Page 18 - CooperatorNews New York Expo May 2022

18 COOPERATORNEWS — MAY 2022 COOPERATORNEWS.COM www.allconcontracting.com Contact: 66 Brooklyn Avenue Westbury, NY 11590 1.516.333.3339 info@allconcontracting.com Since our founding in 2001, ALLCON Contracting has built a solid reputation and proven track record of producing and delivering high quality construction solutions consistently, on time and within budget. Where Quality Comes First RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL P R O V I D I N G E N G I N E E R I N G S O L U T I O N S T O C O M M U N I T Y A S S O C I A T I O N S F O R O V E R 2 5 Y E A R S ! Architectural Services Building Envelope Restoration Capital Reserve Studies Civil Engineering & Surveying Energy Analysis Expert Witness Testimony Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP/Local Law 11) Forensic Investigations Historic Preservation Leak Investigation Litigation & Insurance Claims Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Design Parking Garage Inspection & Restoration Retaining Wall Inspection & Restoration Special Inspections (Certified Agency) Structural Evaluation & Engineering Transition Engineering Survey Reports 95 Mount Bethel Road Warren, NJ 07059 350 7th Avenue, Suite 2000 New York, NY 10001 www.thefalcongroup.us info@thefalcongroup.us (800) 839-7740 See us at Booth 2119 Th e psychosocial impact of the pandemic says, adding that even though a large major- is far-reaching. And like the rest of the world, ity of residents are vaccinated, many younger residents living in condos, co-ops, and HOAs children are not, and older residents may have have been conditioned to keep their distance existing health issues that put them at risk. and turn inward. But even with infection rates “Th e city is pretty much lift ing all mandates, slowing overall, vaccines in arms of most age but at R.E.M. we encourage residents to please groups, and warmer weather on the horizon, continue to wear their mask, and continue it still remains uncertain how safe residents to practice social distancing, like limiting to will feel participating in community activities two people at most in elevators, unless they’re this summer. “At fi rst when the pandemic hit, I think this nature.” it was the idea of ‘let’s get together and get through this,’ but we are human beings, and as \[you\] hear more and more kids running Management’s regional vice president Larry back and forth, or home offi ce chairs wheel- ing back and forth—by month three or four from the CDC, the World Health Organiza- relations became strained,” recalls Rashaad tion, and state mandates. But he notes that as Middleton, director of management for New regulations wane, residents are slowly return- York City-based R.E.M. Residential. “Calls ing to in-person activities. to 311 went up, and I think the number-one complaint was loud televisions and things like you had to have a pool ambassador who took that. “So it was kumbaya at fi rst, ‘I hate my one was infected with COVID and you had neighbor’ second, and \[since\] it has been to track it back and let people know that they boards and management trying to manage might need to get tested,” says Rada. “Th is expectations and all these personalities,” Mid- dleton adds. In some regions of Metro New York, this away. And this year a lot of people are vacci- new post-pandemic norm continues to im- pact the collective ability to observe and engage in niceties that were once taken for explains that his company worked closely granted—those idle chats by the mailroom, or with the boards of client communities to off er participating in special committees. And while the Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention (CDC) made mask wear- ing and social distancing optional in most spring and summer 2022, he says computer settings in March 2022, certain properties, screens will be nixed as many boards and including a great many co-ops, condos, and committees return to in-person meetings. HOAs in New York and New Jersey, are ask- ing residents to remain vigilant. “We as management 100 percent comply with the CDC and city guidelines,” Middleton which we haven’t had since COVID,” he says. members of the same household—things of Slowly Bringing People Back Together On the Gold Coast of New Jersey, Taylor Rada says the company also follows guidance “With pools, last year was a test, because notice of who was coming in, in case some- year we are not doing that. We are asking resi- dents to be smart—if you feel a symptom, stay nated, so more people are comfortable.” During the height of the pandemic, Rada ways for residents to stay connected, includ- ing virtual Disney programming for kids and remote yoga classes for adults. As he looks to Additionally, community activities are being planned. “We have an Easter egg hunt coming up, Resident Re-engagement After COVID Co-ops and Condos Are Getting Th eir Groove Back BY W.B. KING MANAGEMENT