year of the giant refurb I

Thanks to all those who helped with the installation of loft insulation at Ickburgh Road, one of the houses we all own together as part of phoenix housing co-op. Many of these properties have inadequate insulation. Hopefully this should form part of an ongoing programme to deal with cyclical maintenance and energy efficiency tasks at the properties we own.

However, due to cashflow issues we may have to look at getting Chris to do more outside (paid) work to bring money into the co-op either for Oxford House or for other Co-ops, and this will inevitably slow things down a little.

Chris can be contacted on 07973383430 ar email Colin at the office if you wish to volunteer.

2010 - year of the giant refurb II.

Thanks to all who have been helping out at William Guy Gardens, bringing this former old peoples home back into use as housing.

happy new years refurbing!

After Sumner House Chris and his roving band of volunteers have been working doing cyclical maintenance on the properties owned by Phoenix. Chris has also done some maintenance work for Oxford House where Phoenix has its office. Here you can see a keen volunteer helping Chris remove the floor of 7 Reighton Road that had a rather nasty dry rot problem.

The plan for 2010 is to continue with this Cyclical maintenance and a timetable has been drafted for doing the work. We will probably also be doing some work on flats in William Guy Gardens - a former old peoples home we will have on a medium term lease.

Again volunteers will be vital.

Chris Bridges 07973383430

Sumner House residents to be on TV.

Hannah Farnie, one of the Sumner House residents will be on TV this Sunday 22nd November at 10am in The Big Questions, BBC1, contributing to a debate about empty homes and homelessness - and how self-refurb makes a difference to people's lives.

Chris and other Phoenix members (Paul, Yuri, Nick and Jim and my apologies to anyone if i left you out) have been busy doing cyclic maintenance tasks on phoenix properties in Daubney, Reighton, Ickburgh and Evering Roads. Replacing floors damaged by damp and dry rot, replacing fencing, replacing worktops in kitchens.

Keep your fingers crossed because we're hoping for some very good news very soon.

Paul

Sumner House Launch - 25th September -3pm.

Dear Members,

Phoenix Co-op just finished its first refurbishment project bringing empty property back into use in Poplar.

To celebrate and publicise this, an open event is being held on Friday 25th September at 3pm at 5 Sumner House (off Maddams Street , see link below)

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=537512&y=181969&z=0&sv=E3+3RB&st=2&pc=E3+3RB&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf


A range of local and national politicians and press have been invited to see David Ireland, Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency officially hand over the keys to the Phoenix tenants. Our hope is that the exposure will help to secure more property and more funding to restore more homes…….


It would be great to see you all there.


With best wishes,

Alison
Co-op Manager

Next Project.

Our next refurb project is to help with the cyclical maintenance of the properties we all collectively own as members of Phoenix.

Two have been identified as priorities;

First - 7 Reighton road E5 8SQ- One of the two properties the co-op bought in 2008. Here the garden wall is in danger of collapsing into next door's garden. This needs taking down, the tree that knocked it over needs cutting down and it's roots removing, the excess bricks need carting out and finally the wall needs rebuilding. And Then:

Durlston road - the outside of the house needs some repairs.

Work on Reighton will begin early next week - as before Chris will have workboots and full protective clothing available. Come on Down!

Sumner house project complete - Where to next?

Thanks to all the members who volunteered the Sumner House project to refurb 4 flats (one double and 3 singles) is now complete. Extra special thanks go out to Site Manager Chris (currently enjoying a well deserved holiday in France), Co-op Manager Alison (whose idea it was) and Maintenance Man Johnny (for coming through with the gas plumbing). There will be an official handover and launch party at the end of the month (round about the 25th I think) - more details soon.

Where to next?

Sunny Hackney - to prevent the garden wall of one of our owned properties collapsing onto our neighbours - the project will commence around the 14th September