Weekly Update

Though fireworks are legal and sold just across the beltway to our south, and we can often see them from our parking garages, use of fireworks on our property can result in a $2,500 fine and/or 12 months in jail.

From a practical perspective, because of The Exchange’s wooded and mulched grounds, an unintentional fire on our property caused by illegal fireworks could be a very a real concern. This is why management and security will be monitoring our security cameras, including those on the top level of the garages, as we go through the July 4th holiday.

If you spot something, please say something and report fireworks on the property to the Alexandria Police at 703 746 4444

Package Thefts

If you see suspicious activity, such as someone you don’t recognize picking up or opening Amazon packages in a hallway, stairwell or other place where packages sometimes land, please report this immediately to the Alexandria Police 703 746-4444.

Afterwards, please then call or email the office to let them know about the concern.

Thanks go out to our eagle-eyed management staff for spotting a problem this last week, and thanks also to the Alexandria PD for their prompt response.

Package delivery and package security will be a topic at the July board meeting.

Pool Passes

Come hang out at the pool! Whether you want to dive in or just lounge-around and socialize, everyone is welcome! However, you’ll need a pass. Please email or call the office to schedule a time to meet with Tyler Jackque, Assistant Manager, who can set you up before your first visit.

Monthly Assessments Increase July 1 – Update Your Payment Methods

Owners should not forget that beginning July 1, 2023, your monthly assessment payments will increase. Please ensure the correct payment amount has been updated if you have an automatic payment withdrawal. If you wish to enroll in ClickPay, you can do so by visiting ClickPay.com/FirstService or by contacting ClickPay at 1-800-354-0135.

● 1BR 1BA – $435

● 2BR 1BA - $522

● 2BR 2BA - $565

● 2BR 2BA/DEN - $651

Reduced office hours week of July 26th

Effective July 1st new laws go into effect which govern the information condos must provide to anyone purchasing a unit. These are called “Resale Certificates” and as of July 1st will be required to contain a significant amount of additional information as compared to previous years.

This is good and in everyone’s best interest, but has required Management to assemble and organize a significant amount of additional information - think 100 pages or more. As a result, we need to give them some additional time to work on this.

For next week, our Assistant Manager, Tyler, will work with residents and owners while our General Manager, Keisha, applies her efforts to producing the documentation Virginia requires for the new Resale Certificate as of July 1st.

Work has been ongoing for a number of weeks already and we appreciate your patience while we complete this vital work.

Free Notary Services

The Exchange offers free notary services to all owners and residents. Please email or call the office to schedule a time to meet with Keisha Johnson, General Manager.

Social Committee Volunteers

If you are an owner in good standing and are interested in volunteering on the Social Committee, please send an email to Keisha.Johnson@fsresidential.com and Social Committee Volunteer in the subject line. In the past our Social Committee has organized events around National Night Out (August 1), Doggie Swim, Halloween, December holidays and a yard sale in the Spring. This committee will meet only as the members see a need - so there is no set monthly commitment of time required. If you have other ideas, please bring them! The Board of Directors will appoint members at the July meeting. This is the last call for volunteers. Anyone interested must submit an email to Keisha.Johnson@fsresidential.com, or attend the July Board meeting.

Maintenance & Grounds Committee Volunteers

If you are an owner in good standing and are interested in volunteering on the Maintenance & Ground Committee. This Committee will work with Management and the board to prioritize our various maintenance, repair and landscape work. Though it will meet a number of times, this will not be a monthly commitment. Please send an email to Keisha.Johnson@fsresidential.com and indicate “Grounds & Maintenance Committee Volunteer” in the subject line. The Board of Directors will appoint members at the July meeting. This is the last call for volunteers. Anyone interested must submit an email to Keisha Johnson, or attend the July Board meeting.

How to suggest items for the board meeting agenda

Suggestions for items to be included on the Board’s agenda can be submitted at any time to Management, who will help the Board maintain an ongoing list from which The Board will work. Suggestions received less than (10) ten days before the next meeting may be added to the list but considered in subsequent meetings. We will make this list available to owners. We may anonymize some suggestions or group them together in the list to appropriately manage any potential privacy concerns.

The Board President, working with Management, will provide a draft agenda to the Board prior to each meeting. During the meeting, individual board members will be able to propose and vote on additions, changes, and corrections to the agenda.

If the scheduled business is concluded early in a meeting, we will go to this list so that we may cover as many items as possible in the remaining time.

Project Status Updates

4860/4862 Stairway G - Currently Closed. Estimated completion 7/21/2023. Work began 4/27/2023 Approx 40% complete. The first phase of demolition and removal of old material is finished. The second phase of work involving the installation of the new metal framework began on Monday, June 12. Please note posted safety signs and continue to notify visitors and package delivery services of alternate access. A comprehensive reporting plan will be discussed to encompass all stairways in the July Board Meeting. This will bring greater clarity of scope, cost, and progress to this project.

Balcony Refurbishment. Work began this week on 4854 244 & 257. Estimated completion early 2024. Work began on 10/2018 and is Approx 70% complete. additional units remain. A comprehensive reporting plan will be discussed to encompass all balconies and patios in the July Board Meeting. This will bring greater clarity of scope, cost, and progress to this project.

Sprinkler Head Replacement - Patch & Paint continues in 4850. Estimated completion 7/28/2023. Work began 5/9/2023 Approx 50% complete. The City Inspector has completed and passed the first inspection of the Sprinkler Head Replacement Project. The final inspection of 4850 will occur after the patch and paint work have been completed.

Wipe Down of Interior Hallway siding - 4852 Monday, June 19 through June 30—Estimated completion 9/8/2023. Work began 6/5/2023 Approx 30% complete.

4858 South Parking Garage Bridges - Engineers have recommended structural maintenance on all bridges connecting the 4868 Parking Garage to buildings 4860, 4862, and 4870. Management will seek multiple bids for this work, which will likely be conducted in three phases over three years. We expect work on phase 1 to begin before the end of this summer.

HVAC Preventive Maintenance – AirPlus

AirPlus Heating & Cooling is contracted by the Association to perform in-unit HVAC inspections twice yearly. AirPlus is contacting unit owners/residents to schedule the Spring inspection.

Look for an email from 4840_eisenhower_inspections@airplusair.com regarding scheduling information. If you have not been contacted by AirPlus, email them directly. Be sure to promptly reply to AirPlus to schedule the Spring inspection for your unit.

Participation is voluntary; if you ‘opt out’ (decide not to have AirPlus perform HVAC inspections for your unit), you must submit proof of HVAC inspections performed by your chosen HVAC contractor. Submit HVAC inspection proof for your unit file to Keisha.Johnson@fsresidential.com.

Covenants Committee

The next Covenants Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 7:00 PM. ARC MOD Applications must be submitted no later than 5 pm Friday, July 7. Applications may be submitted in person or emailed to Tyler.Jackque@fsresidential.com. In the subject line, put your building & unit number - ARC MOD Application. We encourage you to attend the CC meeting in person at the club house or virtually. Meeting schedules are posted in our regular weekly e-mails and meeting reminders are sent the day of each meeting. Here is the link we use for all committee and board meetings. We hope to see you in person or online!

Board of Directors

The next monthly Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 7:00 PM. We encourage you to attend the board meeting in person at the club house or virtually. Meeting schedules are posted in our regular weekly e-mails and meeting reminders are sent the day of each meeting. Here is the link we use for all committee and board meetings. We hope to see you in person or online!

Management Office Hours

Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Exchange Resident and Owner Web Portal

Exchange Management Office (703) 461-4747

FirstService Residential Customer Care Line (703) 385-1133

24-hour Emergency and Customer Service

Zoom link for scheduled meetings

Exchange at Van Dorn
Weekly Update

April 2, 2021

www.exchangeatvandorn.org

Is That Gas I Smell?
The smell of gas is an emergency and must be immediately reported. During business hours, notify the Management Office so Alan or Sydney can direct Maintenance staff to the specific area to investigate. If you smell gas when the Management Office is closed, call 911 to report it and be sure to provide the specific location for the Fire Department. There have been a few instances where residents have reported smelling gas in their hallway. Management has found that the main cause for the gas smell in hallways is residents not turning off the stove before leaving their unit. Please be sure that all gas appliances are completely turned off to prevent gas leaks. Sometimes, even if you just walk past the stove and brush against the control knobs, it can turn the burner “on” without you even knowing it. Let’s be responsible and cautious!

If left unchecked, gas leaks can have very serious consequences, including carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and explosions. To ensure your safety, residents are encouraged to install a carbon monoxide detector.

Heat to A/C Switching Instructions
It is the time of year again to shut down your heat and crank up the air conditioning (A/C).

Locate two valves attached to the two pipes coming from the side of the water heater. For A/C, both of these valves need to be turned to the OFF or CLOSED position, which is perpendicular to the pipe on which it is attached. Change the thermostat to cool. Make sure that the switch for the compressor is turned “ON”, in the up position. The compressor switch is located inside the balcony closet on the wall. The emergency HVAC shutoff is located on the wall next to your air handler inside your condo and needs to be on (up) for the A/C unit to run. If you encounter any problems with receiving A/C, make sure the thermostat is set at the desired temperature and it is switched to “Auto” (cycles on and off automatically based on temperature or programmed schedule) or “On” (runs continuously).

A diagram with specifications is attached, posted on the mail room notice boards, and available under the featured documents on Connect.

Spring Cleaning Continues!
We continue to reach out directly to our residents (new and those with us for some time) with reminders about various condominium rules violations. Our approach is typically to make a courtesy phone call or email. Thanks to everyone for fixing issues to avoid covenants violations! Below are a few additional items to do and keep in mind when checking your balcony for possible violations:

Remove any kind of lights on your balcony railing or anywhere else on the balcony or patio immediately.
Bicycles are prohibited from being on the balcony and any remaining must be removed immediately.
Temporary Screen Doors must be removed, including the Velcro tape used to hold them up. An approved screen door costs about $200 and can be ordered from Home Depot. Reference Policy Resolution 13 for approved screen doors (white frame, full view without horizontal crossbar).

Community Garden Plot
They are going fast. Of the 6 available last week, there is one (1) garden plot remaining for residents to use. If interested in planting in theCommunity Garden,contact Sydney at Management Office for details. Shall we have a “largest tomato” competition (for bragging rights only of course).

Balcony Update
This week the crew finished up removing the scaffolding in the 4854 courtyard (delayed last Friday due to heavy winds). They began demolition on one of the remain three balconies in the 4860 courtyard. With some additional work to be completed on this balcony, they will delay demolition of the other two balconies.

Roofing Replacement Project Update
The roofing project is underway. Clubhouse roof shingles have been replaced. Roofing on 4870 will be replaced next, followed by the 4860s. Please refer to the separate roofing emails for further details and important updates. In the interim, please be patient with minor delays and follow the contractor and/or in-house staff’s directions, especially with parking restrictions and temporary street closures.

10,965 COVID-19 Cases – Mask Up
Masks remain mandatory per state order and City ordinance. As of this week, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is 10,965 including 128 deaths. The 7-day moving average for Alexandria cases is 20.0. Wear a face mask covering mouth and nose, keep 6 feet physical distance from others, wash hands frequently, disinfect surfaces, limit social gatherings to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors. COVID Vaccine information: www.vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682). If you have pre-registered for the COVID vaccine, be sure to check your spam/junk email for appointment information.

Covenants Committee Meeting
The next Covenants Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13th at 7:00 PM via teleconference. Teleconference details are emailed the day of meetings.

Board of Directors Meeting
The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th at 7:00 PM via teleconference. Teleconference details are emailed the day of meetings.