What's It Like Hanging Outside On Ledge Washing Roosevelt Island Building Apartment Windows- Westview Residents Frustrated At Their Dirty Windows And Would Like Them Cleaned So They Can See Lovely Views

"Please don't fall" and "You are courageous men" were words spoken by a Roosevelt Island resident to the workers cleaning the windows exteriors of her 14th floor apartment high above the building courtyard as shown in this video taken recently.



The Island House resident was happy to have her windows cleaned. But. Roosevelt Island residents of the next door Westview Building have been frustrated with their inability to get their own windows cleaned. According to long time Westview resident Matt Katz:

... Over a period of six months, starting about a year and a half ago, every apartment had new windows installed. In my estimation, they have been excellent, keeping out wind, temperature extremes, and rain.

However, and from the day they were installed, they have never been cleaned. Over the 20 years my wife and I have lived in Westview, the procedure was that tenants would hire a cleaner, staff or otherwise, to remove the sliding panels and use squeegees on mop handles to address the outside panes. We have learned from our super that this is no longer allowed and to be patient while the complicated issue of how to wash windows is determined. Maintenance staff has allowed that these new windows are no more complicated than the old ones and may be cleaned using the same format. Emails and phone calls to the on-site manager go unanswered. Currently, my windows are opaque and I would like to enjoy the lovely view outside my window....

The subject of Westview Window washing was raised during the the June 13 Roosevelt Island Town Hall with elected officials. Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright wrote to Westiview Building management requesting that they respond to the Westview residents concerns.

Seawright Window Washing Letter

The Westview Task Force (WTI), comprised of building residents, sent out this July 10 memo to residents

Re: Window Cleaning Update

WTI has been in contact with the Sponsor in connection with Window cleaning. We are pleased to confirm that the Sponsor intends to have all apartment and hallway windows cleaned by a professional window cleaning company.

Although in the past window cleaning was not provided by Management, window cleaning will now be provided at no cost to all residents as the final step in the window installation process.

Management is in the process of bidding out the window cleaning job with professional window cleaning contractors and will let residents know when the cleaning will be done, which will commence as soon as a contractor is selected and available to start. The entire job will take approximately 4-6 weeks to complete.

In the future, we (or the new COOP Board once in place) will work with Management to establish a procedure for periodic window cleaning for residents to sign up for window cleaning – the cost of this service will be based on the size of the apartment.

In the past, residents often made arrangements for staff to clean apartment windows after hours on a fee basis. Because of legal and insurance reasons, staff are not permitted to perform window cleaning, including after hours.

Hopefully, Mr Katz and other Westview residents, will soon be able to look out clean windows at their lovely Roosevelt Island views.