(08-10-2020, 02:18 PM)ijmorlan Wrote:

(08-10-2020, 01:27 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Well, I never ...! I would not be keen to be part of that type of scheme. Even the locker master key theft can be mitigated if the locker is only accessible using the condo's or apartment building's own access control system.

I would have assumed that whatever key the postal worker uses to access the boxes would let them in all the way from the street. They’re not going to carry a ring of keys for their entire route; and if they did, it might as well give them access to the boxes; and also the ring would in effect be a(n unwieldy) master key.

That being said, I hope we’re talking about a key that opens something like all the boxes on a route. If it opens every box in the city or province, then somebody at Canada Post doesn’t know how to do security. And it can’t be a country-wide key because no one is that stupid.

(08-10-2020, 10:40 AM)robdrimmie Wrote: According to this regularly updated CBC article, the CDC started advocating for masks on April 3, and Dr. Tam on April 6:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/masks-coronavirus-1.5507186

Quote:On April 3, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began to recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public places where other physical distancing measures are hard to maintain (such as grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas with community-based transmission.

On April 6,  Tam also suggested using non-medical masks when out grocery shopping or at a pharmacy.

There was an article posted on the 6th about Tam's change in recommendation, along with some history of what she said when.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/non-medical-masks-covid-19-spread-1.5523321

I think it's difficult for us to remember now but in March we didn't know how this virus transmitted and a lot of public health guidance was based on the transmission characteristics of SARS and MERS. That second article includes the line:

Quote:"We are very rapidly trying to integrate that later science," she said of the new studies that suggest people who have yet to develop symptoms can still have high viral loads that can be transmitted.

We know a lot more about this virus than we did four months ago.

(08-09-2020, 08:09 PM)tomh009 Wrote: I think your fee estimate is a bit on the high side. If you assume an average unit size of 900 sq ft and initial condo fees of $0.42 (ex security) which is fairly typical, you get about $4500 per unit per year and $1.35M for the condo corporation budget.

You would outsource the security (not many condo corporations want actual employees) so I'd guess you'd pay around $25/hour all in. That's $220K, or a 16% bump on the condo fees. And this is why our building does not have 24/7 on-site security (we're somewhat smaller, too).

(08-10-2020, 07:54 PM)jeffster Wrote:

(08-09-2020, 08:09 PM)tomh009 Wrote: I think your fee estimate is a bit on the high side. If you assume an average unit size of 900 sq ft and initial condo fees of $0.42 (ex security) which is fairly typical, you get about $4500 per unit per year and $1.35M for the condo corporation budget.

You would outsource the security (not many condo corporations want actual employees) so I'd guess you'd pay around $25/hour all in. That's $220K, or a 16% bump on the condo fees. And this is why our building does not have 24/7 on-site security (we're somewhat smaller, too).

Do you know what the condo fees are at the newer developments that are finished?

My thinking is this is one condo that might need security.

(08-10-2020, 09:33 PM)tomh009 Wrote:

(08-10-2020, 07:54 PM)jeffster Wrote: Do you know what the condo fees are at the newer developments that are finished?

My thinking is this is one condo that might need security.

Most of them are advertising condo fees in the $0.40-0.45 range, where there is no concierge or on-site security. Mind you, most of those will go up once they do their first reserve fund studies ...

(08-10-2020, 09:43 PM)panamaniac Wrote:

(08-10-2020, 09:33 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Most of them are advertising condo fees in the $0.40-0.45 range, where there is no concierge or on-site security. Mind you, most of those will go up once they do their first reserve fund studies ...

Almost certain to go up by about 20% - 25% in the first couple of years, no?

(08-11-2020, 07:11 PM)taylortbb Wrote: Charlie West is starting at $0.45/ft/month, which includes a total of $89k/year for concierge services. Doesn't seem like enough for 24/7 coverage, though I believe lots of the concierge services have additional fees, so maybe the company is expecting revenue other than the main contract.

In addition to the essentials, the fees include water (including hot water), central heating/cooling, and internet for every unit. So I expect the fees will go up, but it seems like reasonable value for money (that's a lot of the essential utility costs covered).

(08-11-2020, 07:42 PM)jeffster Wrote: If it includes water/heat/ac and the Internetz, that's a great deal. I imagine when it comes to the webz, Rogers or Bell may have provided a really good deal. An offer they couldn't refuse. So even if it's 1000SF, which I assume they include the patio, $450 provides you all that. 

(08-11-2020, 06:35 PM)Momo26 Wrote: Will have to see. Most condos being built will start at .43 and go from there. A realtor told me they're starting higher after seeing so many past condos not collecting enough and then we see these insane fees like $800 for a 700sq foot unit (older buildings).

(08-11-2020, 07:11 PM)taylortbb Wrote: Charlie West is starting at $0.45/ft/month, which includes a total of $89k/year for concierge services. Doesn't seem like enough for 24/7 coverage, though I believe lots of the concierge services have additional fees, so maybe the company is expecting revenue other than the main contract.

In addition to the essentials, the fees include water (including hot water), central heating/cooling, and internet for every unit. So I expect the fees will go up, but it seems like reasonable value for money (that's a lot of the essential utility costs covered).

(08-11-2020, 08:06 PM)taylortbb Wrote: The proposed budget is $89k/year for internet, which with 300 units is $24.72/month/unit. That's for 250Mb/s service from Rogers, so it's better than you can negotiate at retail but it's not totally out of line (I've heard of people getting the 250Mb/s plan for $35/month retail, and I currently pay $50/month to Rogers for 1000Mb/s).

(08-11-2020, 09:00 PM)panamaniac Wrote:

(08-11-2020, 06:35 PM)Momo26 Wrote: Will have to see. Most condos being built will start at .43 and go from there. A realtor told me they're starting higher after seeing so many past condos not collecting enough and then we see these insane fees like $800 for a 700sq foot unit (older buildings).

Condo fees go up.