Construction of a tunnel for the Southwest light-rail line in a narrow stretch of Minneapolis’ Kenilworth corridor may have led to cracking in walls and floors at the nearby Calhoun Isles condominum towers. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Leadership Network to have winter social (MN)
Are you a resident or board member of a homeowners association? HOA residents are encouraged to meet each other and learn about HOA living at the HOA Leadership Network’s winter social at the Apple Valley Senior Center on Thursday, Jan. 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The morning will include brief presentations about HOA […]
Property Owners Association donates to food banks (MN)
Normally the race proceeds are allocated for protecting and improving walleye/fish habitat. As was done in 2020, the WAPOA Board voted once again to donate the 2021 proceeds to area food shelves. Read the entire article……………………………….
How Minnesota got ‘a step ahead’ of an issue that may have contributed to the Surfside condo collapse
A law passed in 2017 was aimed at increasing the supply of condos and townhomes. But it also required developers, and condo associations, to fund upkeep of the buildings. Read the entire article……………………………….
Twin Cities area condo owners worry after Florida tower’s collapse (MN)
If it could happen in Florida, could it happen here? Since the devastating midnight collapse of a Florida seaside condominium, which killed at least 86 people and left 43 more missing, condo dwellers in the Twin Cities area are wondering if their own homes are safe. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ramsey Lake Property Owners Association donates to local non-profits (MN)
The Ramsey Lake Property Owner’s Association (RLPOA) hosted its annual meeting on Saturday, June 26 at the home of RLPOA President, Scott Dumphy. Many topics were discussed including which organizations the lake association should donate to. Board members voted to donate, and equally distribute $2,500, to the following four non-profit organizations ($625 to each). Read […]
Victoria Neighborhood Voices Concerns Over Level 3 Offender Matthew Vanhecke Moving In (MN)
Monday night, there will be a community notification meeting to let people in Victoria know that a level three sex offender named Matthew Vanhecke will be moving into their neighborhood Tuesday. Some neighbors have already heard the news. A Facebook post from the Carver County sheriff notified people of Vanhecke’s move. Read the entire article……………………………….
Deal would make Lakewalk more accessible, enable residents to fight erosion (MN)
The proposed ordinance would grant the residents of an upscale waterfront housing development called the Ledges on Lake Superior access across city-owned land, providing a homeowners’ association with a perpetual easement, so that mutually acceptable erosion control measures can be implemented and maintained. The homeowners’ association would bear the cost of those shore-side improvements. Read […]
Sprawling condo complex seeks ‘last resort financing’ through city (MN)
The homeowners association of Ridgeview Condominiums in Burnsville is seeking city financing to fund an estimated $12 million to $16 million in badly needed rehabilitation. Two banks have rejected loan applications from the sprawling, 402-unit complex built in the 1970s and prominently located west of Nicollet Avenue and south of Burnsville Parkway. Read the entire […]
Hugo hailed as pioneer of stormwater reuse via neighborhood-wide irrigation system (MN)
Marketing materials for the Adelaide Landing housing development in Hugo tout its idyllic natural setting, proximity to downtown White Bear Lake and its architect-designed home plans. But there’s another selling point not normally seen on brochures for new suburban developments: a neighborhood-wide irrigation system that recycles stormwater. Read the article…………………………………
Homeowners associations still a barrier for some would-be solar customers (MN)
Jonathan Edmonson had plans to put a 16-kilowatt solar array on the roof of his suburban Minneapolis home, covering its dark blue roof with sleek black panels. In October, though, the homeowners association for his Blaine community rejected his proposal, citing aesthetic concerns and the lack of established guidelines for rooftop solar in the association’s […]
Stillwater: Chlorine leak forces evacuation of condo complex (MN)
A chlorine leak at condominium complex in downtown Stillwater on Tuesday morning forced a mass evacuation of the building. Read the article……………………………….
Homeowner’s Association Puts Eden Prairie Residents On Hook For Thousands After Hail Damage (MN)
A group of neighbors in Eden Prairie are afraid of losing their homes to exorbitant association fees. The homeowner’s association for the Hennepin Village Community assessed every resident somewhere from $9,000 to $14,000 for roof damage repairs after a hailstorm in August. Read the article…………………………………….
‘I am completely terrified.’ Apple Valley woman repeatedly sought help dealing with the man police say killed her. (MN)
Apple Valley police have yet to publicly release a motive for the killing, other than to say that they had responded to the condominium building a number of times over incidents relating to Rosenbaum’s mental health. None of them were deemed to be criminal, Francis said. In her court petition, Brown wrote that she believed […]
Twin Cities Neighborhood Association Turns To New Camera Technology To Deter Car, Home Break-Ins (MN)
A west metro neighborhood association is taking a new approach to preventing car and home break-ins, and so far it appears it’s working. Heritage Park is a 37-home development nestled in Plymouth. It’s where Jim Russell and his wife are raising their boys. Read the article……………………………….
1 dead after fire Inver Grove Heights condominium fire (MN)
One person is dead after a fire in an Inver Grove Heights condominium Sunday night, officials said. Crews said they were called to the condominium complex in the 3800 block of Conroy Trail, just before 9 p.m. on reports that a person might be trapped inside one of the units during the fire. Read […]
Prior Lake’s private street utility surcharge proposal is postponed until next year (MN)
The proposed $40 surcharge would have been included in residents’ bi-monthly utility bill and used to create a funding source to cover the cost of replacing private streets should the city need to replace the public utilities, such as sewer and water, which lie underneath them. While the city is responsible for the cost of […]
Fines, fees and fear: Minneapolis neighbors speak out against ‘harassing’ homeowners association (MN)
Jolene Johnson, seen Sept. 10, is frustrated that her homeowners association is forcing her to remove large sections of her garden, a garden she planted 12 years ago and takes great pride in. The homes in the Heritage Park neighborhood in north Minneapolis are impeccable, the lawns kept short and green, the trash cans lined […]
MN Supreme Court affirms, reverses parts of ruling over White Bear Lake water issues
A recent ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part a lower court’s decision regarding the ongoing legal battle over White Bear Lake and the role the Department of Natural Resources had in its fluctuating water levels. Read the article………………………..
Supreme Court reverses appeals decision in lake level lawsuit (MN)
The state’s highest court affirmed a portion of the Court of Appeals decision regarding the lake level lawsuit and reversed a portion. Then they sent it back to the three-judge appeals panel. In a decision issued July 15, the Minnesota Supreme Court said plaintiffs in the case against the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) brought […]
MN Supreme Court partially reverses appeals court on White Bear Lake water levels
The Minnesota Supreme Court has partially ruled in favor of homeowners who sued the Department of Natural Resources over water levels on White Bear Lake. Read the article…………………………..
ALERT: City of Edina Expands Mask Order to Multi-Family Residential Properties (MN)
Effective July 9, 2020, the City of Edina expanded its Emergency Declaration requiring the wearing of masks in certain public places to require that residents and guests of multi-family housing buildings must wear masks when in common spaces. This order applies to multi-family residential properties located within Edina, including common interest communities. Read the article…………………………….
26 displaced after fire at Mpls. condo complex (MN)
Firefighters in Minneapolis responded to an early-morning fire that fortunately left residents uninjured. Crews were called to a condo complex at 3600 Penn Ave. North around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday. The fire, which raged to 2-alarm, required some of the building’s residents to be rescued by fire ladders. Read the article……………………………
Fire at Mound condos injures 2, displaces up to 70 (MN)
A three-alarm fire broke out just before 5 p.m. Saturday, April 11 at a condominium complex in Mound, injuring two and displacing 60-70 people from their homes one day before the Easter holiday. Read the article………………………..
One person injured in early-morning condo fire in Burnsville (MN)
One person was seriously hurt in an early-morning condominium fire Saturday in Burnsville. According to the Burnsville Fire Department, firefighters responded to Ridgeview Condominums in the 2900 block of Nicollet Avenue South shortly after midnight on the report of a smoke alarm sounding in the building. Read the article……………………….
Lake association aims to restore the shore (MN)
The Bald Eagle Lake Association is offering a matching fund program in 2020 for shoreline restoration projects around the lake. The association will provide matching grants to help finance projects that the Rice Creek Watershed District RCWD approves for Bald Eagle Lake residents in 2020. RCWD created a grant program to provide homeowners with technical […]
Minn. Supreme Court hears arguments in White Bear Lake levels case
The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in the case involving water levels on White Bear Lake. Homeowners and others concerned about the lake sued the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2012, claiming the agency mismanaged groundwater pumping and caused the lake’s levels to reach historically low levels. Read the article………………………….
CO Threat Forces Evacuation of Rochester Condo Building (MN)
Residents of a downtown Rochester condominium complex were chased outside Saturday due to a carbon monoxide threat. Read the article……………………………..The Rochester Fire Dept. was called to 728 1st Ave SW just before 11:00 AM and detected CO in the building’s 5th floor area. The entire building was evacuated as a precaution until it was ventilated.
Dispute over Edina parks maintenance fees resolved (MN)
The Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority and a group of Centennial Lakes residents have reached an agreement after questions were raised over the fairness of park maintenance fees. Ever since the Village Homes of Centennial Lakes condominiums were built 30 years ago in conjunction with the park’s opening, the residents there have been paying a […]
Scandia facing lawsuit over dock denial (MN)
The City of Scandia is facing a lawsuit over its recent denial of a community dock expansion. A group of homeowners within the Tii Gavo neighborhood on Big Marine Lake filed a lawsuit early last week seeking to overturn the city council’s decision to deny the addition of 10 boat slips to the homeowners association’s […]
Monticello woman fears possible sinkhole forming below her home (MN)
A homeowner in Monticello, Minnesota is concerned her growing water bill is an indicator of a much bigger problem. Seeing the holes where her driveway meets her garage, Sue Bell is a nervous wreck. “It’s basically a sinkhole,” Bell said. “I don’t stand that close to it because I’m so nervous, especially when they say […]
Residents on Lake Orono seek taxing district (MN)
Residents around Elk River’s Lake Orono are working on a special taxing district that will contribute monies toward the restoration and maintenance of that lake, officials learned on May 6 at a work session. State agencies have identified the lake as impaired due to algae pollution and invasive species infestation, and for the past three […]
Plaintiffs in White Bear Lake level case to petition Supreme Court (MN)
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed against the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) intend to petition the Minnesota Supreme Court to hear the case. It’s the last step in a long, drawn-out process through the court system that started six years ago when the White Bear Lake Restoration Association (WBLRA) blamed historic low lake levels on […]
Facing city lawsuit, Lake Elmo homeowner’s association wants to keep trails private (MN)
A Lake Elmo neighborhood wants to keep its trails private, but a lawsuit from the city may make the trails open for all to use. “We are willing to work with the city, it’s just surprising to have a lawsuit suddenly thrown at you,” said Nina Cooper. It’s a case that pits the City of […]
Judge reverses White Bear Lake water levels case ruling (MN)
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has overturned a victory for White Bear Lake residents in their lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources over the lake’s water level and the conservation of groundwater. Read the article………………….
Centennial Lakes condo owners question fairness of parks fees (MN)
A group of condo owners are tired of paying more than the rest of the city’s residents to maintain Centennial Lakes Park. Homeowners from the Centennial Lakes Village condominium complex made their case at a Jan. 31 Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting, asking to be relieved of the $28 fee they pay every month […]
Litigation over lake level in hands of appellate panel (MN)
Attorneys representing the Department of Natural Resources (the appellant) and the White Bear Lake Restoration Association (the respondent) chose to spend their minutes arguing over the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act (MERA). That state law provides civil remedy to protect air, water, land and other natural resources from pollution, impairment or destruction. In its seventh year […]
Townhome, condo leadership breakfast group forming (MN)
A breakfast meeting group is forming for volunteer board members of townhome, condominium and cooperative associations in Dakota County. The next meeting will be 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at GrandStay Hotel and Conference, 7083 153rd St. W., Apple Valley. The meeting will enable board members to meet each other and to share information about […]
Townhome, condo leadership breakfast group forming in Dakota County (MN)
A breakfast meeting group is forming for volunteer board members of townhome and condominium associations in Dakota County. The next meeting will be 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, at Perkins Restaurant, 17387 Kenyon Ave., Lakeville. The meeting will enable board members to meet each other and to share information about their associations and their experience […]
Intervenors join state in appealing lake lawsuit ruling (MN)
Both the city and township are following the Department of Natural Resources’ lead and filing an appeal in the lake level lawsuit. The firm representing the city, Greene Espel PLLP, filed the appeal May 14; the township gave its attorney the go-ahead to file May 21. The office of the attorney general filed May 11 […]
Part of the solution to water pollution (MN)
Landscaping for Clean Water workshops held throughout Dakota County Sick of winter and ready to see some greenery? Dakota County is offering landscaping workshops that will inspire ideas while also benefitting the environment. The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District has partnered with four local watershed organizations — the Vermillion River Joint Powers Organization, […]
State Farm raises rates for home, condominium owners (MN)
State Farm Insurance will raise renewal rates for home and condominium owners in February. The Bloomington-based insurance company will implement a 3.9 percent average increase for homeowners and a 6.2 percent average rate hike for condominium owners, effective Feb. 1. “State Farm’s highest priority is to keep our promises to our policyholders and be there […]
Condo liability law loosened (MN)
A homeowners association is suing the developer, builder and manager of the Superior Vista condominiums, among others, claiming the Mesaba Avenue complex was not properly built and ought to be repaired under warranty. “Many areas of the building were not built to applicable building code, industry standard and/or engineering specifications … all of which is […]
Legislature’s changes to construction-defect laws could help condo developers (MN)
Several much-anticipated changes to Minnesota’s construction-defect laws are closer to the governor’s pen. The amendments to House File 1538 received bipartisan support and went to a conference committee for House and Senate members to hash out differences. The current, long-standing statute was aimed at protecting homeowners from construction defects that might not have been discovered […]
White Bear Lake wants answers about low water level, despite recent rise (MN)
In 2012, the White Bear Lake Restoration Association sued the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, alleging that low water levels in White Bear Lake were a result of overuse of an aquifer in the northeast metro area. The city of White Bear Lake intervened in the lawsuit on behalf of the DNR. The White Bear […]
MN Court: No expectation of privacy in condo buildings
If a police officer enters your secured condominium building without a warrant and a drug-sniffing dog outside your door detects the presence of drugs, is it an illegal search? No, a divided Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. Read the article…………
Once again – the ad buyers get the editorial (MN)
(Op/Ed) Thousands of Minnesota empty-nesters would love to downsize into condos or townhouses, but can’t. Thousands of young apartment-dwellers would love to build equity in condos or townhouses in neighborhoods they love, but can’t. Read the article………….
Renting and the Law: Condo owner concerned about rental limits (MN)
Q: For the past eight years I have been renting out my condominium. When I purchased my condo, there was no mention of not being able to rent it out in the future. I have a rental license with the city and have always provided the management company with any requested documents. I have always […]
Timber Oaks (MN) residents cry foul over golf course drainage plan
Seventy-year-old Larry Dahlquist bought his home in the Timber Oaks neighborhood in 2006 and moved there permanently from Minnesota six years later, attracted by the peace and quiet of the 55-and-older community, and by his home’s location away from the golf course. He is not a golfer. Read the article………