AND, Why can’t I park until the power washing completely done?

AND, Why doesn’t the building pay for me to park elsewhere during this process?

There is a rhyme and reason. 🙂

If you’ve see the puddles of water during this project, then you understand why we bother to do this in the first place. YUCK!! We clean the garage surface, not only to help protect the concrete, but to reduce the gunk and goo that gets in the building AND your vehicles.

The storm on Monday caused chaos for everyone this time around, so we realize there was more inconvenience to our parkers then you usually deal with. We appreciate that, and thank everyone for their understanding and cooperation, particularly since we decided at the last minute to bump the cleaning one day. This was not only to make things a bit easier the day of the storm – it was primarily a choice due to safety. The storm created challenges for everybody, and especially parkers in the garage.

Understandably, perhaps this time more than ever, we had many parkers questioning the process.

Why do I have to move my car right at 9am? and,

Why can’t I put my car back when they are done cleaning my particular spot?

Why is it such a big deal to move at all?

First, and most obviously, if you’ve seen the work in progress, you’ve seen the amount of goo and gunk which is removed from the garage surface and washed away. And this time of year, when you start adding all the salt to that layer of goo, it is even more critical for the protection of the concrete, and avoiding potentially much lengthier cleaning process in the future. Salt always makes things worse. But also, consider the following:

1. WE WANT THE WORK COMPLETED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE…The schedule is devised so we are completing the garage cleaning in quadrants. Each parker needs to move their vehicle from their scheduled quadrant by 9am, so the cleaning team can begin and complete the work as unobstructed as possible. THEY CAN COMPLETE THE ENTIRE QUADRANT FASTER, when there are no vehicles present. With no cars present, the equipment can move back and forth through the garage faster. SO, it is most convenient for everyone if all vehicles are removed BY 9am, so they can effectively, efficiently and productively get the entire quadrant cleaned.
2. WE DON’T WANT ANYONE’S VEHICLE DAMAGED. The equipment includes a scrubbing machine, and those scrubbers spin. If it picks up debris, it is possible this debris can fly out and cause damage. While they take precautions, any debris caught by the scrubber and could hit your vehicle. So, best it is not there.
3. WE DON’T WANT YOU WALKING THROUGH PUDDLES – YES – Why do we tell you NO when they have finished cleaning your spot, but you can’t return your car? While they do remove much of the excess water while they are cleaning, puddles form and the water drains to the low spots throughout the surface. The final VERY LAST step in the process, is to run the machine over all the locations to suck up any puddling or excess water that has formed.
4. WE DON’T WANT YOU TO PAY MORE FOR PARKING THAN NECESSARY – So NO, PTCA is not going to pay for everyone to park elsewhere, while we conduct routine maintenance such as spray washing parking spots. The cost of doing the cleaning and other maintenance is built into the cost of the monthly license fee. Relocating vehicles for 8 hours when this happens, is not. Most folks are at work during the weekdays so increasing your parking fees on the off chance they will be home the days we spray wash would not be wise. We know not everybody needs to relocate, so from a business perspective it would be irresponsible and inefficient to budget funds and increase the price of monthly parking to compensate for parkers who may or may not need to park elsewhere an pay. Everyone needs to plan on this happening twice a year and if you choose to park somewhere that costs $$$, you should expect that as a part of your own personal budget.

We know this is inconvenient. But for everyone’s collective convenience, and for the greater health of the building, please understand there is a reason the process is what it is. There is a very good reason we perform this maintenance. The more parkers who cooperate with the process, the easier that process will go for all parkers collectively.

ORIGINAL POST

Our seasonal power wash of the parking garage has been scheduled for Monday November 26th through Thursday November 29th.

For the most effective, productive and thorough cleaning possible, we need all our parkers help and cooperation.

Each quadrant within the garage is scheduled for cleaning as follows – consistent with the locations and scheduling in the past – between the hours of 9AM and 5PM on the following dates:

Monday November 26^th               Level 1P spaces 90-149, T16-T23, All Valet        

Tuesday November 27^th               Level 1P spaces 21-89, T14-T15, All Valet

Wednesday November 28^th        Level 2P spaces 82-149, T16-T23

Thursday November 29^th             Level 2P spaces 1-81, T1- T14, 148,150,151

GUEST PARKING WILL BE VERY LIMITED ON THESE DATES AND TIMES. Anyone expecting guests should let them know parking may not be available.

We realize this process is an inconvenience for those who depend on parking availability during the week. But this maintenance is necessary to reduce the gunk and dirt that gets tracked into the building, and helps remove substances which act to increase erosion of the membrane and concrete on both 1p and 2p. Keeping the membrane and concrete clean also extends its useful life.

For the best cleaning results possible we request all garage parkers remove their cars from the garage to accommodate the power-washing as scheduled above. If you do not remove your car from the garage you risk dust, debris and other damage to your vehicle from the power-washing process, which the Association, staff and vendor shall not take responsibility for. Also, a $50 fee is charged to the license of any vehicle not relocated in time for the work.

We greatly appreciate our parker’s patience and understanding while this maintenance is being performed, and apologize in advance for any disruption or inconvenience this causes.

Please contact us with any questions, 773-769-3250 or parktowercondo@dkcondo.com.