Just Testing

Just wanted to thank Davmunster, Max and their families for their efforts with regard to tryng to make the best community for all of us. They are on site more than most of us and are prepared to try and achieve the best for all taking into account all of our different views - We should applaud them for their continous contribution as they are always trying to do the best for the community

We all do have our opinions, needs and concerns but in these early days especially with completions still taking place there are going to be issues that may take time to resolve. It is important to set rules and have boundaries but also to embrace the differing cultures and make allowances for all our needs. During this whole process we have met some wonderful people which really is what it is all about................

It is understandable that people are getting frustrated but we need to exercise a little patience as I am sure we will all get what we feel we want and need and be able to remain friends aswell ! - I sincerely hope so

It is important though that anti-social behaviour ( dog poo ) should be nipped in the bud now

 

 

 

 Hi Everyone, I have been following this topic with interest.

I thought as we are on the subject of both water and dog s**t, I have an idea...? What if we take it in turns to keep watch on the communal garden areas and when we spot an offender we use a special remote device (designed by Max) to activate the garden sprinkler system, which should immediately clean the s**t off the grass and hopefully discourage the offender. This way learning  languages would not necessary, as I'm sure that they would get the message not to allow dogs to s**t in a communal garden areas. If that didn’t work we could use stronger tactics by adding biodegradable green dye to the sprinkler water supply, I am pretty sure that would do the trick.

I hereby formally request that my suggestion is added to the agenda ready for the next meeting.

Regards Andy

 

 

This message was last edited by otterandy on 1/7/2008.

I can't understand why anyone would allow their dogs to foul the communal garden areas (usually it's the owners to blame not the dogs! ok sometimes the dog can have an 'accident' but then the owner should clean up) as the communal garden is 'their' garden and as the saying goes 'don't s**t on your own doorstep!'. In the past whenever we were in Spain we used to rent an apartment in a very nice complex in Calahonda and there were a few dogs living in that complex indeed my landlady herself had 3 big dogs BUT never did I ever see any dog mess anywhere inside the complex as the owners would take the dogs out of the complex for walks. I think it wise to make it a communal rule that dogs are not allowed on the communal lawn areas and should any 'accidents' occur the owner should clear up the mess.

Thanks for the information about the gardens. It is unfortunate that we didn't even think about this when we gave over power of attorney. It's odd not being able to read about all the restrictions there are when you buy a place, you get very little detail about that kind of thing from your lawyers. Had we known that we couldn't do anything with the garden I wonder whether we would have bought a garden apartment. Having the water supply available is only half the solution - after all  we need to have someone to cut the grass!  In view of the fact that we don't have gates in the fence it also means having to give our gardner a key.

We don't expect to be over that often ourselves and our intial thoughts had always been to put down either a mixture of tiling, and gravel or my preference, 'astro turf' or artificial grass. Is there any restriction on putting this kind of surface down Max? We intend to sort something out when we are over for our first family visit in February so need an idea on what we can do. We are not sure at the moment as to whether one of us can get over for the meeting this month (we will certainly send our proxy vote).

The last thing we want is to spoil everything with overgrown weeds. One of the recent photos posted of the pools shows our apartment and the weeds are knee high already. When we came over last summer we stayed at a place where very few were occupied. We were in a garden apartment that had lovely decking beyond the terrace and a gate onto the communal area. Unfortunately it was spoiled by the fact that almost every other garden was overgrown - this is something we certainly don't want to see at Don Juan.

Any suggestions gratefully accepted!

Michelle

 

Max a few weeks ago I contacted the administrators to ask them to add some items to the agenda, they told me that no new items can be added now as the agenda had been set and the residents / owners had all been informed. However if you can get these things added then I have 1 more suggestion, that is what people are allowed to build or have erected in the private garden area.

 Hi Michelle,

Yes it’s a shame that we all had such bad lawyers. Even after the completion several lawyers denied this (and other quite damaging) provisions were in the contract. Only after pointing at the specific passage they would give in.

Artificial grass is not forbidden ergo I have it and some other people as well. No need for water, no mowing and no weeds. A great solution as grass and Spain are not a happy marriage as you can see in the communal areas. Ours looks better, feels more natural and provides us with a large usable space so it maximizes our outside space.

We have a gate installed as well. It’s in the same colour and style as the existing fence and again there is nothing in the rules forbidding it. We made sure it can be locked and that it turns inward so it doesn’t discomfort users of the communal area. We actually use the garden gate more than our front door as it’s nicer to walk around as opposed to descending stairs. 

The water is only needed if you want natural grass or (as in our case) also want plants. We have a few trees (we hope to have our own oranges and lemons in a few months) and a large border of flowers and these need water. The landscaper we hire for ourselves and for clients always says that the only maintenance needed is water and beer. The last fluid to enjoy the garden J For us it’s easy to make sure they get enough water but if you are not resident than you need a solid and preferably monitored solution.

Hi All,

If you could also mention at the meeting that in block 5 there are no lights in the hall ways due to the big water leak. I do think a big gate into Don Juan would be a solution as people could not drive around the area and I fell it would be good security,

Do you mean the road at the railway station will be done? Soon.

How are the pools getting on are the others filled yet. Also I do feel that a heated pool should be propsed at the meeting as a lot of us will be over in the winter and a heated pool would be great..

I had to go to the developers office 3 times to get a garage key that worked so be warned if the first one dose not work you have to keep going back.

We are just home and we had a great time thanks to all the new neighbours we met and for the great party and drinks on the patio...........

Hi Max, Thanks for your continued efforts regarding the issue of the shed. I do not think the administrators are really paying any attention to this matter. When I first pointed this matter out to them back in November Irma went to see the owners and they told her that it is a moveable sauna however she did not bother to check it out for herself and look into the matter thoroughly then when I disputed this the administrators told me that they would revisit the owners the following week and check properly but that promise was made in end of November beginning of December since then they have done absolutely nothing about it and my repeated request for updates on the situation is met with a standard reply 'we can only do according to Spanish law'! To say I am not impressed would be an understatement! As you know even if this thing is moveable the owners have built a hardcore concrete base in the garden area on which the shed sits on and this according to what you have stated is not allowed as owners are not supposed to tile concrete etc etc yet the administrators seem to be averse to that fact & to me it looks like they are taking no notice of it. I do think it would be wise to put this matter on the agenda as to what owners of garden apartments are allowed to build or erect in the private garden area weather this be 'moveable' or not and in this case the fact that the owners have got that shed there on a permanent basis even if as they claim it is 'moveable' should be considered as a permanent building! This will hopefully stop other owners doing the same and making DJ look like a 'shanty town' and affect other peoples ability to enjoy their own property to the full. I will try and post some photos of this offending object so others can see what we are talking about.

When I first saw the shed I laughed outloud to myself because it looked so stupid. I dont think for a second that others will follow the trend here as it looks horrible.

The person that thought of that must have a brass neck and not give a hoot about his / her neighbours. Im glad I cant see it from my apartment.

I think the garden apartments should be allowed to tile or flag as long as they use the same tiles/  flags to maintain uniformity at Don Juan.

 Oh can somebody post a picture of the shed please?. I will use that as my wallpaper on my pc lol.

Andy

This message was last edited by Andy irwin on 1/12/2008.

I think I must have missed the chat about this shed!  From the sounds of it it's an eyesore, so I hope it isn't near us! Which block is it?

Michelle

The idea of using "watering of the gardens by communal water" is good, and even I'm not part of the phase 1 community, I guess that phase 2 will adapt the roules of phase 1, and I'll suggest that you think about the opportunity of using the same solution for all appartments, I guess that many Non Garden level apartments also will have plants at the balcony.

It must be possible to install pipes to all levels of each block, and here by provide natural water to All.

I hope this make sence.

This message was last edited by max! on 1/12/2008.

I have seen the shed which is in Block 3 and feel it is really disgraceful that the owners did not consider that they were blocking the view for others on that level. Also they have built a grass/ cane fencing around their property which is higher than the original fencing once again blocking the view for all on the garden level. Surely this must be against community rules. I feel very sad for RG and the other owners on this level and feel as a community we should join together to give them the support they need to have both removed immediately. Can you imagine their disappointment when visiting their property for the first time it must have knocked all the joy of completing on there apartment totally. We are in this block but luckily on a higher level so our view is not affected but we still look down onto this area. We have got to act quickly and stop offenders from destroying the look of Don Juan.

Also in Block 3 the door leading to the Maintainance room for the water supply has been badly damaged it looks as if someone has found the door locked and literally kicked it in, this must have been done by a very bad tempered neighbour or workman. I would hope this will be repaired soon and would like this mentioned at the meeting.

Hi Janmet Max thanks for the support. I have tried to post some photos of the shed but the system keeps returning error message that the file is not jpeg, which it is, so if anyone wants to see the photos PM me with your email and I can send them to you or if I send them to someone can they then try to post them from their pc? I think if more people were to complain to the administrators about this then a) we might see some action on this particular shed and b) get it included as a clear defined rule in the community rules book so that nobody else can do the same or similar thing in the future. You can complain on the grounds of a) blocking your views (only applicable to those on garden floor of block 3. b) That it is an eyesore and not in keeping with the aesthetics of the complex c) An example has to be made so that nobody else in future contemplates the same thing. If you need contact details for the administrators PM me.

Hi Raj

I have posted the pictures of the shed . Its hard to believe its there but im sure it will have to go.

 

Andy

This message was last edited by Andy irwin on 1/13/2008.