Page 17 - CooperatorNews New York June 2022

COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATORNEWS — JUNE 2022 17 110 East 42nd Street, 17th Fl., NY, NY 10017 | 212-682-2900 | braverlaw.net WE’LL GET YOU THROUGH IT the unit, board up windows, set up tem- porary electric power, etc. 5. The association should report the claim to their carrier, and all affected unit owners need to report the claim to their own homeowners’ carrier Timeline for a Reported Building Claim 1. Claim is reported to agent 2. Claims representative will process a claim with the association’s carrier 3. Within two days an adjuster will contact the property manager to set up an inspection 4. All communication will be with the property manager; the only communica- tion an adjuster will have with unit own- ers is to access the units for an inspec- tion. This is because in a building claim, the unit owners are not the insured—the building itself is 5. After the inspection takes place, the independent adjuster will complete esti- mates and compose a report 6. Within 30 days, depending on how extensive the loss is, the report will be completed and sent to the Community Association Underwriters (CAU) adjust- er for review 7. A coverage determination is made by the CAU adjuster 8. If coverage is afforded, the estimate and check will be sent to the property manager 9. It is up to the property manager, along with the board, to either manage the repairs or disperse the funds to the affected units. As an owner or shareholder, make sure you are aware of the terms of your policy and those policies that cover your association or corporation. Knowing that information before a crisis hits can make getting through an already tough situa- tion a little easier. n Cooper Smith is a frequent contributor to CooperatorNews. LOSS, INSURANCE... continued from page 9 include doorman packaging and package holding stations to accommodate the vol- ume of multiple packages daily. The real challenge is to create a space accessible to FedEx and Amazon, and keep sensitive items such as medication, grocery, rented equipment, and fragile deliveries in safe storage.” Our almost- ever ything-is- digital lifestyles also influence the elements design- ers consider when approaching a remodel. “It’s im- portant to realize that we’re focusing on a digital world,” says Vaughan. “When we’re do- ing amenity spac- es, we’re think- ing about things like how to make ‘therapy areas’ for having a pri- vate conversation; backdrops that look good on Zoom, or maybe areas or vignettes for an Instagram selfie. The digital world has made a big impact, and the pandemic specifically has made it so, because people were at home. Amenity spaces became extra living spaces. We’re creating areas to serve as ‘business lounges’ as I call them; spaces where people can work with their laptops and feel com- fortable doing so, with some visual and audio quiet, and a little bit of privacy. The amenity space has gotten more use than anything during the pandemic.” Finding the Right Theme There is no “one size fits all” when de- ciding on an aesthetic theme for communal and multifunctional spaces. It just takes the right proportion of vision and planning. That said, boards and their design profes- sionals should always consider the bones of the building. “Employ the natural style of the architectural style of the building,” advises Baron. “Suppose it’s a mid-centu- ry modernist building. It needs to reflect mid-century modern development. If it’s a 1920s/1930s Art Deco building, I believe it needs to reflect that style—like it would be classical with crown molding. If it’s a new building \\\[built\\\] in the last 15 to 20 years, which would most likely be modern, it would have a contemporary style. My work is contextual; it’s thematic. Therefore, the cooperative or condominium’s in- vestment would be a wise, long-lasting one.” While prudent boards and HOAs may like a longer- lasting design, no design lasts for- ever. To keep your common areas vi- brant and current, Vaughan suggests a periodic spruce- up. “Yearly or every two years, they can change accessories out, change the art. It’s not a major in- vestment like add- ing furniture or changing furniture, but DESIGN TRENDS... continued from page 10 continued on page 18 “We’re going to go through trends, and the reality is that amenity furniture gets beat up and worn. To keep things looking fresh, there needs to be continual upgrading.” —Elizabeth Sanchez Vaughan