June 23, 2015
The purpose of this report is to provide Aquarius owners with the most recent status report concerning the current construction projects. This report is based on information available as of June 18, 2015. This report is not intended as a response to the latest wave of letters from some owners which contain unsubstantiated statements, promises that cannot be kept, and in some instances outright lies.
West Pool Deck:
Pool- Tallahassee has finally approved the tiles selected for the pool. Reliable Pools estimates that completion is possible within four to six weeks as per the original contract. The tile selected for the pool bottom is white per code.
A concrete pedestal is being poured on the floor of the mechanical room by CSI for safety should there be flooding. There is no additional cost to us for this.
Pool Deck Bathroom- CSI has completed strengthening the beam supporting the structure and the work has been approved by the City Inspector. Due to the interference of some owners the permit for the bathroom has been held up and the City has ordered further permit applications for each component – electrical, plumbing, etc. Even though each demand has been met, the City continues to order more and more information thus causing this unfortunate, unnecessary, and wasteful delay. Currently CSI has spent approximately 30 work hours pursuing the permits and will continue in their efforts. The tile has been selected for the bathroom and is on display in the Lobby.
Glass Railing
CSI had to segregate the permit for the glass railing from the structural permit and thus had to apply for a new permit. The State of Florida ordered that a certificate be obtained from the manufacturer stating that the glass has been tested in a lab and stamped. That request was met and approved by the State. Thereafter, the State of Florida demanded that two new pages be certified and stamped. This is causing quite a delay. According to the manufacturer they have never been asked to do this for any other project.
Again, due to the interference of some owners this has caused not only a delay in completion but will end up costing us a substantial amount of additional money and is still in limbo. The additional cost for the permits so far – the bathroom $2,833.27, and the glass railing $2,109.65. Planters- are on site
Stucco work
The stucco work is almost completed on the front entrance to the garage and west pool deck. Paint will follow.
Gym
The gym ceiling has been cleaned and needs to be painted black. The walls have been replaced and we are awaiting flooring. Completion is expected shortly. A. Surdovel the General Manager estimates completion by mid July.
Valet Area
Removal of pavers has been completed and new 4×8 pavers have been selected. The front wall containing the large crack has been demolished.
Installation of the new gate to the garage is estimated to be done sometime in August. Until that time ingress and egress will be by the security gate. The wall bearing the gate is weak and this will prevent further weakening.
Phase I of the valet and garage area has been completed and we are now moving on to Phase 2. Painting of the columns in the parking area is more than half completed.
Currently work is in progress in the selection of the Fountain design which will be compatible with the architectural style of the building and one that will be economically acceptable. Potential design options are on display in the lobby.
There is no temporary waterproofing being installed. There is no necessity for temporary waterproofing because there is no habitable space underneath (only the parking garage) the valet deck and because CSI has installed a sump pump with drainage in the garage. The temporary waterproofing would cost approximately another $30,000, and would have to be totally removed in order to do the permanent waterproofing.
The marble at the front entry must be removed because this area has not been waterproofed. The manufacturer will not guarantee the waterproofing of the valet deck if this area remains without being waterproofed. No decision has been made as to replacement. Many options are being considered and samples will be provided for display before any final decision is made.
There is a work schedule for the valet deck posted in the lobby.
Lobby
The lobby renovation project includes the lobby area, the hallway, the “green room, the Cascade room, media room, bar area and the bathrooms in the lobby and the bathroom in the hallway leading to the south tower. Design options are on display in the lobby, as well as the carpet selection. There is one bid already received, one bid expected this week and we are still asking for other bids.
The scope of work is on the Aquarius web site. Once all the bids are received and a contractor selected, and permits issued the work will be completed within twelve weeks.
The work on the lobby will be able to be done simultaneously with the valet area.
The mold remediation project has been successfully completed.
Restaurant
The restaurant is expected to open in July.
We will continue to post to the Aquarius web site so please check it and the bulletin boards in both towers.
Thank you,
Construction Committee
In this series of pictures of the same Aquarius West Pool it is possible to see that little has been done in the last five months.
What is preventing this project to be completed? The project completion was promised for April 10, 2015 as you can view in the Project Schedule presented by CSI. Apparently in the end of April some City of Hollywood Beach emerged. But this was weeks after the project completion date. What is the problem? Click in any picture to see a slide show of the time series. To come back to this page click the X on the top left.
February 12, 2015 Waterproofing completed. Half of the tiles installed.
March 18, 2015
April 25, West view of West Deck
May 1st, 2015 West view of West Deck
May 1st, 2015 East view of West Deck
May 8, 2015 East view of West Deck
June 4, 2015 West view of West Deck
June 21, 2015 East View of West Deck
June 22, 2015 West view of West Deck
The project schedule set the completion date as April 10. Seventy days later and no end on site. CSI has shown that they can demolish. Can they build? On time on budget? Not at Aquarius.
Your segment on our building totally missed the role the current Board of Directors plays in this fiasco.
This newly elected Board (January, 2015) inherited a deteriorating building, as well as a group of very belligerent and vocal people hellbent on stopping any improvement or remedy that would cost them a penny even if doing so kept their property from increasing in value. Previous Boards not only catered to this small group but also ended up spending the “Trump” money on the everyday business of running the condominium. So, instead of repairing and maintaining our common areas the money was eventually gone.
The west pool had been unusable for many years and in dire need of repair until, finally, the previous Board passed an assessment for its repair. Unfortunately the prior Board
lacked the courage to pass a realistic assessment for what the true cost of the repairs would be and entered a somewhat open-ended contract which underestimated the job. To compound the problem, that Board allowed a three-year, interest free payment schedule which left the present Board with not enough funds to complete the already contracted scope of work. It was the previous Board’s negligence which caused the collapse of the lobby ceiling but even had it not collapsed, it would have had to be removed along with all the walls in order to remedy a dangerous mold condition which apparently had been present for a number of years.
Those very vocal people finally succeeded in temporarily stopping the work on the west pool deck.
However, this stoppage cost us not only more months of living in a construction zone without the amenities we used to enjoy, but also many thousands of dollars for additional, needless permit fees.
Some accomplishment!
Finally and most important – this Board was elected because they promised that they would restore our building to what it once was so we can once again be proud of our safe, attractive and more valuable homes and that is what they are trying to do in spite of this loud minority.
Judith and Victor Ort, Apartment 1605N
Sent from my iPad
Letter from Mark Farber, Unit 1503N, to some Aquarius Board of Directors Members June 11, 2015
(Note this letter was send to the addresses June 11, it was received by Aquariusuno.com June 18, 2015. It is posted the day it was received)
June 11, 2015
To: Mr. John Youssef, Mr. Joel Cohen, and Mrs. Linda Satz
Copy: Mr. Andy Cardovel, manager
Copy: All members of Construction Committee
All Owners of Aquarius Condo
Do not be surprised that I am addressing this letter only to you, three members of the Board.
Exactly three of you, while completely ignoring opinion of a lot of Aquarius Owners, are forcefully expediting “reconstruction” of the Valet Deck.
You started the project without having detailed project documentation. As result in the future we will see many “unforeseen” situations.”Unforeseen” only for you!
Some of the owners, including myself, warned you not one, but many times, that lack of temporary waterproofing (based on previous experience with the Lobby ceiling collapsing) will result in numerous flooding of the Lower garage during the hurricane/raining season.
Without having any experience in construction you are stubbornly ignoring warnings from the Owners who are Engineers.
If you are capable of honest and objective analysis then you will understand and agree with the facts of this letter.
During my numerous meetings with each of you and in my speeches at the Townhouse and the Construction Committee meetings I blamed you in consciously or unconsciously repetition of the actions of the previous Board which resulted in a lot of destruction of Aquarius property and in waste of hundreds of thousands of dollars. You have completely ignored it.
In particular I have brought your attention that so-called construction schedule was not detailed/specific enough. That is providing CSI with possibility of adding endless change orders for which we will pay while the project completion date will became a moving target. I also brought your attention to absence in the schedule of very important temporary waterproofing during the time of demolition of existing waterproofing and installation of the new one. You, together with the CSI representatives stated that ”the schedule did not have to include such small details and that everything is covered in the project, cost and completion time”.
THE FACT IS THAT THE TEMPORARY WATERPROOFING IS NOT EXISTING NOW!
Look at your “schedule” and you will see that from the end of June to the middle of December the waterproofing is nonexistent!!!
So, what do we have now to prepare additional money for?
To pay for a “change order” to install temporary waterproofing?
Or to pay for additional work to fix inevitable damages during the hurricane/rain?
Is previous experience not enough for you? Walk through the Lobby and look up to the ceiling – a monument to the carelessness of the previous Board. Do you really want your own such monument for $4,000,000?
I have to pay big money for your deception, complete ignorance, stubbornness and incompetence?!
What will happen with the Valet Deck concrete slab and with the lower garage itself? The answer is clear even today: flood, destruction, damage to elements of concrete structure and rusting of the slab re-bars!
You and only you must answer for all of this, answer for complete ignoring of obvious facts, answer in the court!
Make no mistakes: the people will be forced to do that. If the normal mutual understanding does not exist then this is the only way to seek justice!
The way you are “ruling” forces people to such extreme measures.
The similar situation exists with GYM.
Instead of lifting or fixing the South door of the elevator landing the Contractor has chosen simple yet wrong way. They lower the pavement tiles reducing the pitch needed for directing rain water off the door. Now during the heavy rain the water could get into the elevator landing, elevator and GYM. Don’t you know about that?
Not only I talked about that on one of the Construction Committee meetings but I also personally showed that to our manager. Now in the hurricane season you are propping this door with sand bags. Is that a proper solution?
I am forced to repeat: it is not just negligence, it is a criminal negligence!
As an Owner who factually trusted you to dispose of my money to prudently maintain Association property in good condition I demand:
1. Make fixing of above mentioned problems a priority (without additional funds from Aquarius Association)
2. Discuss this letter on the next Construction Committee meeting
3. Place this letter on the Aquarius Association Website
This post received several comments. Check them out at the bottom of this post. You may have to click the title of the post to see the comments.
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A number of apartment owners of the Aquarius Condominium of Hollywood, Florida have invited the WPLG TV Channel 10 of Miami – F. Lauderdale, an ABC affiliated station. The visit was in April 24, 2015 and the result was broadcasted June 17 at 11:00 PM Local News Program.
Bob Norman reports. Turn your speakers volume up. Following the clip from Channel 10 the Official report by the Aquarius General Manager giving his account of the episode. At the bottom the official clip from TV Channel 10 with adds.
Incident Report – Friday April 24, 2015
reported by Andrew C. Surdovel, Aquarius General Manager
On Friday, April 24, 2015 at 3:50 p.m., there was a knock on my back office door. I opened the door and Alexandra Kogan of the South Tower was accompanied by Channel 10 Local News (Bob Norman) busting into my office at Aquarius Condominiums with the TV Camera running followed by at least 8-10 yelling Aquarius Unit Owners.
They were chanting “where is the Trump money Surdovel” and “where is the contract for the valet deck”? Bob Norman started asking questions with the camera running on: “Why did we have a 3.9 million dollar disappearance without any work being done, besides another assessment of 1.6 million dollars, and another new assessment of 4 million dollars”? “Where has all this money gone since it is evident that nothing has been done to the building”?
I proceeded to show him the accounting sheet of the Trump money (6 years all accounted for on the sheet since 2009), and explained to him this is where the money went due to poor management. He held the sheet up, and the cameraman scanned the entire sheet. I offered him a copy and he took it. Then the Aquarius unit owners were screaming so loud that he asked them to leave.
It was very difficult for them to leave, and he said I will stop this unless you all leave.
He told them he would show them the video later. After a few minutes, they finally matriculated out of the office with one female unit owner refusing to leave. She kept reciting “this is my building and I have a right to be in this office”. I told her she either leaves or I will ask Channel 10 News to leave. After that unit owner left, Bob Norman started asking questions as to whether the Board had a right to have an assessment without a unit owner vote. I said, “Yes they did”.
Then the shredder in the outer office began to run, and he indicated that we were shredding documents so that he could not see them. How convenient, you are shredding documents while I am here. I said, “Bob come on this is not right. I am not shredding documents”. He agreed.
Bob Norman asked me if I felt the Board had any criminal intent. I told him, I felt that the past Board did not have any criminal intent, only mismanagement.
I told him that the present Board is moving forward on fixing up the building with the new four million dollar assessment. I also told him the air conditioning and the balconies were using up a lot of the funds. The previous Board allotted $80,000 to reconstruct 32 balcony edges with time and material instead of total project cost. We started on these balconies, and after we did four, we spent almost $50,000.
Bob Norman asked me about why we had certain items in the assessment and where were the bids to back them up? He also said these items should not be estimates. They should have bids to back them up.
I told him they were estimates and before we spend the money on the projects, we will have 3 bids to back them up. I told him on the 2 million dollars, part of the assessment on the valet deck, we had 4 bids. Also he asked, what about the roof, and I told him we had 3 bids ranging from $28,000 to $67,000. This was a requirement from the first Board.
In conclusion, I finally said: “You must leave now.” He said: “now you want me to leave? You were such a nice guy, now you want me to leave?” I told him enough is enough. I shook his hand and he left. number
The only unit owners I could visually identify were:
Ira Bell
Boris Goldberg
Sofia Ferenburg
Alexandra Kogan
Signed by Andrew C. Surdovel, General Manager
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The official WPLG TV Channel 10 of Miami – F. Lauderdale, an ABC affiliated station is available with better resolution and better sound, closed caption available, if you click the link bellow: It will open in a new TAB.
The dream of living on the ocean is alive and well in Hollywood Beach.
Thank you, Bob for the interesting coverage of our condo complex in Hollywood – the Aquarius.
This “small” group of people is not so small after all: they comprise currently just shy of 50% of unit owners, who have been working towards recalling two Board members – the President and the VP. The Board and its entourage speak dismissively and lack any respect for others with differing opinions. Furthermore, to those who are engaging in finger-pointing, permit me to remind them that incites anger and hatred, both of which are an offense, compounding the issues by pitting “groups” against each other, an apparent specialty of the current Board. Had not Governor Rick Scott just passed into law this week that old(er) people cannot be forced to leave their homes?
It would be a wise choice to inquire as to the actual obtaining of permits; what the previous situation without any new permits for the new projects would result in: both for damage insurance reasons, personal injury as well as legal consequences set forth by the city of Hollywood. In hand had only been yet another “Change Order”. On the topic of Change Order # 20, the Vice President, singularly, poorly negotiated and signed an agreement with CSI to waive previous paving and flood claims our building has on them, leaving unit owners with the full cost of mold remediation, drywall installation, furniture damage – much of which had been due to negligence on CSIs part, and to which they had initially taken full responsibility and promised to cover the repair costs.
Regarding the “Trump” (Related Group) money: much of those funds had been misdirected over previous years (since 2009). However, the approximate sum of 1.5 million dollars remaining balance had been used in addition to the first assessment beginning January 1st, 2014 – approximately 1.7 million dollars – for the West pool project plus other items. But even that amount of 3.2 million has been insufficient, and the West pool remains unfinished and inoperable. On the same note, it is usual in Southern Florida for condominiums to offer a two, three, or even five-year amortization for special assessment payments. This is done to alleviate sudden financial burdens on unit owners, instead of forcing liens and subsequent foreclosure proceedings, where in this instance, it is estimated that well over 30 unit owners will lose their homes due to an aggressive payment schedule. The statement of the three members on the Board resoundingly commented, “If they can’t afford to pay the assessment, they should sell their homes and move.”
Compared to some lovely, tasteful, minimalist low-key oceanfront buildings in Bal Harbour, Surfside and Miami Beach, with their tamer lobby decor, the extravagant amount of money designated for this lobby’s design and furnishings is something that is being thrust upon all; including that “small” group referred to. And may I add – without a vote on design, or budget. I do recall from a previous letter writer (J. Ort – who bought their unit in December, 2012), disclosing to me personally that she wants to see a “gorgeous” lobby and entrance. When I asked her, “how gorgeous”, she made attempts to direct my line of vision to the Trump Hollywood to the north of the Aquarius, and also to the Residences, to the south of the Aquarius. What is a glaringly obvious question begs for a response. Why then, had Ms Ort not bought any number of units in either or both of those buildings she holds in such high esteem, rather than oblige unit owners to accommodate her aspirations to a falsely elevated station in life? The Aquarius of the new century has its own personality – neither extravagant nor bling-gaudy; neither that of the Trump Hollywood nor the Residences. Our goal for our buildings are clear and simple: Safety, budgetary concerns, functionality, attractiveness.
Times change, as do tastes, not to mention demographics. The population owning in the Aquarius in the 70s and 80s is far different from today; both in current age as well as taste and cultural background. The possible demographic homogeneity of 40 years ago is no more. Yet the ruling junta has decided to plow forward with no regard to voices from nearly half the current condo population.
There is no mistaking that repairs of a serious nature have been warranted, and will be for some time to come. It does seem that with so much repair work that does need to be done, then those are the things that should be attended to first. Prioritization. Yet it is the opposite that is taking place. The demolition of the entire driveway, for example is just such an example. The Board President had told me in March of this year that he does not want to have to revisit the front entrance area again several years down the road, so he’s decided to have it all done now (driveway only = 1 million dollars). This was one week after he had announced at a meeting – “No new projects this year!”
The Board has been in place for six months, which is well enough time to assume responsibility for closely managing and supervising both currently contracted projects as well as projects begun on someone else’s watch. Those complaints you here about “… it was the previous Board”, is just passing the buck. Tis true, the previous Board was not a panacea, yet they are gone. The new Board, while excluding two members of the five-person Board, have behaved unscrupulously in addition to aggressively, shutting people down, adjourning meetings so as not to engage in discussions with owners, because they do not intend to engage any unit owner who disagrees, or has other opinions. The Aquarius website only prints those letters written by a select few who sing the Board’s praises. This type of propaganda has no place in our society. Manipulation springs to mind.
On a closing note, and a point to consider: What is becoming increasingly obvious is that construction companies in Southern Florida are what we call: “A practiced hand”. Condo Boards seem to be on board.
Something to think about.
Thank you for your time, and again for the exposé coverage of your recent news item.
Kind regards,
The intent of this letter is to gain consensus from most unit owners regarding the decisions that are made for needed repairs of our neglected property in compliance with 40-year inspection.
Construction / Repair / Budget issues to date:
None of the improvement projects that occurred since our two years of Special Assessments started in June 2013 has been completed.
Multiple bldg. assets and structures have been demolished and damaged in the process: the west pool, the lobby, the gym, the restrooms, etc. We had the valet soffit breakage and numerous floods in the lobby, gym and garage area, due to the engineering ACG and contracting CSI company’s inexperience and unprofessional poor performance.
All these factors resulted in 19 Change Orders and significantly increased cost to unit owners. The cost went up from $1 million (per initial contract) to $1.7 million and has now reached $4 million dollars.
All the decisions with these companies are made in secret meetings by the majority trio Board members (Mr. Cohen, Mr.Youssef and Mrs. Satz). We have elected five Members of the Board, but two are consistently excluded from decision-making meetings.
Based on prior issues (state above) and lack of results most condo owners do
not trust them with the completion of current projects and any future projects.
Proposed Plan to Resolve These Issues:
Recall the Board President John Youssef and Vice President Joel Cohen.
Prevent all future unnecessary multi-million dollar projects (Unit owners can review what is truly necessary to prepare for the 40 year inspection. Go to Google and, on the Broward County website; look at the detail of what a 40- year inspection entails. The words “pool,” “deck,” parking”, and “balconies” do not appear on the list.)
Complete unfinished projects before starting any new work. After the recall the board will evaluate the amount of second assessment, ease the payment schedule, establish a strong control with the help of an independent General Contractor and complete the projects on time and budget.
Please join 145 unit owners who have already submitted their recall ballots. Even if you signed the Rescission Notice, you can sign the Recall Ballot again.
.A Letter from your Board of Directors June 17, 2015
Dear Aquarius Condominium Association Member:
By now you have been contacted numerous times by a dissatisfied faction of unit owners seeking to obtain your signature on a “recall” petition. We are writing this missive in order to set forth the FACTS surrounding this issue. In order to get owners to sign the petition this faction has made many misstatements concerning the work being done on our common areas, the current assessments being collected by your Association, and the integrity of your Board of Directors.
We are writing this letter in response to those misstatements, rumors and allegations, If you were told by anyone that recalling Joel Cohen and/or John Yousef would alter, put a stop to, or in any way change the West Pool Deck Project, the Valet Deck Project, the Parking Garage Project or the Lobby Renovation, they were at best misleading you. The removal of these two Board members would not in any way affect our Association’s validly contracted projects. With or without Joel Cohen and John Yousef or irrespective of what names are on our Board, our contractual obligations remain.
If you were told by anyone seeking your signature that removing or replacing any member of our Board would in any way affect the validity of either the 2014 or 2015 assessments they were, at best, misleading you. These assessments were adopted according to law and are legally binding. If you were told by anyone seeking your signature that you need not pay the assessments when due, nothing could be further from the truth. If an assessment is not timely paid, penalties and/or interest are added to the amount owed and a lien is filed against the offending unit. If, after a period of time (usually 90 days), the assessment, interest and penalties are still not paid, the Association will initiate proceedings to foreclose the lien.
Finally, if anyone seeking to obtain your signature made statements to you concerning the integrity of any of the Officers or any member of the Board of Directors, rest assured that any such statements are totally and absolutely false.
Some unit owners have succumbed to the constant barrage of telephone calls, incessant lobbying and untruths, and signed their names to the recall petition now being circulated. This Board was elected a few months ago because they promised to put an end to the further deterioration of our common areas and to restore the quality of life we once enjoyed being owners at Aquarius. This Board made that promise and a majority of the members are doing everything in their power to fulfill that promise.
Those seeking this recall KNOW that removing Joel Cohen and John Yousef will NOT end any project already contracted nor will it reduce or remove the 2014 and/or 2015 assessment.
Please do not allow yourself to be misled or lied to. Unfortunately, many members of this faction are so desperate that they are trying to pit one group against another by claiming that those in favor of the renovations and in favor of retaining Joel Cohen and John Yousef are anti-Russian. That is absolute hogwash and those telling you this KNOW THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE!
We are all owners and neighbors and regardless of ethnic origin want the same thing – to live together in a safe and attractive home that will increase in vale and that can once again be proud of.
If you already signed a recall petition and wish to rescind your signature, now that you are aware of the true facts, please do so.
Aquarius Tenant Does Not Pay HOA Quote or Assessment Fees
The name of the new tenant may belong to the Zodiac but even being a colleague of Aquarius he refuses to pay. It is Mr. Crab, Cancer in the Zodiac, that brought his family to live under a rock in the front lawn of the building. It looks like an extra terrestrial monster but he is just a shy inhabitant of the urban jungle.
Mr. Crab measures anything from 10 to 15 inches. The babies are red and measure a couple on inches at the most. The parent(s) are grey and black.
Some are fearful that the pets that perform their daily stroll at the A1A sidewalk will eventually give these wild animals an hard time. Aquarius Security members and Valet assure that they will protect the well being of Mr. Crab and his offspring. Lets hope so.
Some say that they cruise the Ocean Drive going to our parking lot. Is this credible? Probably not. Anyway, try your luck to get a glimpse of our tenants. Their caves are easy to spot. They, on the other hand, are not always available.
Is a new assessment in the plans? Rumor Mill gets Directors Statement:
A rumor is floating around Aquarius that the Board of Directors is negotiating a $4,000,000.00 contract that will lead to a $4,000,000.00 assessment on November 1. [2015]
This rumor is untrue.
Except for current projects, the Board is not going to sign any new contracts or seek further assessments.
All of the current projects will be completed before the end of December 2015 or sooner.
(This is an official email from the Board of Directors of the Aquarius Condomium Association, Hollywood, Fl, June 12, 2015)
Aquarius Condominium, Hollywood Florida - Not ACA site 