Hi Jose
I have just spent 3wks great weeks out at the apartment but would like to bring up a few issues:
1) I have a friend who has a place in La Entrada and they are going through a process of looking at all the services and there costs and have managed to make some very big cut in costs in a lot of areas. I don't know if you know the administrators for La Entrada but perhaps we as a community can learn from them, the person to speak to is Gerard and perhaps by working together we can not only reduce our overheads but also make improvements to the complex and surrounding area's.
2) At La Entrada I see they are trying very hard to improve things I know thye are looking into installing large TV dish on each block, also looking at wireless broadband, they have installed seating around the garden areas and they have a area set aside for growing there own plants rather than buying them. I am also told they have installed environmental friendly lighting down in the garage area and this has reduced the electricity bill substantially.
3) I am very disappointed with the surrounding area outside the complex which I understand is run by the council but we pay our taxes and we are entitled to better services, the problems I see are as follows:
a) There seems to be a reduction of bins out on the road from last year and they are overflowing at times and this is not very hygenic when you get cats, dogs and rodents sniffing around the rubbish and tearing the bags open to find food, this needs sorting as a matter of urgency.
b) I appreciate the land that is not built on is full of weeds but when you walk down the roads I do not expect to see weeds up to 1mtr high in places growing out of the paths and sides of the road, this is unacceptable and requires rectifying.
c) Much of the lighting down on the promenade is not working to the point if you walk down there it is dangerous specially to the older people who are not so stable on their feet and it is just an accident waiting to happen.
d) Why has the new area that has grass, path and water feature at back of La Recoleta and between the complexes not been opened yet it looked lovely when it was first done now you have weeds growing everywhere and dogs droppings all over the place. It needs to be cleaned up and the fences taken down so people can use it.
4) Issues with La Recoleta complex itself are as follows:
a) Pool at times is very dirty and a lot of people using the pool last got ear infections and this was proved by several people who don't use the pool did not get this problem.
b) The new decking put around the showers is terrible and I have already seen a couple of children run over them and they flip up and trip the person, also I know one person who cut there toe on this decking, why don't we do what La Entrada have done and extend the concrete around the shower to make it safer and look more prsentable to the eyes.
c) The first garage that slides makes a very large vibrating noise to the point it is waking a lot of the people up when used at night, it has been like that since day one.
d) The door on block 8 the lock mechanism keeps breaking so you can't let people in if thye ring the bell, I think the problem with this is when it is opened it hits the wall and damage the handle you can see where it scrapes against the wall suggest we replace the handle and put a stop on the floor to stop the handle hitting the wall.
5) New Ideas for improving the complex and perhaps topics for next meeting:
a) By each apartment block doors install say 10 cycle stands so people can put their bikes in there and lock them up when they are not using them so many times I see cycles laying on floor or in hallway outside apartment doors (so marking the walls) also it is pain having to keep taking them down to your lockup in garage area. There stands are simple they bolt onto wall or floor and you simply put your cycle tyre into them and they standup and you can also use a lock to secure your bike.
b) Install a community area / patio with a gazebo and seating & tables where people can perhaps go and sit to get out of the sun, eat their lunch or simple chat with friends, there is quite a large area at back of block near the big gates that lead onto the fenced off area at back of complex.
c) Install seating around the garden areas as they have done at La Entrada
d) Is there any value in the little water streams that run between the blocks lot of the time they are empty and not working why don't we just put plants in them instead?
d) Why don't we consider purchasing 50 stackable sunbeds and put 25 by each pool this will save people having to carry sunbeds up and down from apartment each day. The sunbeds can have a chain around them with a padlock and the security guard opens them at say 0900 in the morning and lock them up again at 2100.
I appreciate these new ideas might not be wanted by everyone but they can form part of the community meeting whereby people can vote on each new idea. I am more than happy to do some homework and look at the cost of such thing as cycle stands and sunbeds.
I hope you take this email in a positive manner as all I am trying to do is help and make some suggestions on ways of improving our fantastic facilities and our homes and I am willing to work with the president and yourselves to help make this happen.
Can you please let me know when the next community meeting is to take place as I would like to attend if possible also do you have the email address of Peter Rigby our president?