PROBLEM SOLVED

Managing risk in co-op and condo buildings is more crucial than ever as insurance rates soar. Many boards are now requiring residents to have their own apartment insurance, but enforcing this is no small feat. In this episode, Habitat’s Carol Ott talks with Kara Ryan, Director of Compliance at Mackoul Risk Solutions Insurance, to uncover the challenges of specifying adequate insurance, tracking policies, and ensuring compliance. Join us to discover practical solutions for safeguarding your building and maintaining peace of mind.

In the heart of Manhattan, a towering condominium grappled with a recurring nightmare: leaky Con Ed steam pipes wreaking havoc on its residents' homes. Each incident left a trail of destruction, prompting the board to confront a crucial decision: persist with costly repairs or embark on a bold transformation. Faced with a repair bill soaring between $15 to $20 million, the board discarded the old centralized system in favor of sleek, modern in-unit heat pumps, a transformational move priced at $7 million. Not only did this stop the leaks, it allowed residents to determine their own heating and cooling needs within their own walls. Ramez Afify, principal at E4P Consulting Engineering  explains what the condo faced and the details of its choices.  Habitat Magazine's Carol Ott conducts the interview. This episode is sponsored by Parity.

In New York City noise is a common problem. Sleep issues used to be the biggest complaint, but as the world has shifted to remote work, day-time noise has become a new distraction in apartment buildings.  Developers of new condos in commercial areas are facing day-time noise issues and it's impacting the sale of their units. Michael Lentin, Founder of CitiQuiet Windows, a brand of interior soundproof windows, shares how his firm has worked with developers to proactively address this post-pandemic concern. And in the era of climate change, even Con Edison has jumped on the interior window bandwagon to provide incentives for buildings to use an interior window as a less expensive alternative to a complete window overhaul. Habitat Magazine's Carol Ott interviews Michael Lentin, founder and owner of CitiQuiet Windows. This episode has been brought to you by NYSERDA.

When apartment owners in a  NYC co-op or condo want to renovate their units, most will sign an alteration agreement and then their plans are sent to the building's architect for review. Difficulties ensue when the reviewing architect says the work needs a permit from the city, and the apartment owner insists it doesn't. Kevin Bone, co-founder of Bone/Levine Architects, explains the ramifications of this push-back and why boards should be strict about allowing certain types of work to proceed without a permit.  Habitat Magazine's Emily Myers conducts the interview. This episode is sponsored by NYSERDA.