We are Unit Owners at Soho Central Condominium Corporation's building, a project of Century Properties Inc. from a joint venture of Meridien Development and Greenfield Development. This blog will teach and consolidate information regarding our building. Please submit comments; and if anyone would like to meet for tea/coffee to discuss the building, please send us an email. Unit Owners have been unable to witness decisions being made with our money at private board meetings.
Plan, plan and plan some more
QUESTION: Is Stonewall Central a better name for the property?
Does everyone remember this among the wonderful ads and brochures and how about the salespeople and what they told us. I hear such fantasies continue. So after watching and remembering, cry and then laugh at the truth that is being exposed.
And, if the above is not enough and you need elevated blood pressure, here is the project's brochure.
Many posts are still issues and need to be read once again. At this main hub of postings watch for new posts and updates. Please get involved by spreading the word as to the issues here. We must document all that is taking place. Many documents need retrieval and assistance is needed in getting them scanned and posted.
The circular dated March 3, 2017 with the subject "DOOR TO DOOR VISIT FOR SGMM & INTERCOM REPAIR & MAIINTENANCE" spoke of a meeting with "some unit owners." It seems "some Unit Owners" are more equal than other Unit Owners for an unannounced meeting. What type of meeting designated in the By-Laws or law does this come under? Were there Minutes for this meeting? Anyway, there seem to be two names for the upcoming meeting you may see in postings and emails. But the one in the above subject circular may have exposed the true nature of the meeting. The title of the meeting and acronym are "March 31, 2017 SPECIAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING (AGMM 2017)." It was clearly written with the word "Annual" as an announcement. The activities as announced are actions that would take place at an Annual Meeting ("regular" meeting). Who may be going to this likely contentious meeting? What preparations are being made as far as questions and is anyone bringing legal counsel?
Recall when surprisingly a copy was given for a better idea as to what the terms are for a better understanding of the management arrangement.
Time to Read and Understand all the Contracts
In fact, time to have all critical records open for immediate inspection in binders as called for in past posts. Here is Article 3 of the contract with the new management company. The previous contract with Century Properties Management Inc (CPMI) was longer than five years. This contract is a shorter time period. This is a very good thing given developments. Here is a past post on management contracts - http://sohocentralcondominium.blogspot.com/2016/02/soho-central-condominium-corporation.html
"SERVICE AGREEMENT" "ARTICLE 3: TERM OF APPOINTMENT"
"Except as terminated pursuant to Article 16 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding for three (3) years commencing on February 1, 2016 and valied through January 31, 2019."
This work was done on the 35th floor for a Globe line as told and repair of a wall in the Mayflower tower. These photos show holes than the repair job. Go and see for yourself the outcome since photos do not show everything. It starts near the electrical room. This is the type of work experienced for several years. You may also see the hole in the wall and electrical room door fiasco.
for what is expected to be a very contentious meeting.
There is allowance for a Special Meeting in the By-Laws for Soho Central Condominium Corporation but not a meeting as written below. What is this suggesting? There was an attempted required meeting last year called an Annual Meeting in the SCCC By-Laws though in law it is called a "regular meeting" required each year. It is to be held in April unless a specific date is in the By-Laws as stated in the Corporation Code. The quote below with a date and meeting title are taken from a circular posted concerning the meeting and intercom disaster. The date in the title and more importantly in the acronym suggest that this is the meeting for 2017. This is not the Annual Meeting ("regular meeting") as required. In fact, is everyone being told that there will be another meeting in August on the last Friday to have THE Annual Meeting? So how can the Annual Meeting ("regular meeting") for 2017 be held prior to the date specified in the By-Laws which is in August? "...March 31, 2017 Special Annual General Membership Meeting (AGMM2017)..."
There were posts in the past about leaks from fixtures in the building from the time of turnover in 2009. They continue and someone has another large bill.
We had leaks in our units and comments from TrueValue employees who came to fix the plumbing saying they were cheap. Not the inexpensive cheap but cheap as in low-grade or poor quality. We keep the pressure at the lowest needed to maintain the water heater and ability to use the water efficiently. So what took place and is taking place? At this point a study by an independent engineer is needed to determine why the leaks are taking place. It is due to poor quality materials put in place at the time of building construction? Are the plumbing works in units now reaching a short life span of ability to function properly? Has there been or is there currently a problem with engineering maintenance causing issues for unit plumbing? Manila Water cannot be the problem since the water enters the building through a main pipe and is pumped to a holding tank on the roof. Who originally calibrated the water meters for the units and are they checked for accuracy for billing? For now, everyone check for leaks each day and place paper underneath suspicious plumbing to see if there are drips. Get leaks fixed with better plumbing fixtures as we did. Have your pressure lowered so that water heaters may operate and the flow is minimally satisfactory. Turn off the water when away.
