Dalston Square Residents' Association

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Next DSRA Zoom meeting: May 9, 2023 @ 7:30pm

The next interim DSRA meeting will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 7:30pm, and should not last more than 45′. Here is the zoom link, you will be required to register so that we can automatically take attendance. Sorry for the inconvenience.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you are a leaseholder, and you have not yet signed-up to the new Dalston Square RA, please consider doing so: https://tinyurl.com/DalstonSq

Tentative Agenda (to be finalized on Tuesday)

Status updates on building block reps; sign-ups; liaising with DS businesses, Curve, the school; insurance; townhalls
Discuss communication channels (WhatsApp DS community groups, emails, etc)
Call for help re: organizing the 2 Townhall-style meetings with
a. Mayor, Council, Barratt, re: the state of the square and the cladding works and with
b. FP re: service charges, communication, quality of service and maintenance
Call for more building reps. If your building is not represented, please consider volunteering (ideally via the WhatsApp groups prior to the meeting)!
Anything else members might want to bring up. If possible, flag via WhatsApp prior to the meeting.

Posted by lpig1985 | Sunday, 7 May, 2023 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

May 2023: The DSRA is back!

We are in the process of rebooting the Dalston Square RA! We have an interim RA in place, with a primary goal to have a recognised RA. We need all Leaseholders to sign up to it via this form: http://tinyurl.com/dalstonsq

Posted by lpig1985 | Friday, 5 May, 2023 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

DSRA Buildings Sub Committee : 10-12pm Friday December 7th

Note there will be a 30 minute ‘walkabout’ with site manager starting in Gaumont Tower Lobby at 9.30am

1) First Port Log

Additional issues raised by residents:

a) Gym

b) Setting up a gardening club

c) Lifts repairs

d) LED lighting

e) Asset Managment

2) Dalston Square

Hackney Council update

3) First Port 2018-19 budget

Summary of spending to date- against predictions

4) AOB

Next meeting : Spring 2019

Contact us via the DSRA letter box Gaumont Tower Lobby or the Site Management Office if you would like to add additional items

Posted by lpig1985 | Monday, 3 December, 2018 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Proposal for a live music event in Dalston Square

Dear Dalston Square Cultural Forum members

I hope you are all well and had a good summer.

I’m attaching a proposal for a live music event in Dalston Square on 12 October, as part of Hackney’s Black History Month celebrations. The proposal is being made by Hackney’s library service and a representative of the service will meet with us before the event to talk through their plans. As soon as I have been able to set a date for that meeting I will be back in touch. In the meantime, if you have any comments, suggestions or concerns about the proposal, please do get in touch with me.

Best wishes,

Lucy

Lucy Mcmenemy

Cultural Programme Officer

Communications, Culture and Engagement

Chief Executive’s Directorate

Hackney Council

Hackney Town Hall

Mare Street

London E8 1EA

Tel. 020 8356 2919

Email: lucy.mcmenemy@hackney.gov.uk

Posted by lpig1985 | Saturday, 22 September, 2018 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Seeking… Chairperson / new members DSRA Building Maintenance Sub Committee

After 7 very productive years, the current Chairperson of the ‘Buildings Committee’ is stepping down. The DSRA is now looking for new members and someone to take on the role of chairperson.

The group meets every 3 months with First Port management to go through issues related to the day to day running of our estate.

The kind of things we focus on are:

Building glitches -(ie chase Barratts)
Cleaning
Waste management
General repair and maintenance
Terraces and greening
Security issues
Issues related to the Square
Long term refurbishment projects and costs

If you are interested in helping out, but perhaps do not feel ready to take on responsibility for chairing a group, please nevertheless contact us. We are always looking for fresh members for the committee. A friendly welcome is guaranteed!

Contact us via the DSRA letter box Gaumont Tower Lobby or the Site Management Office.

Posted by lpig1985 | Sunday, 10 June, 2018 | Categories: Buildings & Maintenance, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Residents Association ‘Buildings Maintenance Group’ Friday 8th June

Agenda:

1) First Port Log.

2) First Port surveyor’s MAY walkabout review- additional items for Capex / AMP

3) FP Asset Management Plan ( AMP or Capex) -Predicting long term maintenance and repair costs. A summary review

4) ‘Buildings Committee’ future … working in tandem with Finance Committee – solutions

5) AOB

BMC May 2018

Comments?

If you are a DALSTON SQUARE resident and have any items you would like to add to this agenda please email Gerald at Gerald.Bernard@firstport.co.uk or put a note in the DSRA letter box in the reception area of Gaumont Tower.

Posted by lpig1985 | Thursday, 7 June, 2018 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Residents’ Buildings and Maintenance Committee

The Residents Association set up a ‘Buildings’committee from the first days of the complex opening. The committee works closely with FirstPort to ensure our buildings are well maintained.

The ‘Buildings Committee’ meets four times a year. Face to face with First Port regional and local managers. A resident always chairs the meetings. Our aim is to ensure that our buildings, and all common areas, (lobbies, stairwells, corridors, roof terraces, garages, lifts etc) are kept in good order. The committee also considers the longer term upkeep of the buildings.

We get sight of FirstPort’s budget and their Asset Management Plan to help ensure proper measures are taken to buffer against future large item expenditures.

While FirstPort deal with day to day maintenance issues as they arise, the committee maintains its own ‘Repair and Maintenance Log’ of items raised by residents. We check on progress at each meeting. Any resident can attend this meeting or add an item to the Log.

The minutes of the last meeting are available in hard copy for residents only. They can be obtained from the Site Manager’s office in Gaumont Tower, during office hours. Ask the concierge desk for directions or contact Gerald Bernard the Site Manager directly if you want a copy.

Future meetings and agendas will be advertised on this site. Next meeting is scheduled for June the 8th 10 am.

All residents are welcome to attend. Please contact First Port offices to express interest.

Posted by lpig1985 | Sunday, 29 April, 2018 | Categories: Buildings & Maintenance, Meeting, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Welcome & Easter Egg Hunt report

Welcome to the Dalston Square Residents Association website

The ‘DSRA’ is composed of volunteers who represent residents’ interests. We hold regular meetings with FirstPort to ensure the best level service and ensure our money is well spent. We are a welcoming group. If you want to help organize a social event or join a committee, please get in touch!

We have two working ‘committees’; The ‘Finance Committee’ which reviews First Port’s budget and accounts; and a ‘Buildings Committee’ which works closely with the Site Manager to ensure standards of upkeep, cleaning and maintenance meet requirements.

The aim of this website is to keep residents informed of our activities and events.

Upbeat 2018 Easter Egg Hunt

Thank you to all those residents and children who turned up for this lively event! It was very good to meet some new neighbours, sip hot tea and coffee, drink wine and to enjoy some roof top sunshine and warming spring air.

The Thomas – Burke roof garden proved an ideal place to hide chocolate eggs. Thanks to all those who brought them along and especially for Gerald Bernard for his generous contribution!

There were plenty of keen and energetic children to add to the mix. There were several ‘hunts’ organized as little hands delved into the shrubbery and grasses. Over a hundred chocolate eggs of all shapes and sizes were found, consumed or smuggled home.

Hopefully the event will become a Dalston Square Easter tradition.

The DSRA usually holds a late summer (September) roof top garden party. Interested in helping? Get in touch with the DSRA via the letter box in Gaumont Tower or by email.

Posted by lpig1985 | Sunday, 8 April, 2018 | Categories: Dalston Square Residents, Event, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Cultural events in the Square?

Have you ever felt that the Square could be enlivened? Do you want to help create a sense of community? A sense of things going on in the Square on those warm summer days?Lucy McMenemy the energetic Hackney Arts and Culture coordinator and driver is keen to hear from residents in the Square.
Join in and make yourself heard!

Posted by lpig1985 | Tuesday, 6 March, 2018 | Categories: Children, Community, Hackney Council Event, Uncategorized | Tags: Hackney Council | 1 Comment

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden

The Garden is at risk and we need your help!
Hackney Council are gathering views from the public on the development of buildings and land that they own in and around Dalston Lane and Ashwin Street. This consultation is the first stage in a process that will decide the future of the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden. It’s vital that we demonstrate to Hackney Council the Garden’s importance to our community, now and in the future and we need your help to do this.

The ‘Dalston Quarter Development Principles Public Consultation’ document outlines Hackney Council’s plans for the area and they are now inviting public responses. To help inform visitors about this process, we are organising a series of events at the Garden. These drop-in sessions offer the opportunity to hear more about the history and background to the Council consultation and to discuss how your response can best help support the future of the Garden.

The first of these “Future of the Curve Garden” events will take place here on:
Saturday 25 February, 2-6pm
Monday 27 February, 4-8pm
Tuesday 28 February, 4-8pm

All events will take place inside the Pineapple House, which is cosy and warm. The ‘Dalston Quarter’ consultation will continue until 17 April 2017 and we will inform you of additional dates for ‘Future of the Curve Garden’ events taking place here in the coming weeks. If you have any further questions or suggestions at this stage or would like to volunteer some time to help the Garden during this process, please do drop us an email at info@dalstongarden.org

Your participation in this consultation process is vitally important and we look forward to seeing you here soon, so that together we can help safeguard the future of the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden!

Posted by rowdogz | Monday, 27 February, 2017 | Categories: Curve Garden | 2 Comments

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Festive Social

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Posted by rowdogz | Tuesday, 6 December, 2016 | Categories: Event | Leave a comment

Dalston square security issues

Dear Resident

A distribution list has been set up to keep you informed.

We are aware of the security issues regarding Thomas/Burke and Ocean/Dekker and endeavour to resolve. Today I had a meeting with the door manufacturer who has said that the fixing of the maglocks may need to be addressed. The company that fitted the maglocks will be attending tomorrow. Once they attend, we can look at what appropriate action needs to be taken to remedy this situation.

I had a conversation and a meeting today with the police and gave them CCTV images of offenders that I managed to capture. May I please ask that dates and times are recorded if you come across any incidents; I can then see if anything can be captured on CCTV to assist the police.

With regards to the Concierge and what they can do:-

I would firstly point out that they are not security guards and we cannot expect them to put themselves in a situation where they could be confronted with violence or aggression. I know that the Concierge have confronted various youths to date but residents need to understand that they are not an authority with any power (only the Police have authority and power) and they cannot be expected to put themselves in a position of danger.

Whilst the Concierge can of course phone the police, we would urge as many residents to phone the police as possible as they always work on statistics. If their records show a large number of calls from the Square, they are more likely to send someone down. One phone call from the Concierge will do nothing to help in this regard.

Regards,

Gerald

Posted by rowdogz | Wednesday, 30 November, 2016 | Categories: Security | 2 Comments

Le Ziz

Dear Residents,

If you are unhappy with the way Le Ziz Restaurant is further encroaching into the square with its tables and wind breaks, and generally think it looks a bit tatty and lets the square down, you can write to Councillor Peter Snell to voice your opinion. The council have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the square. The more voices we have the more likely the council will listen and respond. So please get in touch!

Thank you

DSRA

Peter snell email: Peter.Snell@hackney.gov.uk

Posted by rowdogz | Wednesday, 23 November, 2016 | Categories: Dalston Square | 7 Comments

The Drawing Imaginarium

The Drawing Imaginarium, Anorak’s very own festival of fun, is back!

First launched to celebrate our 10th anniversary, The Drawing Imaginarium is now a travelling festival and will be back in London for a special Autumn edition. HOORAY!

Held on the 8th and 9th October at Dalston Square (London E8) and kindly supported by Hackney Council, it is a free two day event designed to encourage creativity… and silly fun too!

You are ALL warmly invited to let your imagination go wild with workshops and activities such as a Happy Birthday Life Drawing Class, felt dolls making workshops, Pam & Tom dolls house, Jolly Jellyfish activity, a paper garden complete with bugs and flowers and much more. Our friends, travelling children’s bookshop How Brave is the Wren will host a Phaidon Kids pop-up too.

For more details around the programming, please click here.

We hope that you will ALL come along and/or tell all your friends and family about it. Let us know if you are planning to come along by here.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Anorak

Posted by rowdogz | Monday, 3 October, 2016 | Categories: Event | Leave a comment

Dalston Square Residents' Association A website & blog for residents (and neighbours) of Dalston Square