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Broadlands Sign (The big leaf one)

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by ChrisL, Aug 26, 2010.

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  1. glencastle

    glencastle The Paterfamilias

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    Meanwhile, back to the fountain. I believe it worked for maybe 3 or 4 days once it was "fixed"...I think one evening they actually had the lights working. And now all is dark and dry. What a crack group of repair men.
     
    glencastle, Nov 14, 2010
    #61
  2. beahmer

    beahmer Member

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    What I was told - The fountains running was testing all the repairs. Now that its working they are finishing up the repairs - whitecoating,etc and then it will be good to go.
     
    beahmer, Nov 14, 2010
    #62
  3. glencastle

    glencastle The Paterfamilias

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    Water good, lights bad, in that there are none that are currently on at night. Other local communities are ridiculing us because we can't pay the electric bill...
     
    glencastle, Nov 23, 2010
    #63
  4. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Doesn't belong to Broadlands HOA, I believe. Its Van Metre who owns and maintains (and pays for the electricity).
     
    Capricorn1964, Nov 23, 2010
    #64
  5. glencastle

    glencastle The Paterfamilias

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    Yeah, I know....I was just trying to make a point. I just hate to see things that are an obvious investment in someone's time and money sitting there half-baked.
     
    glencastle, Nov 24, 2010
    #65
  6. JLC

    JLC Member

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    My neighbor took this today.
     

    Attached Files:

    JLC, Dec 6, 2010
    #66
  7. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Throw some nice lighting under that and that would be a wicked cool sign!
     
    Mr. Linux, Dec 6, 2010
    #67
  8. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    Talked with Van Metre today and they didn't think the icing was a problem - some concerned residents called the HOA office today thinking the ice was determental to the operation - it is pretty cool looking, isn't it!
     
    mamatothree, Dec 6, 2010
    #68
  9. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    Any chance we (community or VM) can juice up the lights? They need to be positioned AT NIGHT, not during the day, so we can read the sign....Just a thought...
     
    TeamDonzi, Dec 6, 2010
    #69
  10. glencastle

    glencastle The Paterfamilias

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    Without the 'B' we are 'roadlands'. Well, there are a lot of roads around here.
     
    glencastle, Dec 6, 2010
    #70
  11. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Once again, the sign and everything that goes with it is owned, maintained and run by Van Metre, and they are the only ones who can do anything about the sign and they can do with it as they please.

    That being said, folks seem to think that VM doesn't care about the sign, which is further than the truth. They have spent a lot of money building it and maintaining it, without a penny coming out of the resident's pockets. They want the sign to look great just like everyone else. There have been some issues on a variety of levels which they are slowly getting through.

    So, folks can come on here complaining about it and asking for this and that to be done, which is fine. Just bear in mind that the actual folks you need to be talking to are VM, and certainly not through our HOA forums. Personally, I LOVE the sign and hope that VM doesn't get tired of maintaining it to people's expectations and eventually gets rid of it, just like the whole thing about the Broadlands 'letters' at the Claiborne Parkway entrance years ago, but that's a whole other story...
     
    Mr. Linux, Dec 7, 2010
    #71
  12. LSeidmeyer

    LSeidmeyer New Member

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    I thought the sign looked beautiful yesterday with all the ice on it. Like our very own ice sculpture.
     
    LSeidmeyer, Dec 7, 2010
    #72
  13. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    Yes, the ice is super cool!
     
    TeamDonzi, Dec 7, 2010
    #73
  14. jjenkins

    jjenkins New Member

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    I thought the same thing!
     
    jjenkins, Dec 7, 2010
    #74
  15. polkhigh

    polkhigh New Member

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    Agreed, it is pretty cool looking, but I don't see how VM thinks the ice is not a problem. Basic chemistry tells you that water expands when it turns into ice. If it gets cold enough the fountain nozzle will probably close up causing some level of damage. Additionally, the weight of the ice on each of the letters are probably reaching +500lbs. Can we say....TIMBER!!!!!

    I understand that this isn't "our" money (HOA funds) being used to maintain this sign, but why doesn't VM be proactive rather than reactive and shut the fountain down for the winter before another problem occurs. Haven't we all serviced our sprinklers for the winter months ago?

    Sorry for the rant but I shake my head in the way some companies run their business. :screwy:

    -P
     
    polkhigh, Dec 7, 2010
    #75
  16. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    It's rather simple really; running water won't freeze. That's why you'll see so many fountains in the middle of lakes, ponds, etc, left running over the winter. Otherwise, the whole system will need to be purged of any sign of water which isn't as easy as it sounds when you're talking about a huge fountain. So while we might all be seeing water freezing on the letters, the internal pump system, as long as it's running, won't freeze.
     
    Mr. Linux, Dec 8, 2010
    #76
  17. Steve Campot

    Steve Campot Broadlands Real Estate Broker

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    [​IMG]

    Frozen waterfall

    Moving water has a much lower freeze point but it will freeze.
     
    Steve Campot, Dec 8, 2010
    #77
  18. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Yes Steve, you're correct. Although I doubt your picture was taken in Northern Virginia and as you stated, it's a waterfall, not a fountain. But yes, point taken; let me rephrase my above statement:

    Running water is less likely to freeze.

    Satisfied?
     
    Mr. Linux, Dec 8, 2010
    #78
  19. Steve Campot

    Steve Campot Broadlands Real Estate Broker

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    I had a problem in NVA with poorly insulated pipes a long time ago and I left the water trickling and the pipe still froze. I think it is helpful if people understand that leaving a little water running is not a sure way to keep a pipe from freezing. It helps but proper insulation or winterizing is the best bet.

    The fountain pumps can freeze but maybe the owners don't realize it. Can any of you really smart people come up with a formula that would tell them the freeze point of water under lets say 30 psi? I looked a little but could not find one. I know there a many other variable in the fountain but it would be a start.
     
    Steve Campot, Dec 9, 2010
    #79
  20. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    [​IMG]
     
    sharse, Dec 10, 2010
    #80
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