Lately we’ve had a series of traffic jams at the back dock resulting in delays and inconvenience for some owners and residents.

The front circle driveway will be back open soon, and that will certainly help. But recent jam-ups have mostly been related to large delivery trucks for furniture, appliances and in unit construction, which seem to all unexpectedly arrive at the same time. We do our best to accommodate all deliveries, even if they are unexpected. But generally, parking on the dock and use of the service elevators is on a first come first served basis. So this has resulted in less than positive experiences for everyone involved.

A few things everyone should understand and plan for to help deliveries go smoothly:

1. Checking the elevator schedule can save you time and headaches! While we can’t reserve use of the elevator unless you want to pay a fee, we will track and help coordinate deliveries. We strongly recommend you contact the office if you are having appliances, furniture or authorized building materials delivered, or anything needing to go up a service elevator. We can let you know if there is a move or other deliveries expected, and note your delivery so we can try to plan and coordinate as best as possible. Trying to get your delivery during a window of time where other elevator activity is not anticipated will help avoid unnecessary inconveniences.

2. Checking if other deliveries are expected can help avoid a parking fiasco. There is very limited space on the dock, but parking is generally available for 30 minutes for active loading and unloading. Calling ahead to check if we are expecting deliveries or moves can help avert the possibility of the driver turning around and leaving with your cargo. It’s the best chance to get them in, unloaded, and gone. Unfortunately, if they turn the corner and see a line of trucks and delivery personnel loading and unloading, you may get an impatient driver who won’t bother to work with us to get your delivery off the truck. This has happened before, and can cause delay and financial consequences if they charge an additional delivery fee.

3. Scheduling your delivery with us, is being a good neighbor! The service elevators, 5 and 6, are the only elevators that go directly to the garage, recycling and the laundry room levels from the residential floors. So we do everything we can to limit deliveries to elevator #6. That way there – barring any outages or repairs – there should always be a service elevator (usually #5) to accommodate traffic to and from 1P and 2P. Delivery personnel sometimes see this, and get very impatient and testy with us. And this can often lead to an unpleasant exchange with the resident expecting the delivery.

4. Remodeling clean up and delivery goes by faster when you reserve the elevator. We can get a guard posted to help protect the building and keep traffic flowing. There is $150 fee for four hours, but in our experience this has been well worth it – for example, to get old cabinets out and down the elevator and new cabinets up and into your unit. With normal day to day traffic, without a reservation, we all know that you can be standing around waiting for the elevator. According to the last stats we had from Otis, #5 and #6 average about 1600 calls per day!! That’s a lot of traffic, and can mean a lot of standing around for your contractors.

5. Check the calendar. Reservations are now posted on the ptcondo calendar. Elevator reservations are now noted so you can see when there would definitely be a problem if you are expecting a delivery.

It is our goal to be as accommodating as possible, but sometimes we have to delay deliveries which can cause problems. Keep these points in mind when your replacing appliances or getting new furniture. Do not hesitate to contact the office (either by phone at 773-769-3250 or e-mail) to advise us of the delivery schedule.

For your reference, here are some of the relevant rules from the Association’s Rules and Regulations handbook:

From ‘Loading Dock‘ on page 22,”Temporary 30 minute parking is available on the loading dock between 7:30 AM and 8:00 PM, for loading and unloading. Parkers shall sign in on the posted clipboard on the wall next to the security office, and get a dashboard pass from security, the management office or the front desk….For moves, construction projects or other activities requiring extended parking on the loading dock, please see the relevant topics for the applicable policies regarding use of the loading dock. Four-hour parking is permitted on the dock for residents who have scheduled a service elevator….Eight-hour parking passes are also available for purchase by residents and their contractors performing construction, remodeling or other similar services to their units. Passes are available from the management office. Parking is permitted during Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5PM; until 6PM on Thursdays. Parking in excess of eight hours will subject resident to the risk of being towed and/or fined.”

From ‘Deliveries‘ on page 27,”Park Tower Condominium Association may designate the time and method for moving items to and from the unit such as any furniture, merchandise, goods, freight or other such items. All deliveries shall be made through the rear entrance by use of the service elevators only. The association does not take responsibility for any loss or damage to the property delivered to the building. Deliveries and packages should not be left with any building employee. Deliveries for non-residents are strictly prohibited. The guidelines for permitted deliveries are as follows: 1.  Commercial furniture and appliance deliveries may occur between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday, provided that the delivery does not exceed one hour and does not require an advance elevator reservation. A maximum of three elevator trips will be allowed for such deliveries, with a two-minute maximum of elevator door holding time. Such deliveries will yield use of the elevator to any residents or other individuals that may be present or have a scheduled elevator reservation. 2.  Restaurant and grocery deliveries will be directed to the service elevators after signing in at the font desk. 3.  Owners, tenants, and guests using carts to bring goods and merchandise into the building shall use service elevators….The association reserves the right to designate, restrict, and control all sources from which the residents may obtain delivered items such as food, beverages, and laundry for security purposes, and limit entry to the building by trades, delivery and sales people. A sign-in book is available at the front desk, and all service/delivery employees are required to sign in before being admitted into the building….Residents may not leave deliveries outside the door due to City of Chicago fire code. Building personnel will not sign for any deliveries under any circumstances….A dolly and flatbed may be checked out by contacting the management office.”

The most efficient way to schedule a delivery is to call the office during business hours, 773-769-3250, so if the date and time you are interested in is blocked, we can work out a better date and time with you right there. But you can also shoot us an e-mail, anytime, with questions or to give us a heads up if you have a delivery coming.