Open Saturday 10th December

Since start of the project, 23 Co-op members and 25 external trainees have been involved in the renovation work.

To date, Co-op members have contributed a total number of 700 hours of their time and external trainees a total number of 417 hours.

In relation to the completion of the work in the properties, 93 & 95 are completed and Co-op members will be moving in tomorrow. 97 & 99 are ready for members to move in.

We are anticipating 91, 89, 85, 87 and 101 being completed and ready for Phoenix members to move in by January 2012.

Please remember the site is open Monday to Friday 9.00am- 4pm, so if you had some spare time to get involved please give Maihan (07949570873) or Steve (07713215413) a call. In addition, the Site will be open Saturday 10th December for all Co-op members who are unable to make it down during the week.

Many thanks for the hard work of everyone involved!  

Volunteering at Spey Street

Dear members,

Spey Street will be open again tomorrow 26th Nov from 9:30am -1pm.

We are very close to the completion of project - So if you haven't had the chance to come on site yet, this is the time, come and join!

We look forward to seeing you.

For further info, please contact Steve Hopson on 07713215413 or Maihan Hamed on 07949570873.

We need more volunteers on site!!!

Many thanks to those members who attended the site on Saturday - your help is hugely appreciated.
This morning Steve told me how grateful he is for the work you have done over the weekend.
We are still desperately looking for more volunteers - today we have only one external trainee and Steve is struggling on his own. Can you please make your way to Spey Street and help us.
We are looking forward to seeing you.
For further information please contact myself (Maihan) on 07949570873 or Steve on 07713215413.
Thank you

Spey Street is open again this Saturday 12th November and we are looking forward for more volunteers

The site will be open again this Saturday 12th November from 9:30am-1pm.

Please come and help - This is your project so lets work together and turn it to a real success. 

We need volunteers to help us with painting/decorating, carpentry work and cleaning- If you think you have the skills, PLEASE don't STOP come and HELP.

We will be looking forward to seeing you all.

For further information please contact Steve on 07713215413 or Maihan on 07949570873.

Our address is:

85 – 107 Spey Street, London, E14 6PP


http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=538066&y=181655&z=0&sv=E14+6PP&st=2&pc=E14+6PP&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf



Coop members having their tea break on site.

Open this Saturday

As a result of the break in and theft of copper piping to 95 Spey Street on Tuesday 25th October, the decision was taken to Sitex all of the flats under renovation. The Sitex and internal property security monitors will only be removed once each flat has been completed and a Phoenix member is ready to move in. This will ensure that the site remains as safe as possible.


In relation to the water damage to properties, the fact that the properties had concrete floors meant that there was no permanent water damage to the walls or ceilings of 95, 93, 85 and 87. Whilst the Site was closed between 28th October and 7th November these flats completely dried out and there has been no permanent damage noted in them. This is indeed very good news as it means that the flats are still on track for their current completion dates and the renovation project has not been delayed by these events.

We are anticipating 95 and 97 being completed and ready for Phoenix members to move into by the end of this week (Friday 11th November)

The next SpeyCom meeting is being held on Wednesday 16th November, 7-9pm, William Guy Gardens. Please let me know if you are planning on attending.

Remember the site is open Monday to Friday 9.30am- 4pm, so if you had some spare time to get involved please give Maihan (07949570873) or Steve (07713215413) a call. In addition, the Site will be open this Saturday (12th November) for all Co-op members who are unable to make it down during the week.

-Carlita.

back in business

It's back to work time at the refurb. This morning Steve had four (or was it six) women coming in from Women into Contruction - web address as soon as I find it). Gary seems to have been energised by the break in. Steve was planning on getting the plumbers back in and on getting the carpets down and aiming to have the mid-floor flats complete soon.

Now is the most exciting time - Come one Down.

Refurb shut this week.

The refurb will be shut this week as Steve is away on holiday. It will not be open on Saturday either. The building is looking a bit forlorn having been tinned up by Poplar Harca following the burglary. Work will resume Monday the 7th of November.

a setback

After months of uneventful progress and hard work on the Spey Street Refurb there has been a set back - I'll let Colin tell you about it;

Unfortunately 95 Spey Street was targeted last night by thieves wanting the copper piping... Steve and I attended the site from 10pm till around midnight last night. The Police, London Fire Brigade, Poplar HARCA and the Water Board also attended.

Copper piping was removed from the bedsitting room in 95 and some damage was done to the bathroom, however not much was actually taken, the most damage occurred because a service pipe located in the ducting in the bathroom had been cut and therefore a substantial amount of water penetrated both 95 and 93 and also 85 and 87 on the ground floor. Steve managed to locate the stopcocks in the lofts and we had to turn off the water supply to the whole block. Poplar HARCA will attend today to re-cap the service pipe, re-instate the water supply and check for leaks. As you know the site was due to be closed today because Steve is at a funeral so Carlita and/or me will be liaising with HARCA once this work is complete. We will also be discussing, on Steve’s return additional security measures for the site in light of last night.

On the phone today Steve estimated that this would set the project back about 3 weeks - it is fortunate that we were so far ahead.

Volunteers time and effort are making a real difference at Spey Street

To date, we have 20 external trainees registered on the project and 19 Coop members have taken part. Day by day more and more coop members joining in, which is fantastic.

Yesterday, we registered 6 trainees from Women into Construction project. They will be starting next week.

Big thanks to David and Mal, our Spey Street garden looks beautiful and tidy, ready for the summer.

We are open every week Mon-Fri from 8am-4pm also we are open every other Saturday of the week from 9:30am-1pm. Our next opening on Saturday is 22nd of October.

Come and join us!!!!!!! Every little helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For more information you can contact me (Maihan) on 07949 570 873 or email me at hamedm@phoenixhousing.co.uk

The Young Ones

or at least that's what it sounded like Steve was singing. Steve, Pat, Paul and Erik worked Friday - mostly tidying up and taking the boards off number 85 (the former rubbish store) and putting the windows back in. Erik got on with sanding down and painting the bathroom in number 97. 95 is basically done (and very chi-chi it looks too) - Colin showed it to our first prespective tenant yesterday. There's a lot of interest in the garden flats - but sadly only two of the groundfloor flats have gardens and they won't be available for a long time yet.

Not much can be done about the patio doors - this will require an outside contractor because the hinges weren't there in the flats - so this is still boarded up. By the end of the day 85 did look much better.

Looking forward to seeing you Saturday.

Open Saturday 8th October

The refurb is open for volunteers Saturday 8th October but at least you won't have to move this stuff - it's gone already, the skip came Monday. Hope to see you all there. Paul.

City Too Hot!

Every time Phoenix does a refurb project it seems to cause (by sods law) an unseasonable heatwave. Today Pat and Steve worked (Paul called in for 2 hours between jobs because he was working locally).

95 is nearly completely decorated and once the boiler is commisssioned will be all ready to go - 97 is still being decorated and will require work getting the gas into the flat and a meter putting in. 93 and 99 are lagging slightly - it would be really good if we could find a member with some plumbing skills for the next saturday (or a day in the week say). The College of NorthWest London trainees have continued to come in (Moussa was in Wednesday) but Phoenix members visiting in the week have been few and far between - this is a shame because the kind of work we are doing now - decorating - is the kind that many volunteers feel comfortable doing. If you have these skills please phone Maihan and Come On Down.

That's more like it...

Ladies and Gentlemen I am proud to declare the Saturday Opening (this Saturday -the 24th - this morning) a success. Steve and Eight Phoenix members (Paul, Ray, Steve - another one, Ofa, Ninad, Mike - another one, Amit and Mark White) came and painted and sanded and stripped wallpaper and attempted a little light carpentry and even helped bring down the plasterboard cupboard in 87. A further two members got as far as the shops on the estate and then got lost - it is tricky to find, bring a map. Ken Kamara came down and took photos (and even shot some film of the Phoenix massive grafting away), we hope to post some of these soon.

'It does make a difference.' Muttered (a somewhat abashed) Steve.

If you fancy some more we're here Monday to Fridays and every second Saturday - Come On Down.

Saturday Opening

We are trying another Saturday Opening this saturday the 24th. We will be open from 9.30 til 1.30 - come on Down.

Pat and Brahim have been ill with the flu that is going around, Chaban has found other work, Andreas was busy but Edward, Moussa, Paul and Eric came in to do their days. Steve is clear that he needs more help to get the mid-floor flats painted up if we are to keep to schedule.

On Site things are looking good and even ahead of schedule with 95 nearly finished being decorated and 97 soon to be finished. Two of the flats on the middle floor have gas already and so should be ready for letting soon - the others won't be lettable until the gas is finally installed (this involves the national grid drilling through the walls and then fitting a meter in each).

Today, on the principle of a change is as good as a rest and a little fed up with painting, Steve and Paul opened up 89 (on the ground floor) and put in the windows (leaving the garden door which will require a new locking mechanism and hinges). They also took down the large cupboard in 89 (perhaps something they can repeat in 87 on the Saturday) - this is a little ahead of schedule (but that's not a problem really).

We Need A Radio

There is no radio on-site so the only music people get to hear is the tune that slips its way past our internal censor and ends up getting sung. 'Don't stop the carnival' was the most up-to-date song Steve has sung yet. Stevie (the plumbing contractor - who has been in finishing off the central heating installation to 93 and 99) was caught doing some human beatboxing (Snap's 'I've got the power'). Like I said, we need a radio.

Thursday British Gas achieve what EDF had repeatedly failed to do and get the power on in two flats on the middle floor. Was this a difficult task? No - they just had to inspect the installation, approve it and fit the main fuses. Now the only problem remains the gas supply - while the building was scheduled for demolition new gas piping was fitted on the outside of the building but in 3 of the flats on the middle floor the piping was never brought inside the property and no new gas meters were fitted. This means we will have to pay National Grid to drill through the walls in 3 properties - the waiting time for this is about 6 weeks.

On the plus side (for me) we are into the tiling phase, Pat has been busy fitting the kitchens in 97 and 95 after Steve and a number of the trainees (Edward in the hoto above) fitted the sinks in them. These look like being the first flats we will be completing. David Sanchez has been in a lot (helping to install the bath in 97). Darryl and Steve are getting on with the decorating in them.

Getting Better

The Second Saturday Open Day at the Refurb and Pennie, Mike, Marike, Paul and Steve and his wife came down. There was some painting, some tiling and some plumbing in of the bath in 95 and the sink in 97. We are now pining our hopes on British Gas to get the electricity on in 99, 97 and 95.

We are open again on Monday - the next Saturday Open Day is in 2 weeks time.

Moving On Up (Open Day Saturday)

Today the Refurb seemed to move up a gear as it had one percent of Phoenix members actually on site at the same time - Paul, Darryl, Pat and David (Sanchez). Eric (one of the College of North West London trainees) was also there, as were Maihan and Steve. Carlita came down and took some photos which we hope to put up soon.

There is an Open Day Saturday, September 10 · 9:00am - 1:30pm for more info please contact Maihan on 07949570873 or mhamed@phoenixhousing.co.uk

The following map should get you there. the best hint I can give is to look at the photos on the blog, or to walk up past the parade of shops and through the short tunnel at the top, you'll see a little walled off greenspace, next to that is a building with all the ground floor weindows boarded up. You've found us.

Please make every effort to come - looking forward to seeing you.

Back from our Summer Holidays

The refurb is back open to volunteers and trainees after our summer break. Steve went to Portugal (everyone else stayed home). Monday Steve, Brahim, Paul and Darryl worked, today Steve, Paul, Andreas and Edward worked, and Sumner House stalwart Pat will be coming down regularly as well (apologies for the old photo).


This Saturday we are open to volunteers and trainees 9 until 1pm again - it would be good to see some Phoenix members there.

Refurb shut to volunteers until 5th September

The refurb will be shut to volunteers until the 5th of Spetember to permit the plumbing contractor (Stevie not to be confused with Steve) to plumb in the central heating systems for the middle floor flats 99,97,95, and 93. After much discussion it was thought that this task was better carried out by a contractor rather than volunteers - though it is expected that plumbing in the kitchens and bathrooms will be done by volunteers. Steve is taking a well earned break in Portugal for a week.

The power is now on in 93 and we expect to have all 4 powered up on ther monday of Steve's return. We have begun painting in number 95 and will be continuing with this in one weeks time.

Progress - the 1% barrier is broken

One percent of the membership of Phoenix have now visited the refurb site - our lucky member to break this first barrier is Ola. Now how about we try for 5% - we have after all only been open to volunteers for a week. The site is open daytime weekdays and every second Saturday. Phone Maihan if you are coming in and if you are not sure where it is try Google Maps. Come on Down.

On the other hand volunteers from College of Northwest London (Moussa, Ibrahim, Shaban, Andreas, Edward) continue to come one day a week each and do good work, also in today was Erik from Archway who read about Phoenix online and is interested in becomming a member (as is Ibrahim). The electrical installations of the four mid-floor flats (99,97,95,93) have been certified today and the installation of the kitchens in them is proceeding well. Tommorow we begin painting in 97 (and perhaps 95) - Darryl (a Phoenix member) and Erik having spent a lot of time sanding down the walls.

The power is finally on in room 101 - EDF having pronounced themselves pleased with the installation. We have a toilet, hot water, two sinks, a kettle, a fridge, tea bags, milk and sugar, helath and safety notices cover the walls.

Volunteer Saturday - Thanks to all who came.

There must have been some kind of logistical problem - and please tell us what it is, because this Saturday NO-ONE came to the refurb that had been made open specially. This is not strictly true - Paul came down (but he lives in Spey Street), Steve and his Wife came down from Essex, Darryl arrived late in the afternoon.

At a guess one third of the members of the co-op live within a mile, something like 250 members live in the same borough, and the DLR stop (which was open) is 100 yards away. We must be failing to reach people, please tell us what we can do. Otherwise I can only conclude that people were too busy, perhaps they were put off by the sunshine in the morning (or the rain in the afternoon).

Here are a few reminders as to why the refurb is important.

The numbers of flats Phoenix gets from Poplar HARCA has peaked and there is no large scale alternative - this means Phoenix will have to chose who it rehouses and who it doesn't from people as their properties are handed back. Subtle Hint, Phoenix does this based on the rent account record ('Do you pay your rent on time?') and the Volunteering record ('Did you volunteer while you were a member of Phoenix?').

I have already had a number of people asking me about flats in Spey Street when the refurb is done - I have to say that seeing as they will last a minimum of 5 years and will be done up to a very good standard I think they will go like hot cakes. On the whole I would like to see them go to the people who have done the work.

If you are in the Co-Operative but not in imminent danger of handback perhaps the best way to think about it is that Poplar Harca properties pay for most of the running costs of the Co-op (this is why they show up as a loss in the budget) and if we didn't have these properties we wouldn't have this money coming in, and it would therefore have to be paid by all the remaining Co-op properties by means of increased rent.

Phoenix can only undertake these development projects if its members volunteer their labour, if they do not then nothing can be done. Thanks to all who came.

Volunteer Saturday at the Refurb - Come on Down!

Midweek and things are progressing in their usual contradictory fashion. The supply to two of the flats has been 'discontinued' (7 years derelict -you don't say) so the MPAN (meter identification) numbers that Steve has for them 'need' to be replaced by new numbers - This will take 10 days but fortunately Steve is now in contact with someone who knows what they are doing and has already applied for the replacement numbers. The rewiring of 101 is complete, and the rewiring of the middle floor flats will be finished tommorow, so all we need is the fuses for the company head to turn the power on. themselves - so by the middle of next week we'll have power in 101, and most of the middle floor flats. Fingers crossed.

Volunteers from North West London College keep coming - two Tuesday (Andreas and Edward), One yesterday (Moussa) and one today (erm. Sorry dude forgot your name, Darryl (correct name spelling this time) came Tuesday and today.

Steve is coming in specially to make the refurb is open to volunteers from across the Co-op this Saturday. Bring your painting clothes. All safety equipment, tools and paint will be provided. Come on Down!

Volunteer Day One (Another One Bites The Dust)

Day One and five volunteers came down - Phoenix members Kevin, Paul and Daryl and College of Northwest London construction students Ibrahim and Chaban. It may seem a long way to come (from Dollis Hill) but 4 CNWL construction students have said they will volunteer on the project - the practical experience will look good on the CV's.

Kevin got on with plumbing in the bathroom in copper, Kevin seems confident he can get the next set of kitchens cheaper as flatpack - which is good even though we are already underbudget on this. Steve (the Site Manager), Daryl and Paul variously at one time or another assembled kitchen units, made concrete to patch up floors. Steve demonstrated how to apply bonder to the areas where the plaster had been removed from the walls (due to weakness) - Paul, Ibrahim and Chaban took turns following his instructions - the next job is to skim it with plaster.

More people with plumbing experience would be good - we have five bathrooms and kitchens to outfit and more people with carpentry experience would be good - we have 5 kitchens to fit. If you don't have these skills? Come on down anyway!

Volunteers - Come on Down!

Ladies and Gentlemen - the refurb is now open to Volunteers from Monday August 15th.

Phone (or email) Maihan and come on down. For those of you who work weekdays we will be open this Saturday August 20th, we hope to see you then.


Flat 101 - the site office now has central heating, hot water, a functioning toilet (thoroughly tested), a desk for Maihan, a noticeboard and all the health and safety signage is up. The high-vis vests, safety boots and safety helmets are all stacked up waiting for Volunteers to put them on and go to work. Thanks to Steve for all his hard work and to the people who showed up to help get the site office ready (Kevin, Marike and Paul). It hasn't all been plain sailing however, we are still waiting for the main company head fuse for flat 101 to be put in to get the power on after we were repeatedly misinformed about which company's responsibility it was. We also ran out of time to get the bathroom sink fitted (so that's a job for monday if anyone fancies it).

Elsewhere in the building we are still ahead of schedule despite delays with the gas and electricity. Having wired up 101 on the top floor and 95 on the middle floor the electricians are coming back next week to finish off 99, 97, and 93. In 95 and 97 the outsize storage cupboards (that took up most of the room in these flats) have been taken down to create a bigger living space. (Here's Steve showing Marike how it would work.)


The ground floor we are leaving for Phase 2 of the refurb, we are leaving it boarded up and using it as a rubble store.

Monday we hope to begin the task of putting new work surfaces and cabinets into the kitchens (people with carpentry skills required). Thanks to Kevin for coming down and putting mortice locks into the doors for added security.

See you Monday.

Week Two Done

Full steam ahead getting the Site Office (Room 101 as it's become known) up and running in time for the volunteers coming on August 15th. It's Friday and Steve, Marike and Paul are painting (erm. you're supposed to be painting the ceiling Paul). Steve has gone and got the first load of paint from Community Repaint , here Phoenix (and all Phoenix members)can get free paint that's been donated by construction companies and paint manufacturers to save them the costs of disposing of it.

But there's a problem 'It needs sieving.' says Steve after careful consideration. Marike volunteers to go get a sieve from nearby Chrisp Street Market. Once it's sieved it's fine. What colour are we painting it Steve? 'Mag(nolia) and White - you know the SP.')

One success has been getting the gas re-connected to the site office (so it's all ready to go)but getting the gas and electricity reconnected to the 8 other flats is proving to be a slow business ('One step forward, six steps back.' mutters Steve. The process is being slowed down by the fact that the blocks have been out of commission for 7 years, by the measures Poplar Harca took to render the block squat proof, by the whole range of different bodies Steve has to contact to get the utilities back on.

The plumbing for the Site Office is getting done early next week and so are the electrics and the power connection, the radiators are going on (hence the need to get the walls painted). The August 15th deadline is looking do-able.

Steve has two volunteer co-op members who actually have building skills coming on Monday next week - we can begin to move the four flats on the middle floor forward.

Midweek

While 6 flats now have front doors and the top floor flat and the four on the 1st floor have their windows in, for some things it feels that progress is slow. As anyone who has attempted to get their gas or electricity reconnected will know deregulation has made doing this an absolute nightmare of competing agencies, companies and established contracts. Steve has spent a lot of time with a mobile phone clamped on one ear. 'How's it going?' I mouth to him (silently). He responds with the international gesture for 'Shoot me now'.

The gas meters on the four ground floor flats are external - contained in those ugly white plastic boxes - except these have been smashed and the meters are gone. All are gone but one has to be reported to the police as stolen before the flat can be reconnected (go figure!). Steve has bought four replacements - those for the the front 2 flats have now been replaced, those for the back 2 flats on the ground floor we will do when we've got the windows in and have access to the back gardens.

By the end of the week we hope to have front doors on all the flats. A steady stream of plumbers is coming round to bid for putting in the boilers and putting in the heating, but our budget for doing this is very tight.

Phoenix’s Summer General Meeting

Just in case you missed it elsewhere. Phoenix’s Summer General Meeting is being held on Tuesday 26th July -7-9pm at 1-17 William Guy Gardens. The meeting will not have an agenda and will instead be an open forum for the discussion of all things relating to the Co-op and its future. There will then be a summer garden party for all members to enjoy. Please RVP your attendance by emailing mail@phoenixhousing.co.uk.

Week One Done

'That's good progress for a week.' says Steve as he closes the front door he's just put back with a satisfying thud. So where are we with Phoenix's plan to refurb 9 flats in a block in Poplar?

Flat 101 - top floor, the site office to be. Front door on, windows unboarded to let daylight in for the first time in seven years, the glass put back in, wallpaper stripped, floor tiles stripped, lino stripped out of the kitchen. Once this flat is done up - to provide a toilet and washing facilities for volunteers - the volunteering can begin in earnest - probably from Monday August 15th.





Flat 99 - these next four flats are on the first floor. New front door on, unboarded.
Flat 97 - front door on, unboarded, swept out, floor tiles stripped, lino stripped out of the kitchen, windows unboarded and glass put back in.
Flat 95 - New front door put on, otherwise ditto.
Flat 93 - ditto but the front door still needs doing.

The four flats on the ground floor we are leaving boarded up until we are ready to start work on them - though one is being used as a waste store for the rubble as it is generated.

In rendering the flats squat proof (and to prevent scavengers from stripping out the electrical wiring etc.) Poplar Harca rendered the flats exceptionally difficult to get into - everything has been glued and screwed (and the screwheads covered over). The power's not on yet, the water's not on yet, the toilets, baths, sinks and kitchens aren't in yet and Steve is busy gettting quotes to get the work not suitable for volunteers done.

Next week - more of the same - if you are interested in helping out email Maihan.

(Day 1) Lease signed and Steve is onsite.

So Monday morning and the lease is signed and Steve (the site manager)is getting a look at the flats in the light of day. But before the project can 'go live' with volunteers, he needs to convert the top floor flat into the site office - this means getting a kitchen and a toilet put in (they were removed to deter squatting) and getting all the services hooked up. And before that even, there's a lot of stripping 70ies wallpaper to be done - thankfully it seems to be coming off fairly quickly and completely.

Inside the top floor flat is in surprisingly good condition. Most of the tiling in the kitchen and bathroom can be saved. Steve has already got the lino/ floor tiles up.

We are planning on the site going live to external trainees and volunteers on Monday 15th August. But before the 15th Steve will need some member help and so we will be contacting the Co-op members who have already expressed an interest in getting involved.

The site will be open Monday – Friday 9.30- 4.30pm and every other Saturday (beginning 20th August) for Co-op members who work full time. If you are interested in volunteering and supporting Housing Plus and the development of the Co-op, please contact Maihan Hamed, Phoenix’s Employment, training and education (ETE) Co-ordinator on mhamed@phoenixhousing.co.uk.

Volunteer Meeting Wednesday 13th July 7pm-9pm Oxford House

Dear Phoenix members,
Just a quick reminder that there will be a meeting for all Co-op members who are interested in finding out more about volunteering on the Housing Plus renovation of Spey Street. The volunteer meeting will be held on Wednesday 13th July from 7pm-9pm at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green E3 3LE.






If you are interested in volunteering on the renovation project, then please come along to meet Steve and Maihan and find out more about the project. Steve Hopson is the full time Spey Street Site Manager and Maihan Hamed is the part time Employment, training and education (ETE) Co-ordinator who will be working on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Please RSVP your attendance. Best wishes Carlita

next devcom

Thanks to all who attended the development committee meeting thursday 17th february, the next one is tuesday march 8th - by then we should have heard back from the management committee regarding the proposal for the next refurb project.

More news (as well as a list of scheduled management committee meetings) can also be found at http://www.phoenixhousingcoop.org/news.html