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.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
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!
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!
Monday, 15 August 2011
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!
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!
Saturday, 13 August 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
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.
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