UPDATED COST $463,000
 

60% over budget

Designers received $15,000 + 30% on purchases + additional 20% on trades. Plus contractor gets %20. Designers did not pull plans so what are these insane fees awarded to them for? What kind of public space experts are they? They should rebate some money and why wasn't unforeseen problems factored into the budget.  Incompetence all around.

 

Picture of the clubhouse garage taken Sept. 19, 2024. It was August 16 , 2024, when the board announced the garage needed some work to come up to code, before the clubhouse could open. What work have they done in over one months time?

         You Can’t Say We Didn’t Warn You!

                                        
Clubhouse project: $463,000  60% over budget 

Alan Rothenberg, Cindy Davidowitz, Debbie Resnick, Stephen Fanuka, Stephani Michele, Donald Feldman, Donna Geffner

Over the last several months the Residents Club has been sounding the alarm about the mismanagement of our community as well as it finances. We warned you about the poor decisions and incompetence of our board, led by President Rick Saccullo.

We warned you that unless the board changes direction residents will be hurt by ongoing maintenance dues increases and assessments while our homes and facilities deteriorate. We warned you of the secrecy, the lies and the lack of transparency of the board and their attempt to hide all their misdeeds and poor decisions.  We warned you of their lack of financial reporting. We warned you of their wasteful spending. We warned you that the use of TCM (management company) would continue to deplete our reserves. 

Unfortunately, we were right. And now we are in trouble. Now their financial mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility falls on our backs-the residents!

 

Back in November the Residents Club was shocked and reported that our board would be spending $300,000 on a clubhouse spruce up of the upper level. At the same time there were no plans to renovate the lower level of the clubhouse.  At a town hall meeting when confronted and pressed by residents whether there were plans to renovate the lower level with a modern gym, President Saccullo mumbled a bit, and, being quick on his feet blurted out to the crowd, “ the lower level will be taken care of in Phase 2 of the renovation”.  At the time Saccullo and the board lied to the community knowing that there were no Phase 2 plans, no Phase 2 committee and no funds allocated for a Phase 2 renovation. 

 

In the July 2024 Estates II Newsletter we learn that the upper clubhouse redecorating project (full of debacles leaving the clubhouse closed for use for almost 9 months now) is now going to cost an incredible $463,000!  Yes, that’s Four Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Dollars, 60% over budget !!

 

The original budget presented to the residents was $288,138-which even that everyone thought was very high for a redecorating project and reconfiguring 2 bathrooms and where only a small minority of residents use the clubhouse!

Again, the lower level of the clubhouse will be left untouched with this expenditure. But, fear not, our Board has finally come up with a plan for the lower level renovation…

ASSESS THE RESIDENTS!!!

So, if one reads the newsletter carefully, the board ran out of money to complete the upper level $463,000 renovation and has assessed the residents to cover their shortfall and tease us that part of the assessment will be used as “seed money for renovation for the lower level.”  I guess we can assume there will be another resident assessment to complete the renovation of the lower level after their “seed money” runs out.  

Do residents realize that before this board and TCM started managing our community, we had hundreds of thousands of dollars in reserves and residents were never hit with an assessment? Now we are broke and the only way to make improvements to our community is through maintenance increases and assessments to residents.  Residents, put your seatbelts on and get ready for more dues increases and assessments coming your way !

Thank you Rick Saccullo and the board!

 

Oct. 2023 "No Assessment is Needed..."


 
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$300,000 REDECORATING 

OF 45 YEAR OLD CLUBHOUSE  BEGINS 

Keeping 45 year old sheet rock
Keeping 45 year old insulation
Keeping 45 year old sub-flooring
Keeping 1980's out of style ceiling beams
Why? 
______________________________


The board continues to send letters reminding the Residents how they look out for Resident safety, yet the board failed to rope off the club house during construction until a resident instructed them to do so.

From: Kenneth Deutsch <[email protected]>
 

_________________________________

Since the Clubhouse Renovation Presentation on October 30, 2023, there has been much talk in the community regarding the lower level of the Clubhouse.  

The Clubhouse was constructed over 40 years ago and unfortunately the lower level has been neglected and is in the sad shape we find it today.  It is certainly, not the crown jewel of our multi million dollar homes.  

It is clear that residents overwhelmingly would like to see a renovation of the lower level. At the Clubhouse Renovation Presentation many residents voiced their opinion of their desire to have a modern enhanced gym.  The Residents Club has also received input suggesting there should also be a kids lounge/play area as many young families are moving into the community.  

Note that the Board is spending $300,000 on the upper lever of the clubhouse. Not one dollar is being allocated for the lower level. Further consider, the Board is spending $20,000 on the railing alone !

Please take note of the Presentation Highlights in Blue Font below.




Oct 2016 Under TCM Management money was dedicated towards the lower level two times but spent elsewhere. 



Gym Renovation budget $20,000

Locker Room & Bathroom Renovation Budget $60,000

Soon after there was another $100,000 budgeted for the lower level

Where did the $180.000 go?  "INTO THE WEEDS"
Alan Rothenberg, Cindy Davidowitz, Debbie Resnick, Stephen Fanuka, Stephani Michele, Donald Feldman, Donna Geffner
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 Recent photos showing some of the conditions of the lower lever:

Broken Toilets " Please hold handle until flush cycle is completed."



Cabinet removed exposing unpainted wall paper in sitting area.

  Old useless shelving serving no purpose.

Broken saunas, 
                                   "Sauna does not shut off automatically. Please turn off sauna before  leaving."


Pitted shower hardware. Shower handles broken. Shower leaks.

Showers used as storage for outdoor umbrellas.

Decrepit original Formica sink.

Outdated, 40-year old showers and bathrooms.

"PLEASE FLUSH" - Unbecoming signage to please flush.


A walk-through of the lower level will find evidence of complete neglect and obsolescence and it is hoped that the Board will consider a "Phase 2"  renovation that they have always promised. Perhaps the Board will re-consider the current renovation project and the amount budgeted for the upstairs and save some of the funds for the lower level... WE DESERVE BETTER !


_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
$300,000 Clubhouse Renovation Presentation by the Board of Managers 10/30/23

PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS:

Present: Estates II Manager, the majority of Board Members, the Renovation Committee, Residents, and the Design Team consisting of two interior designers and the general contractor.

The Estates II President commenced the meeting by stating the Clubhouse Renovation Project has been in development for one year and then proceeded to introduce the Design Team. The Design Team discussed highlights of the planned renovation of the main floor including:
 

1. New wood flooring
2. New lighting
3. New storage console
4. New stair railing
5. New Furniture
6. Minor Fix Up of Bathroom and Managers office
7. Paint and or Wallpaper of all areas
8. New art work

• During the meeting several residents requested to see color choices and materials use in the renovation. The Design Team only presented a few swatches of carpeting, wallpaper and fabrics.

• Noticeably absent were the presentation of any graphic mock-ups, sketches, photographs, brochures, or paint sample boards. Accordingly, those in attendance were not afforded the opportunity to see what had been in development for over a year.  Other than the few swatches that were shown, the only other visual presented at the meeting was a revised floor plan circulated to residents and is attached here below. The Design Team seemed ill-prepared with its lack of presentation materials and essentially had nothing to show the residents in attendance.

• During the presentation several residents questioned the President if the Clubhouse Renovation included any upgrades or expansion to the gym and/or the lower lever of the clubhouse.  The President responded by telling the residents that this renovation does not include any improvements to the gym or lower level.

• The President stated that very few people use the gym or the lower level. Many residents countered the President's remark by stating that people don't use the gym because it is inadequate and that the lower level is disgusting, unsafe and needs a renovation. One resident stated an up-to-date gym is part of any modern community center while another resident stated, "If you build it, they will come."

• After many comments were voiced for the failure to consider any upgrade of the gym and lower level during this renovation, the President stated that the gym and lower level will be taken care of in "Phase 2".  The President nor any Board member failed to expand on Phase 2, its plans, its budget, or timeline. [It should be noted that after the meeting, the Residents Club received input from two residents who stated that a Phase 2,  Lower Level Renovation was promised to residents during the last renovation several years ago, yet never materialized.]

As more feedback is received from residents this page will be updated accordingly.
 

  Clubhouse Renovation Revised Floor Plan & Budget

  Distributed to Residents 10/30/23