Residents agree that the friendly staff at Parklane Towers makes living in the Towers community pleasant. It feels wonderful when a staff member greats you and readily helps you when you need it.
Below we listed some of the many services we receive and appreciate from our Parklane Towers employees and community.
Our list of services
- Door attendants every day of the year
- Two elevators for easy transport from floor to floor
- Intercom system to front door in every home
- Resident’s approval of all guests before admittance into building
- Ample guests’ parking
- Valet service for your car
- Car-to-door delivery of luggage, groceries, and packages
- Locked lobby mailbox for each home
- Large package delivery to our doors
- Local and national newspapers delivered to subscriber doors
- Trash and recycle closet on every floor for easy disposal
- Clean laundry room available 24-hours a day
- Exercise room available 24-hours a day
- Lending library available 24-hours a day
- Electronic entry with personal key fob\
- Outdoor surveillance cameras with shareholder access
Our employees provide other courteous and helpful amenities to our community beyond what’s listed here. We have a “No Tipping” policy at Parklane Towers. Our voluntary Holiday Fund gives each resident a chance to thank our staff for their outstanding service at the end of the year.
Maintenance Fees
Similar to Home Owners Association (HOA) fees, our “maintenance fees” cover the day to day operation of our iconic building, garages, and grounds. This includes cleaning and maintaining our common areas. It also includes the services listed above in additional to the list here.
- Heating and air conditioning
- Water, trash, recycle, and sewer services
- Cleaning and lighting in all common areas
- Equipment maintenance and minor repairs
- Property taxes
- Insurance premiums for building and common areas
- Maintaining and replacing air-filters and smoke detectors in each apartment
- Landscaping, lawn mowing, and removing snow and ice
- Expanded cable services for every home
Additional Services Available
- Garage parking – paid monthly
- Surface parking – paid monthly
- Bulk cable TV service – paid monthly
- Home maintenance and repair service available for a nominal fee
- Storage unit – if available
Fire Protection Program
An important segment of Parklane Towers security is our fire protection program. We are known as one of the best fire-protected buildings in Kansas. All our homes have smoke detectors which our attendants monitor using a master-control panel.
We also have:
- a fire alarm system for the entire building,
- fire extinguishers throughout the facility, and
- two smoke-free evacuation stairwells.
These combine to provide optimum fire protection for our residents.
Every apartment is unique
Our apartments come in all different sizes. Traditionally the architect designed one and two bedroom units. Two bedroom flats have a second bath. All originally had a galley kitchen and a service entrance. Traditionally our corner apartments consists of two bedrooms facing east or west. Between the corner apartments, two one-bedroom units face either north or south.
Many floor plans have morphed through the years. Some have combined two, one-bedroom apartments creating two master suites. Those units offer over 2,000 square feet of living space. Our two bedrooms offer just under 1,500 square feet while our one-bedrooms give you around 1,100 square feet of space. A couple owners added a third bedroom by creating a studio apartment next door. We enjoy visiting each other’s homes as every one of them is unique in decor.
Through the years owners have remodeled most of our units. Only one remains intact as originally designed as of this writing. It has a new owner in 2022. It had the original floor plan above to include original metal kitchen cabinets and matching appliances.
Swap and Shop
Our Swap and Shop tables lets us divest ourselves of items we no longer need — while finding things we do need. It’s been a fun addition. We have proven the adage, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” You never know what you will find.
I acquired the suitcase, bird, and Avon bottle from the Swap and Shop Table which gave my floor neighbor and I a big laugh. It ends up, she donated these items and happy that I could use them.
Part of a Community
We have 10 floors with 72 residences. I am surprised how often you can ride an elevator and not see anyone as you walk from your home through the tunnel to the garage. Our community members operate on different schedules it seems. Some of us leave for work early morning while others leave at noon. And then a few are lucky enough to be fully retired. They just come and go as they please. What a life.
To connect we have planned activities. Two of our residents organize our holiday parties and our annual picnic. Another couple of residents arrange for our monthly group lunches. We also meet once a week for coffee to check in with friends in real life. Another couple hosts game night on Monday nights where we play Dominoes. That’s always fun.
These gatherings have been great for us to meet our neighbors and build camaraderie. We’re in the ideal community with the right number of people to do just that.
Many of our members establish their forever homes in Parklane Towers. We have people living here for over two decades. Because we own the cooperative collectively, we can remain in our homes for as long as we wish. That is as long as we meet our monthly obligations, and abide by the cooperative bylaws, rules, and regulations — of course.
Volunteering
Member residents participate at various levels in the decision-making process. Because we mutually own shares in Parklane Tower, Inc., we have plenty of opportunity to volunteer when and where we can. As mentioned above we have volunteers who help build our community and board members who govern for up to three years each term.
It’s all a team effort when you live in a housing co-operative.