Condition Worsens at Soho Central Prison?

UPDATE (08/06/13):  In the past you may have read here or at the skyscrapercity forum messages still not copied to this blog regarding the elevators.  Of course, there are the developers, builder and developer controlled Board all with their hands in the mess.  But, there are also the companies hired to maintain and fix and inspect.  There is also the city or other government agencies that have seemingly no knowledge or lack of concern to inspect quickly determining whether we are riding safe elevators when they are working.  Finally, there is Otis.  I had called their headquarters long ago in Connecticut and also spoke to the person in charge here in the Philippines.  Overall I am disgusted with this entire affair.  As a Unit Owner who has been kept in the dark on this and so many other issues, I have complete contempt for the lack of information provided and consistently aggressive action that should have taken place from turnover to get the elevators safe and fully operational.  This is just another disgraceful event for the infamous builder.

 

Condition Worsens at Soho Central Prison?

I thought of several titles but kept coming back to this one given the deplorable condition that is getting worse.  Below is a memo from a signature originating at the PMO.  We assume that it is the Property Management Office and the signature might be the property manager.  Why this was posted in the lobby on the concierge desk without a typed name and official position is unknown.  Please read it very carefully.

Paragraph three has someone or thing create a new law for the nation, I believe.  What law in the Philippines gives Unit Owner rights to tenants?  Once a Unit Owner has a tenant they require the Unit Owner to sign as would a visitor!  Paragraph four further emphasizes this status lumping all Unit Owners who are not residing in the building with all others such as visitors.  Yes, when the 2013 Annual Meeting takes place Unit Owners who do not reside in the building will have to sign in first. 

Is Century Properties leasing required to sign in each morning?  We have never been allowed to see any contract made with them to issue a judgment as Unit Owners.  They are SPAs but are they exempt from the edict?  Meridien, I believe, still has their employees come to Soho Central and they may be seen from time to time in the lobby.  Are they, too, required to sign in?

Will we all have to sign out at some future date for a daily release allowance?

The following citation is from the Rules & Regulations just addressing the common areas.  Of course, the national laws state rights of Unit Owners and not arbitrary management rules as to whether or not property owners transfer rights and power.

"3.3 Use and Maintenance of Common Areas and Limited Common Areas

3.3.1 The Common Areas are for the use of all the Unit Owners. Their use is regulated to enhance community welfare.

 

3.3.2 The Limited Common Areas are intended for the exclusive use of particular Unit Owners or their duly authorized representative. Other Unit Owners shall not obstruct nor interfere with the use of such limited common areas. A limited common area shall be used for the purpose for which it is intended.
 

3.3.3 Only baggage and suitcases are allowed to be unloaded at the building main entrance and brought inside the front lobby. Grocery bags and similar items only allowed at the basement parking areas and brought up to the units via the service elevators.
 

3.3.4 The common areas inside the building premises, especially the floor elevator lobbies, ground floor lobbies, the upper ground floor facilities and basement parking are strictly NO SMOKING areas."

 
The letter that follows is from someone on the Residential Areas Committee (RAC) which is an organ of the Board to someone from Meridien.  That person from Meridien also sits on the Board.  The person that signed the letter did so without their position on the Board noted.  What is written is "Atty."  Well is this person now acting as a lawyer for the Board?  Or, are they acting as a lawyer for the Residential Areas Committee?  The Board has lawyers approved by the Board without full knowledge of the Unit Owners and the Residential Areas Committee has seemingly engaged (hired?) a law firm.  How much is all this costing and what is going on?

None of the Directors on the Board were elected by Unit Owners.  Many still think an election took place.  All members (Directors) of the Soho Central Condominium Corporation Board of Directors were appointed by the Board.  Yes, self appointing.

Both the memo and letter are dated July 26, 2013.  I had written about the problem of the elevators and posted to the blog on the prior day.

I consider the letter a Dog & Pony Show for distraction for what I see as emergency repair not of elevators but the disjointed managing of the property.  Has anyone seen this audit report?  This would not be the first.  Has anyone seen this Undertaking?  Recall, there was a question about legal action at the end of the 2011 Annual Meeting? What was done?  Nothing.  There was an announcement that January 31st of this year would be another deadline and nothing was done.  Many words and no action.

A unit owner at a building in QC had said at a meeting I attended that buildings were required to have a certain number of elevators running for a certain number of units.  Is that just a city rule or national code?

The last paragraph gives another threat.  Let me yawn first before the show continues.

Please read each carefully and pay particular attention to paragraph three of the memo.  It seems an edict above all law has been proclaimed.

 

(Click here for a .pdf of the above memo.) 

 

(Click here for a .pdf of the above letter.)