‘Smoking Amendment Survey Results and Call for Responses’

From the Board:

‘Smoking Amendment Survey Results and Call for Responses’

To date, we have received 45 responses to our Smoking Amendment Survey. Of those responses 73% would support an amendment that includes prohibiting smoking in any area of the condo including units.  60% of those in favor would support grandfathering current owners to some limited exenption.  No respondents were smokers.

For online survey results, click here.
To download a Word file of these results, click here.

The Smoking Amendment Survey was distributed to all unit owners on 6/22/16 and 9/21/16 by Royal Management via mail.  If you haven’t already, please complete the survey  and leave the form in the office, send it by mail P.O. Box 850, Methuen, MA 01844, or email it to Cathy royal.cathy@comcast.net.   We would really like to see how all owners feel before we decide on pursuing this amendment.

To download a Word file of the survey for printing, click here.
For an online version of the survey, click here.  This is not a fill-outable form and cannot be submitted online, but residents can copy and paste the info into an e-mail to Cathy and add in their answers.


Canal Place Board

City of Lights Festival & Heating Tech Question

The City of Lights parade is this Saturday, the 26th, beginning around 4:30pm.  Other events will be going on throughout the day.  There will be no parking on Jackson Street beginning at 10:00am and no parking on Central and Merrimack Streets beginning at 2:00pm.  Parking will be free in all city-owned garages all weekend.  I haven’t come across official confirmation, but I think it’s a safe bet that parts of Arcand Drive, Merrimack Street, Central Street, and Jackson Street will be closed for the duration of the parade—so please plan accordingly if you’re going to be driving anywhere.

Also, I just got a request for heating/cooling advice:  “Resident is looking for recommendations for an experienced technician who has done HVAC in CP1. Resident would also like to know if others have the experience of the heating unit blowing cold air more often than hot.” 

 A-1 Maintenance Master is always the one I hear recommended (there’s a link for them on the Useful Links page).  They are extremely familiar with the heat pumps in this building and are very nice.  I personally haven’t had any problem with our units blowing cold air but I’ve used A-1 in the past to inspect our systems, and to correct a wiring mistake on a thermostat installed by another contractor.  If anyone else has any thoughts on the subject, please feel free to post them in the comments.

 

Plumbers and Electricians

Another request for recommendations:

“A resident is looking for a licensed plumber (preferably with experience in CP 1) to install a water heater.
They are also looking for a licensed electrician, also preferably with experience in CP 1.”

As always, feel free to reply in the comments or e-mail me with info to pass along.

There have been requests for plumber suggestions before and the response has been strongly in favor of Frank Potvin.  I don’t recall much in the way of electrician requests, although someone noted Village Electric in the same group of comments linked above.

You can also find a brief discussion about tankless water heaters here.

Early Voting

Just got this note from a resident (thank you, Brian!):
“There was a meeting last Friday at city hall for election inspectors which I attended. The Elections Dept. manager confirmed that free validated parking will be available at the George Ayotte Garage on election day. Anyone using the garage should bring their ticket with them when they vote. The validator will be located in the LHS caf where the voting will take place.

On a related note, I voted early today at city hall. I got in and out in about 5 minutes.”  

As mentioned above, our regular voting location is now at the Lowell High School Cafeteria, 50 Father Morissette Blvd.  The Ayotte Garage is the one next to the Tsongas Arena, across the street from the high school.  A convenient schedule for early voting with alternate locations can be found here.  A mock-up of the ballot can be found here.

Board Meeting and Halloween Stroll

The lobby office will be closing early tomorrow (Thursday) this week to allow for this month’s board meeting.  The office will be open from 6:00 to 7:00.  The board meeting begins at 7:00.  Residents are always welcome at board meetings (although there are occasionally times when part of the meeting will be held in private for legal reasons).

The Annual Monster Bash and Halloween Stroll is happening downtown this Saturday from 12-3.  More info here.

Trick or Treating will be held in the building on Monday from 6-8.  Everyone should have received a little orange pumpkin picture to put on their door if they’re welcoming trick-or-treaters this year.

And does the current maze at the garage remind anyone else of a haunted house?  I keep thinking it just needs some pumpkins and scarecrows to be perfect for the season! 😉

 

Lowell Walk, Marathon, & LDNA Meeting

Just calling a few local items to your attention.

The last official Lowell Walk  of the year is this Saturday, the 15th. This one covers part of the Concord River Greenway and meets at the Lowell Cemetery Lawrence Street gate (opposite 1025 Lawrence Street) at 10:00am.

The Baystate Marathon is Sunday morning (starts at 8:00) and will mean traffic delays.  Please take that into account if you have plans to drive anywhere.

And the Lowell Downtown Neighborhood Association’s monthly meeting is Monday at 7:00 at LTC across the breezeway from the Visitor’s Center.

If you’re looking for more things to do around town, I recommend Howl Magazine for ideas, or subscribing to the COOL weekly newsletter.

Enjoy the weekend, All!  We’re just about at the end of the nice weather.  (We haven’t turned on the heat in our unit yet but I understand it’s available again.)

Alarms, Meetings, and Kinetic Racing

First of all, fire alarm testing will be taking place on Thursday, the 29th.  Ron and the technician must have access to all the units.  If you haven’t already returned your completed permission form to the office, please do so ASAP.

There will be a board meeting next Wednesday, the 28th, at 7:00 PM in the lobby office.  Residents are welcome.  The agenda is posted on the first floor bulletin board next to the elevator.

There is a meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association scheduled for Monday evening at 7:00 at LTC, 246 Market Street. That agenda can be found here.

Finally, the first Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race will be starting tomorrow morning right out front on Market Street.  There will be activities and live music, as well as some bizarre, human-powered, race vehicles passing by, between 9:30AM and 4:00PM.  Sounds like a lot of fun—even spectators are encouraged to come in costume!  The Lowell Sun recently published info and a detailed schedule.

Anyone Noticing an Odd Smell Outside?

Just got this question from a resident:

I’ve noticed a chlorine-like smell in our neighborhood air lately. Anyone else notice this? Anyone know what it is?

I haven’t noticed anything.  Has anyone else?  Feel free to respond in the comments.

If I had to guess, I’d say they were doing some heavy-duty cleaning in our building’s back end section, the former power plant area that’s being rehabbed into luxury condos.  But I’m only guessing.