NPCA Backup

Residents are likely aware that the laundry machine credit card readers (and related website  www.checkmywash2.com ) have not been working properly for the past few weeks.    The technicians at Coinmach are currently troubleshooting the matter.  We're told that it is likely a problem with the online system and will be repaired by the end of next week.  In the meantime, please continue to use the MoneyCards to pay for laundry services.   Also, as a reminder -- the Board does not actively monitor the laundry room whiteboard.  Problems with the laundry machines themselves should be reported directly to Coinmach.  If, after next week, there continues to be a problem with the credit card readers, please contact Thos. D. Walsh via email  office@thosdwalsh.com   and cc the Board at  board@thenewplaza.com .   We will post again on the Listserv when the matter is resolved.  Thank you for your patience. 

At the request of your neighbors, the first TWO sets of washers and dryers are now PET-FREE. Please respect your neighbors with allergies and keep designated machines entirely free of pet (dogs, cats, and all other furry creatures) hair and fur.   Pet owners may not use pet-free machines.   Violators will be fined.

As of today, our laundry room is online! This means that residents may create a profile on www.checkmywash2.com and, through this website, monitor the availability of building laundry machines. The website is fairly self-explanatory. You will need to register for an account by entering your email address and creating a password. Once signed up, select our laundry room by searching the address (using 20005 will work). Click on our address and you will note that the machine availability appears on the right of your computer screen. You can then select to get a text or email notification when your laundry cycle is complete. ***REMINDER*** Secondly, now that the new machines have been installed, the Board would like to take this opportunity to again remind residents of the laundry room rules or the "Articles of Consideration," which are posted in the laundry room and below for reference. The Board has received multiple emails, complaining that despite the building's b...

REMINDER : As promised, each building resident will receive an envelope containing information about the new machines and one new ESD Money Card, which should be pre-loaded with a few dollars. You may pick up your envelope TODAY ,  Tuesday, September 23rd, in Unit 305, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you are not available during those times, you may either authorize a Board member to leave the envelope(s) outside your unit door or email the Board to schedule a different pick-up time. CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS POST: To monitor washer/dryer availability and get real-time laundry status updates by email or text, go to  www.checkmywash2.com and create a User Profile. This feature should be up and running within the next few days (hopefully byWednesday, Sept. 24). Members from the Board have created User Profiles and will test it once all of our building's information has been entered into the system. View the related " Is My Laundry Done Yet ?" poster.

Thanks to the well-coordinated efforts of the Board and Thos. D. Walsh, the five new washing machines and dryers have been installed and are ready for use. In addition to the current laundry card payment system (ESD Money Card) you may now use a credit or debit card to pay for laundry directly on the machines themselves (ESD SmartLink).   A cleaning crew is scheduled to be on site this afternoon/evening to clean up the mess from the installation. How to Use ESD SmartLink: 1. Select cycle 2. Swipe credit card 3. Press start As promised, each building resident will receive an envelope containing information about the new machines and one new ESD Money Card, which should be pre-loaded with a few dollars. These are the same as the old ESD Money Cards, and, as such, your old card with any pre-existing balance is still good. There are numerous brochures included in the envelope, all of which are not necessarily relevant. One insert that may be of interest, however, discusses the new...

After a long wait, MAC-GRAY will be installing our five  new washing machines and dryers this Thursday, September 18th during business hours.  The Board apologizes for the short notice, but we're sure that you understand that we didn't want to delay installation any longer and just found out this afternoon that the installation will, in fact, take place on Thursday. So, frankly, we're rolling with it and hope that you will as well. We also know that you probably have questions about the new machines. Things like "Will my old payment card still work?" and "Are there any significant differences between these machines and the old machines?"  We're working on getting official answers and helpful information sheets from MAC-GRAY, but based on previous conversations with them, we believe that: (1) the old cards will still work, though you will be issued new ones with some money on them in the near-future, and (2) there are some differences (an extra wa...

NOTICE The laundry room bill machine is currently out of order. The laundry machine vendor, Mac Gray, was notified earlier today and estimates repair within one to two business days.

At the request of several residents, the Board would like to remind pet owners in the building to please observe House Rules about  pet hair-free washing machines and dryers .  If you have a pet, please do not use the pet hair-free machines to do your laundry . These machines are set aside for residents who are sensitive or allergic to pet hair and dander, or who otherwise appreciate not having pet hair in their laundry.  The below recently-taken pictures of pet hair in the pet hair-free machines illustrate the extent of issue. As a courtesy to your fellow neighbors, please abide by the rules and make an effort to clean the machines after use-- especially if you do have pets. Your neighbors thank you!

PLEASE BE ADVISED  that as a new building security measure, the laundry facility will only be accessible with use of the building main entry door key beginning tomorrow,  Tuesday, January 29, 2013 . This is the same key used to open the building front entry door as well as the bike room door (key with the blue tip). The replacement key cost is $25. Representatives from Tilmon Properties will have a few copies available for purchase at the Annual Association meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 30, 2013, unit 502. If additional copies are needed or there are any questions or concerns, you may contact management at (301) 324-0912.

The New Plaza Board would like to make owners and residents aware of the following matter.  Last month, during a routine cleaning of the premises, a Tilmon maintenance employee found condoms in the laundry room garbage can and urine around the laundry room drain.  The employee immediately reported his findings to Tilmon Management, which, in turn, contacted the Board.  The Board checked the security footage from the previous night and found that two persons, neither of whom we could identify as building residents or somehow related to the building, entered through the front door, stopped in front of the elevator, went downstairs (via the stairs, not elevator), and exited the building approximately 10 minutes later through the front door.  The intruders entered the building around  3:30 a.m. , about 30 minutes after a resident exited and re-entered the building, bringing in his/her dog for a walk.  It is not clear as to whether the door somehow mal...

New Plaza Residents, Please be mindful about how long you leave your fully washed clothes in the washing machines and dried clothes in the driers. In recent weeks the Board has received several complaints about individuals who have used multiple machines at the same time and proceeded to leave their wet (and dry) clothes in the machines for hours after the cycles were finished, preventing others from using the machines. Thanks.

MacGray serviced the washing machines and they are now back up and running. In addition to servicing the drainage issue that put the machines out of order, the technician also changed the reader chips so that hopefully there will be fewer incidents of residents losing money to the machines.

NOTICE: All four washing machines are temporarily out of order, due to a malfunction earlier today that required the main water valve to be shut off. Tilmon contacted the company who owns and operates the machines, and requested immediate service. Updates to the situation will be posted.

At the request of several residents, the Board would like to remind pet owners in the building to please observe House Rules about pet hair-free washing machines and dryers . If you have a pet, please do not use the pet hair-free machines to do your laundry. These machines are set aside for residents who are sensitive or allergic to pet hair and dander, or who otherwise appreciate not having pet hair in their clean laundry.  The Board has asked Tilmon to ensure weekly building maintenance includes the cleaning of the insides of the machines in order to remove pet hair and other items that collect.