Condo living not easy

Re: Downtown living?

Further to Michael Henderson’s letter of July 06, 2021, I wish to say that I live downtown on Bertram with the Mission’s big construction project (which is my constant view) between my condo block and Bernard.

Although I see some homeless individuals in the vicinity of my condo and throughout the downtown, they have never bothered me. What has been a thorn in my side during the past 14 years since I bought my condo has not come from the exterior of the building, but from the inside.

When I was in the process of purchasing my 50+ condo, I kept emphasizing and reiterating that being a quiet senior, I was looking for a quiet single or couple to live above me, which I was assured would be the situation. Even as I was moving in, I knew that was not the case. A, then, crawling toddler, her mother, and other relatives all lived there twenty four seven. Additionally, quite frequently heavy bags of laundry(?) were “kerplunked “over my head; and the shower, washing machine and dryer were going constantly. No amount of my pleading with members capable of effecting a change brought forth results. So one day when I met the, then, board president (an apparent retired minister) at the elevator, I asked for his help.

In reply, the minutes showed that there were complaints about noise against me, and the board president and another member would come to see me, which they did and offered me $50,000 — Yes, $50,000.00! — for my condo if I would leave. I don’t know how they planned to utilize the monetary difference between that $50,000 and the purchase price I paid for my condo.

After seven years, the people in the condo above me gradually faded away, and I heaved a premature sigh of relief. The very next day a couple moved in who began tearing the place down to its bare bones and essentially building a new condo — renovating they call it. They have been doing this since they moved in seven years ago! I’m “blessed” with the noise of two construction sites — the condo above me and the huge Mission project beside me. I have tried several times and in various ways for the so-called seven year “renovation” above me to cease with no positive results.

A few days ago, I was working at my computer, when something very heavy was dropped “over my head” and some of the contents of my “office” went on a flying trip, breaking a trinket. I phoned upstairs, only to be told again the Board had given them permission for what they are doing, so I phoned the Board. As usual, I got some “brilliant” answers. I was told the noise came from another condo on my floor, although he did not know which one it was.

Anyway, he concluded by telling me that the occupants above me had been in the military and so they followed the rules (which rules?). It might surprise them to know that I was also in the military, where I met and married my late husband and raised two “Air Force Brats.” It would be my pleasure to take them on a day’s manoeuvre!

So, Mr. Henderson, it seems various undesirable situations exist. As for me, I’ve been carrying a much-too-heavy burden for the past 14 years, none of it being the fault of the homeless.

Elsie Dawe, Kelowna