A 14-Story Co-op Faced Falling Concrete in the Wake of Hurricane Irene

Proactive Planning

The long-term plan began with the roof, and the most recent job the co-op had was to deal with a severe leak problem. "We had leaks coming out of every corner of the building," recalls Heussinger. "The building is about 60 years old. We discovered that there were certain defects in the original construction, weep holes were blocked up, and the inner wall was cracking. We were getting tremendous amounts of complaints from shareholders and residents."

In addition to the leaks, "the concrete itself was so deteriorated it was falling off because the water was getting inside the walls," reports Esin Pektas, senior architect at Rand. Pektas oversaw the project, which began on September 11, 2013.

The work itself went relatively smoothly, with the board plugged in as needed. "We met with the board whenever necessary," the architect recalls, noting that the directors received weekly, detailed reports on the job.

Funded Through Refinancing

The job ended on August 25, 2014 and cost $1,588,875. To pay for it, the board refinanced its underlying mortgage on February 1, 2013 for $21,000,000, taking out extra money as part of a long-term strategy to repair and upgrade the property.

"This board is very proactive," observes Christopher J. West, the co-op's general manager. "They are a great board to work with, and this is a great place to live."

Heussinger agrees — otherwise he wouldn't spend at least six to seven hours a week on board business, excluding regular meetings and special meetings. "I do it because I am a longtime resident of Northbridge Park Co-op and want to be assured that the building is on solid footing and going in the right direction in the future. Many shareholders rely on my skills and experience and I am committed to make certain that this reliance is well-deserved."

PARTICIPANTS

Christopher J. West, general manager 

Allan Heussinger, board member

Esin Pektas, senior architect, Rand Engineering & Architecture

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Photo courtesy Rand Engineering & Architecture. Click to enlarge.