the asthetic look of the whole Don Juan site.

And yes we have faith that the comittee will find the right home for our Wall of Mail

Steve and Sam

Dear All,

Ofcourse we cannot fullfill everybodies wishes

I am living in bloque 1 and my view will be onto the  future postboxes.

The wall there looks the excellent place and the only place to build them.

I would like to integrate as much as possible into the existing building.

You can complain about the place ofcourse but thats not enough for the comittee to change the mind of the majority.

If you really don't want it in bloque 2 then come up with another solution.

In my opinion there is none.

The wall used for post boxes in block 2 with a similar roof on it as the roof tiles wich are there now will inegrate everything into the architecture. I don't see any inconveiniance for the neighbours of block 2.

If you see any real objectives please spek up without any inhibitions

Best regards,

Rene

Rene,

You did not respond to my PM, Why? This is all very much as I expected, the committee will do exactly what they want and its a matter of sod anybody who is in the way. I have proposed other locations on eos and also to David. Rene, you have seen the objections and proposals why are you not listening, or are you just taking the easy route here?

I will say again that it is not acceptable to stick 200 post boxes on the back of ANY block in Don Juan.

Unfortunately it looks like we are getting into it again. Same as before the EGM.

Here a few words of Values

• Create an Attitude of “YES.”

Develop a mindset of

Cooperation and “can do.”

• Build Mutual Respect,

Kindness and Support.

          Listen and learn from one other.

Gordon

 Irene, I do not think it is enough just to have boxes built outside the blocks. The Correos require one central point where they can deliver the mail. In my friends development further up the hill from Princes Park in Calahonda they have a separate mail room where all the boxes for each apartment are and where the Correos deliver the mail, I have also seen this in the El Higueron development next to us they also have a separate mail room where mail for all the apartments townhouses villas on the complex are delivered.

Mailboxes against any block may not look right although you can blend them in as best as but the other option of having a separate stand alone mail room, in our case may not be viable as we do not really have the space on the complex and the costs would be far higher. Really a mail room as required by the Correos should have been provided for by the developer. Yet another design flaw by the architect / developers of DJ. I suspect the second phase will have the same problem.