Written by William, posted irregularly, and never longer than it needs to be.
The original 1968 cast-iron boiler finally retired in February after fifty-eight winters. We replaced it with two condensing units from Lochinvar — quieter, roughly thirty percent more efficient, and rated to outlast the people who installed them. The work took eleven days. Hot water was uninterrupted thanks to a temporary rental loop our engineer Marcus rigged in the basement. A small note of thanks to the residents who tolerated the noise.
We've added two raised beds to the south corner of the roof garden — one for hardy herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano) and one rotating bed our horticulturist Hannah uses as she sees fit. This summer it held tomatoes and a single, very ambitious zucchini. Residents are welcome to cut what they need; please leave a note in the kitchen book so Hannah can plan accordingly.
Our 2025 reserve study was completed in July by Brandt & Associates of Denver. The building's funded position improved from 94% to 97% year-over-year, with no special assessments contemplated for the five-year horizon. The full document is in the resident portal; printed copies are available at the front desk on request.
If you have not read 'A Pattern Language' by Christopher Alexander, the library has three copies. It is the book that, more than any other, shaped how we approached the restoration. The chapter on entrance transitions in particular is why our lobby has the small bench it does. — W.D.
The American elm at the southwest corner of the building, which the city arborist estimates was planted in 1931, was diagnosed with Dutch elm disease in November. We're treating it with a third-generation fungicide and pruning aggressively. The prognosis is cautiously good. We'll know by July.
Please join us in welcoming Theresa Olin to the front desk. Theresa joined us in August after seventeen years at the Brown Palace in Denver. She works Wednesday through Sunday, knows everything about the city, and makes the building's best coffee. — W.D.