Category: Announcements

Flooding Update

As an update, the Board, newly formed committee, management, and Super have been working on a daily basis to address the flooding situation.  We will be hiring an engineer to analyze exactly where the water is entering and leaving the system and causing water to enter specific apartments which, in each case, is different. 

Yesterday the committee completed a three-hour walk-through with an eye towards providing the expert that we will be hiring a complete accounting of the issues and mitigation steps taken so far, so the expert will be best equipped to provide recommendations for additional steps to be taken.  It is also our intention to install and confirm check valves are working wherever they are needed or will help, and work with the expert on this. 

We will continue to provide updates as we progress. Thank you.

Emergency Meeting re Flooding

Please be advised that today the Board held an emergency meeting with the Super and EM Holding to follow up on our non-stop efforts regarding the recent flooding, which, as everyone knows, has caused loss of life and property throughout the region.  At Skytrack, many people experienced significant water backups and flooding.  The Board takes all of these issues extremely seriously, and is actively working to address  the situation.  Since last year we have already taken many steps, including hiring experts and installing new back-flow prevention valves.  We are now redoubling our efforts, and have formed a committee (including non-Board members) to assist in working with additional engineering firms to assess the Buildings and provide further guidance on additional steps we can take to best protect Skytrack from worsening weather that is being caused by climate change.   

As previously noted (see post below), please ensure to file complaints with the City and elected officials, as a significant part of the problem is the inadequate sewer main that serves our building.  We are coordinating with neighboring buildings (many who experienced backups for the first time ever in this recent storm) to ensure that they file complaints as well.  We hope this will get the City to act and improve the sewer service. 

In the interim, we will continue to work to do everything we can to alleviate future problems.  Please note that the Super or Management may contact you to coordinate access to apartments as we investigate solutions with experts, and inspections and investigation within certain Units likely will be necessary.

Actions to take about 9/1 9:00-10:00 PM Downpour

For the many apartment owners whose apartments experienced flooding during the September 1st hurricane Ida 9:00-11:00 p.m. downpour, we request that you report your experience to the below entities. The more reports the city receives, the more likely we are to get action taken to protect us from future storms

From: Susannah Pasquantonio <pasquantonios@nyassembly.gov>
Date: Thu, Sep 2, 2021 at 1:51 PM
Subject: [BoerumHill] Flood Issues & Water Damage
To: <main@boerumhill.groups.io>

Please help NYC Office of Emergency Management assess the impacts of recent severe weather by reporting storm damage here: https://on.nyc.gov/report-damage. This tool is for data-tracking purposes only. Report concerns to 311 and call 911 for emergencies.

For those with flood damage: file a Water Damage Claim form with the City Comptroller’s office. Access the form here: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/services/for-the-public/claims/e-filing/

You can send the locations of the flood to our office as well, so we have a general sense of where it occurred and so we can also share it with the appropriate agency,  but please email it directly to simonj@nyassembly.gov

Thanks, and please stay safe – we know it was a difficult night & morning for many of you.

-Susannah 

Susannah Pasquantonio (she/her/hers)

Chief of Staff

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon

341 Smith Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

718-246-4889

In the meantime, the Board of Managers is attempting to set up an emergency meeting to address this topic again.

Significant Rainfall Predicted!

While the Board and Super are actively working to alleviate issues with respect to sewer backups, which are largely the fault of inadequately sized sewer mains that service our building, please limit water use, including toilet flushes, during intense periods of rain.  And when significant rain is forecast please refrain from starting dishwashers, washing machines, and taking baths and showers. Using as little water as possible may prevent sewage from backing up into lower level apartments, which obviously has the potential to cause severe damage. The Board reserves the right in an emergency to temporarily turn off water for a short period of time if it seems that it may help prevent sewage backup.

HEATING SYSTEM WORK

As mentioned at the Annual Meeting, we have made arrangements so that work on the components of the heating system owned by each Unit (e.g. radiators, valves, and thermostats within Units) can take place this summer. The window for such work will be either the week of August 23 or August 30.  To the extent you wish to do any such work, please inform EM Holding or Val now so that you can be added to the list and we can ensure the work is able to happen.

You may use any plumber of your choice, though some recommendations (in alphabetical order) are:
B&D Plumbing 718-625-1396
Einstein’s Plumbing 718-246-4095
Sallustio Plumbing 718-858-9080
Weiss Plumbing 718-875-3926

Flooding

To minimize water backups in lower level Skytrack apartments, please avoid heavy water use such as dishwashers, washing machines, and baths, and please minimize toilet flushing if at all possible, during periods of heavy rain this afternoon and through the evening.

Heating System Work

As mentioned at the Annual Meeting, we have made arrangements so that work on the components of the heating system owned by each Unit (e.g. radiators, valves, and thermostats within Units) can take place this summer. The window for such work will be either the week of August 23 or August 30.  To the extent you wish to do any such work, please inform EM Holding or Val now so that you can be added to the list and we can ensure the work is able to happen.

You may use any plumber of your choice, though some recommendations (in alphabetical order) are:
B&D Plumbing 718-625-1396
Einstein’s Plumbing 718-246-4095
Sallustio Plumbing 718-858-9080
Weiss Plumbing 718-875-3926

Vermin

Please be advised that the Board and the Super are aware of sightings of rats in the vicinity of Skytrack, including on Dean Street and Boerum Place, and share the concerns expressed by many of you.  We have taken and will continue to take steps to address this problem including by working with our exterminator to ensure the building is as protected as possible.  We have installed poison stations at various locations, and as evidence by deceased rats that have been seen, we believe these measures are working.  Management also is in touch with neighboring buildings to ensure that they are taking appropriate measures.  We encourage Skytrack residents to contact 311 and file complaints to ensure the City is aware of the recent influx of vermin in our neighborhood, so that they can also take appropriate measures.