Restoration Update & Important Information on Gardens
August 22, 2024
Mayfair Lane Neighbors,
We are pleased to report that as of July 15th, the ongoing Lane Restoration project reached its point of substantial completion. While crews from TRM may occasionally be on the Lane in the coming days and weeks, this is to only make small repairs and touch-ups directly related to the scope of the repair project. For neighbors, this milestone means we may start using the Upper Lane once again!
With the reopening of the Upper Lane, we remember how this project began: Two summers ago, the Lane Structure was on the verge of being condemned, plagued with structural concerns that began long before any of us moved onto the Lane. Today, we have a restored and reinforced structure with critical waterproofing and a modernized drainage system. There are aspects of the Lane and finish work that may look a little different. We ask homeowners to understand that in almost all cases this was a result of prioritizing the most effective drainage and waterproofing systems and/or merging new materials with the existing historic structure. That said, if you notice any portion of the Lane structure that causes concern or that you think needs TRM to inspect, we encourage you to take a picture and bring it to the Board’s attention. Please do not attempt to fix, repair or alter any element of the repair as this could jeopardize the integrity of the waterproofing and drainage systems and void any applicable warranties. For reference, a gallery with 100+ photos chronicling the project is available under the Lane Reconstruction section of this site.
The total cost of the repair was $2,532,948.15. To date we have paid $2,400,849.06. No additional change orders are anticipated, and the final payment will be made to TRM after their final touch-up work is complete and our contract with TRM is properly closed out. The project total reflects a $60,091.84 increase to the costs presented at construction outset. As detailed in previous communications, the majority of these costs stem from pivoting from a repair to a replacement of the majority of the concrete deck and additional and unforeseen scope that was discovered when deck was exposed, and the changes were made were necessary to properly restoring the lane and ensuring the integrity of the repair. Please also note that the Board is working to provide additional information on eligible historic tax credits for homeowners who have paid into this project; more information on this will be provided as we finalize project close-out and move toward tax season.
Unfortunately, because of the cost increase and its impact on our loan we are forced to remove the replanting of the garden pits from the scope of the project. Replanting of gardens will now be an individual homeowner responsibility. A guide for replanting is attached to this letter and available under the Lane Reconstruction section of this site. Had we received 100% participation in the assessment from all homeowners, the impact of this increase would have been borne by contingency in our loan and the garden work could have remained in the project. However, to date, two households have failed to fully contribute their share of the special assessment required for this project. Please note that the Board is working with legal counsel to best address recovering all outstanding assessments. Receiving owed funds will help pay down our loan and allow for increased opportunity to reevaluate and potentially lower quarterly assessments.
While we are happy to close the chapter of Lane restoration, we acknowledge that there remain ongoing maintenance needs that will need to be addressed. While none of these needs are nearly as extensive or expensive just completed restoration, the current Board nonetheless takes these needs very seriously and is working to create a capital improvements plan that will triage these repairs and allow them to progress in a transparent, timely and organized manner that will maintain the quality of our Lane while avoiding additional financial burden on homeowners.
Finally, as a Board, and more importantly, as neighbors, we extend our gratitude to all homeowners and residents on the Lane for their patience during construction. We thank you for your understanding with construction noise and flexibility with parking. We are glad to be moving past this long discussed and prolonged repair and look forward to being able to more safely use the Lane and enjoy its benefits for many, many years to come. We hope to see you all out and enjoying the new and improved Upper Lane during the remainder of this summer.
Respectfully,
Your Mayfair Lane Board