Link-in Logs
New community website provides more robust user experience for residents
STORY AND PHOTO
BY STEPHEN VRATTOS
If you recently tried to log into
MyBuilding, you may have
been surprised to find it’s
disappeared. That’s because it
has, at least as far as North Shore
Towers is concerned. Residents
have a new online community
gathering spot, which provides a
more robust and comprehensive
interactive experience, while being
easier and more intuitive to
use and learn. The new site was
created by Building Link, a worldwide
Manhattan-based hard- and
software company, founded in
1999—according to the company’s
website—“with the simple idea
that property management could
be streamlined, and the lives of
property managers and their residents
could be made easier.”
Residents were introduced to
the site in the Towers Cinema,
Thursday night, July 28, in an
audiovisual presentation by
Building Link spokesperson
Pamela Ross. In the preceding
introduction, General Manager
Glen Kotowski alerted attendees
that all residents should have
received a temporary username
and password, which they could
use to log in. Both keys to unlocking
the site can be changed after
the initial log-in—or not—and
residents should always remember
to logout when finished for
security reasons. If someone in the
audience hadn’t received the notification,
both Linda Rappaport
and Cynthia Kotowski from the
Greenthal Property Sales office
and Barbara from the management
office were set up at a table in the
back of the cinema by the entrance
to help those individuals get started.
Anyone not in attendance who
need a username and password
should call the office.
Kotowski also assured residents
they could still customize how they
receive information alerts from
management, such as via text or
email, including via old-school
telephone. He urged all to use the
Building Link's Pamela Ross provides an overview of the new NST community website.
site. After all, internet is provided
as part of the monthly Spectrum
deal and residents will be pleasantly
surprised by the site’s usefulness
and functionality.
To access the site, residents
should go to http://nstresidents.
buildinglink.com. A series of
prompts will greet first-time users,
asking for acceptance of “Terms &
Conditions”—a standard practice of
any such site—and advising them
in such basics as downloading the
smartphone app, if they so choose.
Residents will immediately be
struck by the friendlier home screen,
which seem to welcome users to
play and explore the site. Which
is exactly what GM Kotowski
advised, cautioning everyone the
ensuing seminar would not be a
detailed step-by-step analysis of the
new site, but rather and overview.
To attempt the former would take
hours, as Building Link provides
many more activities and avenues
to enjoy than the old site.
Icons are liberally sprinkled
throughout to help quickly identify
the actions of particular boxes.
For example, to schedule a maintenance
appointment the “My Repair
Requests” box featured a toolbox.
To track deliveries, look for the
package icon with the appellation
“My Deliveries.” The “Building
Library”—an open book—can be
used to access documents, such
as President’s Letters, movie and
bus schedules, though in the case
of the latter pair, each also has a
dedicated link, entitled, fittingly
enough, “Movie Schedule” or “Bus
Schedule.”
Through the “My Front Desk
Instructions,” aptly denoted with
a key, residents can leave detailed
instructions with their concierge,
concerning impending visitors,
aides, etc., such as when they are
to be expected, either for certain
instances or over a period of time.
The tool can also be utilized to
alert the front desk to anyone who
should not be allowed access,
such as former contract workers
or homecare professionals, whose
jobs are completed.
Announcements and Upcoming
Events will always be listed in
the left-hand column. However,
the former list will never supersede
residents also getting alerts
by their usual chosen methods.
There’s even a “Communicate with
Mgmt” button for direct access
to members of the management
team, Greenthal Property Sales,
Board Members, and perhaps
most importantly, the 24/7 On-Site
Security office.
Under the “NeighborNet” header
are links specific to interacting with
your NST neighbors, whether it be a
directory of names, phone numbers
and email addresses, headshots and
profiles; or the “Bulletin Board”,
which allows for the listing of items
or services for sale; finding a partner
with whom to play pickleball; or
beginning discussions among the
community. For example, Board
Treasurer Steve Redlich recently
posted he was unsubscribing from
Nextdoor and would now be available
only through Building Link,
since unlike Nextdoor, it is private
to the NST community.
Larger icons under the “Local
Links for 11005-3335” header can
help users locate local merchants,
restaurants, services, even parks.
Similarly, there is a “Directory of
Local Vendors” under the “Services
And Offers” header in the right column,
which provides information
on the Arcade businesses, as well as
special offers from area and Arcade
merchants.
It is important to note, the new
site is still growing—continually
adding documents and more
and more information on area
businesses, as well as refining its
functionality. Additionally, because
Building Link is headquartered in
Manhatten, the “Help” button,
located directly beneath the user’s
name and next to the logout button,
provides direct access to company
whether via email (link provided)
or phone number (listed).
“One of the advantages of
Building Link is we’re right here.
It’s why I’m here tonight in person
to speak with you,” noted Ross. “I
urge everyone to call us with any
questions. We look forward to
assisting you and helping you enjoy
the site!”
6 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ August 2018
/nstresidents
