In Response To Questions From Residents, Owners and Vendors, guidance for permitting guests, issuing permission to enters, vendors and contractors for repairs and remodeling – anything really – was discussed and decided upon at the Board Meeting on Monday April 17th

The Park Tower Management team has done as much as we reasonably can to encourage compliance with the State of Illinois ‘Stay At Home Order’, but on the collective behalf of our staff, hopefully it makes sense to everyone we can’t guard every door or entrance or babysit every single person coming and going and their purpose for doing so.

It is logical, due to the number of people now at home during the day instead of at work, we’ve had an increase of complaints concerning construction, repairs and remodeling noise. Likewise, general noise complaints, cigarette and marijuana odors. Everything. Not just folks who would otherwise not be scrutinized and/or criticized for improving their home and investment.

Management has stopped considering any new construction or remodeling and work orders, unless it is necessary for the habitability of the unit or protecting the building. For work orders, it is also because our resources are spread extremely thin due to the intensity of focus our team has had with cleaning and sanitizing.

To support this, the Board looked at suggestions from our team, and defined the following to be essential versus non-essential needs that would be acceptable to address during the Stay At Home order:

ESSENTIAL

•            Operable kitchen sinks and faucets. Supply lines and drains.

•            Operable bathrooms, sink/toilets/tubs. Supply lines and drains.

•            Operational HVAC convectors.

•            Anything dealing with major electrical work (if it poses a fire hazard).

•            Fire prevention, Health and Safety.

•            Leaking, flooding.

•            Repair/replacement of non-operational appliances.

•            Broken windows, or structural damage.

•            Food delivery.

•            Health care and volunteer assistance for the ill, seniors or elderly.

NON-ESSENTIAL

•            General remodeling upgrades (painting, decorating, adding/removing interior walls, etc.).

•            Hardwood flooring/carpeting replacement, unless water damaged or trip hazard.

•            Anything cosmetic or aesthetic.

•            Personal housekeepers (Mighty Maids, Dirt Devils, Stanly Steamer, etc.)

•            Guests in general that are not for the purpose of an essential activity.

This is guidance only, though we believe the Association can reasonably force postponement of non-essential construction and remodeling, by withholding the approval required by the PTCA Declaration and Rules. The present major health emergency and the fact most residents are forced to be at home could be argued as a more than reasonable purpose.

ALSO – anyone coming and going should be using PPE. Management will no longer honor permission to enters or issue keys to contractors or others requesting them, if they are not wearing gloves or a mask. It is expected the present Stay At Home order may be amended to mandate that anyone coming and going in public should be using PPE, and otherwise be subject to a ticket. If that is the case, our team will be unable let ANY non-residents enter, who is not wearing at least a mask. ALL GUESTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD DELIVERIES, CONTRACTORS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS – everyone. Residents would need to be home and retrieve any such individuals or deliveries from the lobby.

For work orders we are doing everything we can to limit traffic in the building and in and out of your homes. For that reason, we are trying very strictly to perform only essential and critical work keeping a unit habitable, for the health and protection of our residents, your property and the structure of the building.

If a work order is scheduled, the following policy must be followed:

Preparing for Service Request

For the health and safety of our team and other building residents, we respectfully request residents complete the following to prepare for our team’s entry into your apartment to perform this service request.

• Disinfect the general area where the work will be performed with a general household cleaner which kills, viruses and bacteria such as Lysol or other surface cleaner which kills germs.
• Remove yourself from the room where the maintenance tech is working by either stepping into another room or standing outside in the corridor until the work is completed.

Likewise, the maintenance tech must wear gloves and a mask when entering your home and will also disinfect the area when the task is completed.

If you have any questions or additional concerns, e-mail us at parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com.