Page 12 - CooperatorNews NY April 2021

12 COOPERATORNEWS — APRIL 2021 COOPERATORNEWS.COM We handle all sprinkler system inspections and violations. • Sprinkler System Design and Installation • Maintenance, repair and service • Flow and Pressure tests • Violation Removals • Monthly Inspections • Stand Pipes and Fire Pumps Big Apple Fire Sprinkler Co. Inc. 64-20 Laurel Hill Blvd. Woodside NY 11377 • 718-205-8580 • Fax 718-205-4590 Email: alevitt@bigapplesprinkler.com = Big Apple Fire Sprinkler_Oct2011.qxp:Layout 1 9/20/11 2:07 PM Page 1 kids have somewhere to run and play; the parents have an area to be able to get some fresh air. We’re also incorporating some planters with some greenery to kind of sepa- rate little seating areas.” And that building community is far from alone in their desire to enliven unused or underused spaces. “People are now real- izing, ‘Hey, let’s make the best of this dead space,’ ” Morales continues, “or, ‘Let’s revamp our space to accommodate today’s needs.’ ” On top of considering the community’s population and pandemic-related needs, co-ops and condos also have to factor in a unique slate of physical and logistical consid- erations as well. “With respect to an interior, on-grade courtyard,” says Mendelson, “you can have issues where maybe it’s adjacent to residents’ apartments or spaces. So you have to mitigate what you’re going to do in the space because it is next to someone. You clearly don’t want to have dogs and children running around making a lot of loud noise adjacent to people’s units.” Mendelson also cautions about the need for thoughtful placement of lighting for the same reason—nobody wants a floodlight pouring through their bedroom window all night. Additionally, urban buildings have to contend with what may lie beneath their foundations—from utilities to parking to telecommunication cables to mass transit infrastructure. What’s down there can dictate what can be planted or built on a given site. What About Local Climate and Soil Conditions? The overall climate of a region will be a major determining factor in landscaping choices for any multifamily community or individual homeowner. A desert region like Las Vegas looks a lot different from a tropi- cal climate like Florida or a temperate region like the Northeast. Even within these gener- al climates, microclimates and the particular topography of a specific area will influence what can be grown and where. In urban ar- eas, height and density of buildings creates shadows, wind tunnels, and water runoff that must be factored into landscaping de- sign and maintenance. EPA.gov, the website of the Environmen- tal Protection Agency (EPA) advises that “when planning your landscape design, in addition to primary use, also consider fac- tors such as local climate, sun and shade locations, and the maintenance schedule. This plays a big part in how often your land- scape receives rainfall and whether your plants must be prepared for a warm or cool climate. Although the plant choice will de- SMART MULTIFAMILY... continued from page 11 pend on the region, you can still have an attractive, functional landscape with water- efficient plants.” This is another area where a professional landscape designer or horticulturalist can offer your association or building expert advice—which ultimately can save a lot of money and headaches in the long run. Ac- cording to Debbi Edelstein, executive direc- tor of the New England Wild Flower Society in Framingham, Massachusetts, “It’s always a good idea to find a professional who is up to speed on environmentally friendly land- scaping and sustainable practices. One of the main reasons to go with a professional is because most of them have done their homework on the combination of science and aesthetics—the science of how to root trees, for instance—and they’ll know how to plant things so they’ll thrive more.” What Is the Budget? Kristen Dein- hardt-Faught, an account manager with BrightView Landscape Ser- vices based in Oceanside, New York, says that budget is one of the first things she discusses with a client when taking on a landscape proj- ect. The costs associated with landscaping can range widely, and encompass a variety of services. Deinhardt-Faught emphasizes that different tiers of service call for differ- ent budgeting approaches. For example, lawn maintenance may or may not include irrigation. Some contracts include tree care; some don’t. The scope of design has to fac- tor in the costs of the design plan itself—not just the material and plant choices and the installation, but the ongoing maintenance as well. For clients with more limited budgets, or who have new concerns in light of CO- VID, Deinhardt-Faught suggests phasing larger projects or enhancements over time. “If you’re looking to do enhancements,” she says, “like a large-scale project, we can phase it out for you—you can do one phase the first year, and another phase of the project another year. And we’ll just work with \\\\\\\[a cli- ent’s\\\\\\\] budget as much as we can. We try to at least give them something for what they’re looking for.” Morales agrees, and adds that there can be a bit of a learning curve for some boards in terms of how much they have to spend and over what timeline. “We need to know how much they have to spend—and some- times these boards don’t know what things cost,” she says. “They’ll say, ‘Well, we only have $100,000,’ and then we’ll go to a site meeting and they’ll be talking about pow- der-coated aluminum planters; they want to do ipe \\\\\\\[wood\\\\\\\] decking and an ipe fence, and pavers; and it’s like, ‘That’s great—sounds beautiful! But your budget can’t give you that.’ So we find a happy medium.” “That’s great! Sounds beautiful! But guess what—your budget can’t give you that.” — Annamaria Morales