Time of Renewal

Our walk through downtown this afternoon through the rain and blowing wind was met with the re-emergence of Occupy Portland. They are out today to renew their efforts and join a national day of unified protest. Their route remains intentionally undisclosed; their goal to protest large corporations. They plan a deliberate attempt to disrupt business and the evening rush hour.

Participants assembled in late morning and began their march through downtown. Their chants are accompanied by drums and whistles as helicopters hover above. Police on bicycles, motorcycles, and on foot are stationed around the downtown area waiting for their call to action. Police in full riot gear are similarly ready and waiting.

Yellow umbrellas are the signature banner of the day.

Usually the early signs of spring take center stage now. Daffodil stalks are emerging, cherry trees are budding. However, nature is unseen today amid the clamor of protest.

Mellow

Mellow Mood, with six locations in three states, is planning on opening its 7^th store right downstairs. At a board meeting last night, the owner, flanked by two realtors and sponsored by one board member (the commercial unit owner) discussed his plans for the newest store. The board voted 4-1 in favor of welcoming the new tobacco and pipe shop with the proviso that no scales be available for sale.

From their website

Zapped

An owner requested reimbursement for replacement and installation of a microwave oven at tonight’s board meeting. Having experienced issues with our microwave’s incompatibility with the building’s duct work, it is not surprising that the issue comes up again and again. Microwave issues have been reported on this blog here, here, here, and here. To this day, I am not confident that our problem has been resolved and I continue to avoid running the clothes dryer for the hour before preparing meals requiring use of the microwave.

New policy was adopted a year or more ago that the HOA would no longer reimburse owners for their zapped microwaves regardless of fault. The duct work remained an active issue, however. Tonight the owner was requesting reimbursement for both the microwave and the installation because, according to her, she had been reporting problems for the past four years and although the board has addressed her problems by sending a repair crew on more than one occasion, those repairs did not remedy the situation. This time, she purchased a new microwave and had it professionally installed and was advised to avoid the duct work, seal off the vent, and have the microwave vent into the room instead of to the outdoors. She now lives with cooking odors, but at least her microwave functions, she told me.

The board was not very encouraging. She was told that it is the unit owner’s responsibility to manage the problem since policy has been established. “Don’t you read the minutes?” she was asked. “I don’t get those,” she responded. “Aren’t they sent to everyone in email?” Hello?

And the newest twist in the ducts: The board now denies responsibility for ducts.

 

In the Beginning

.

.

.

.

Target - Coming to the Galleria near you!

Take A Load Off

.

Our loading dock is located on the north side of the building. This week, the loading dock has been outfitted with new doors.

.

HOA BOD

The next board of directors meeting will take place this Monday, February 20, at the usual time and place. The agenda has been posted in various locations around the building.  The agenda, as presented, is designed to lure owners and residents to what looks to be a very exciting meeting.

 

New business appears to be most intriguing. Discussions will include C1 lease, BMC, and transfer to CDARS. If those are not enough acronyms to stimulate your brain cells, other acronyms will surely be bandied about during the meeting.

TTFN

.

So Cute

The non-motorized vehicle a/k/a “the trike” is at rest in our parking garage. It shares a parking space with the consent of the owner of the parking space  as well as the approval of the board of directors.

.

Adorable? Absolutely.

Legal? Absolutely not.*

.*Please see details previously discussed here.

.

Targeting the News

http://connect.facebook.net/rsrc.php/v1/yQ/r/f3KaqM7xIBg.swf

http://www.facebook.com/dialog/oauth?api_key=132333146781779&app_id=132333146781779&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df2ed8e620343bba%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Foregana.wordpress.com%252Ff2023c392dba0ba%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&client_id=132333146781779&display=none&domain=oregana.wordpress.com&locale=en_US&origin=1&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df3a88b7f28b17a4%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Foregana.wordpress.com%252Ff2023c392dba0ba%26relation%3Dparent%26transport%3Dpostmessage%26frame%3Df18cfde1847113d&response_type=token%2Csigned_request%2Ccode&sdk=joey

Target Corp, Mayor Adams, and the Naito family (owner of The Galleria) will announce on February 16 the plans for downtown Portland’s new Target store. The lease has been signed and construction has already begun. The new Target store is expected to open in March 2013. As reported on OregonLive.com earlier today:

“Shoppers in Southwest Portland soon will have a Target store within walking distance. The retailer, better known for its suburban locations skirted with massive parking lots, has signed a lease agreement with the Bill Naito Co., for space in the Galleria Building on Southwest 10th Avenue and Alder Street. Construction has begun on the store that’s expected to open in March of next year.”

Work In Progress

Last night’s frenzied work crew was not on scene today. Instead we awoke to find the area marked off with caution banners and plastic sheeting which was secured as a walkway from the drilling site all the way to the end of the corridor and around to the elevator. There were no signs of workmen, no instruments of torture, no notices posted with information. In all probability, the dowsers were elsewhere in the building, still seeking water.

For  today, our path to the trash room, the lobby, and our gateway to the world remained available, unlike last night when that path was closed without warning, notice, or explanation. It appears as though there will be interruptions of some unknown upcoming. I pray the water is not shut off while I am in the shower!

We are but mere owners in this joint venture we call condominium. We do not have to know. We only have to foot the bill.