WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

Board at century-old building adopts new “community solar” model.

Upper Manhattan residents sickened by Legionella bacteria.

Two shareholders make a difference by getting "actively involved."

Board conquers “bad behavior,” deficits, and galloping energy costs.

Mark Hines and the rejuvenation of River Terrace.

The “overbuild” is an affordable solution for many older buildings.

A little-known pot of money helps a co-op switch from oil to gas.

Washington Heights co-op gets unique loan for oil-to-gas switch.

Lights! Camera! Action!
 
Angelina Jolie was in trouble. The apartment had just exploded, the windows blown out into the street. The movie megastar crept along the outside ledge of the building before sneaking into a neighboring apartment, then sprinting out through the lobby to safety on the street.
 
“Cut!”

Usually, when the subject of carpets at co-ops comes up, it's regarding a noise complaint and the 80 percent carpet rule. But in this week's Ask Real Estate column in The New York Times, Ronda Kaysen fielded a different type of carpet-related question. Someone in Washington Heights asks, "Does New York City have any rules or regulations about shaking rugs out a window, or beating them in a courtyard? Could a co-op board object to the behavior?" Kaysen gets imput from Dov Treiman, a Manhattan real estate lawyer, who explains that the city has no laws about cleaning rugs. "But," he cautions, "if your co-op board decides that shareholders should not be slinging carpets out their windows, it might be able to adopt a rule banning the practice. It would depend on whether the building’s governing documents allow the board to change building rules. Check your proprietary lease and house rules to see if a restriction already exists." Kaysen does add some good neighborly advice, however. "You might irk neighbors living below you (or mingling in the courtyard) who would not appreciate a shower of dust raining down from above. So perhaps you should consider a less dusty alternative for your carpets, like steam cleaning," she writes. Remember, courtesy costs nothing and goes a long way to keeping the entire co-op community happy.