Just a month after a 7News investigation into pandemic parties at Miami condos, one building is taking action. 7’s Karen Hensel investigates A DJ playing pulsating music, colorful lights and no social distancing. The video, posted on Instagram in late July, is not from inside a club but inside a condo unit at Opera Tower […]
Homeowner asked by HOA to take down pro-police flag in Draper neighborhood (UT)
A Utah woman is expressing her frustration after she was asked by a local homeowner’s association to take down her family’s “Thin Blue Line” flag. “It’s awfully convenient that in years past they never have requested this, but this year it’s a big deal,” Aimee Peterson told 2News. Read the article………………………………..
Beatrice Homeowner Association Seeking Injunction Against Sex Offender Residency (NE)
A Beatrice homeowners association is seeking a judge’s order that would prevent a convicted sex offender from residing in their neighborhood. The Wildwood Estates Homeowners Association is seeking temporary and permanent injunctions Read the article………………………….
HOAs grapple with sign rules in era of social justice reform (CO)
Colorado law states community associations can’t ban political signs around elections but can make rules about all other signs. That’s prompting debate in Lowry. Read the article……………………………..
Owners, preservation advocates agree to pause landmark process for Denver condo building (CO)
The future of the Carmen Court condo building in Denver’s Speer neighborhood and a decision about whether or not its past makes it a historic landmark have both been put on hold. Read the article…………………………………..
Homestead homeowners bring lawsuit (WA)
Homeowners in north Lynden’s Homestead development have sued its golf course owners and managers claiming misappropriation of maintenance fees that have been collected over the years. The seven homeowner couples or individuals bringing the lawsuit say they want to regain control for parcel owners of how the maintenance fees are spent by establishing a homeowners […]
Jones Creek golf course to be auctioned (GA)
A defunct Columbia County golf course is going on the auction block more than two years after closing while embroiled in lawsuits. The 18-hole course of nearly 7,000 yards is nestled among hundreds of upscale homes whose residents have expressed concern about the course’s future. Read the article……………………………
Country Club HOA could split from town hall model (FL)
Board members of the Country Club Edgewater Village Association hope to save money on property management services, though others worry a change could increase costs to residents outside CEVA’s boundaries. Read the article…………………………………
‘Gated’ Fairview community has gate removed, road determined as public (TN)
A “gated community” in Fairview is gated no more. After research into the Stable Acres subdivision history, analysis of what’s allowed on a city public road, and input from the homeowners, the Fairview Board of Commissioners decided to take no action — essentially they chose not to vacate the public road. Read the article……………………………….
Condo questions: Don’t enter into a contract without proper protections (FL)
Q: We signed a contract for a landscape vendor to install various trees and shrubs throughout the community. The contract is simply an estimate of $50,000 with no content other than a price and a description of the plant materials. Our president signed the estimate and now the contractor claims he can’t get the materials. […]
State pilot brings drainage relief to local subdivision after years-long effort (IN)
Standing water and mosquitoes plague the Willow Lakes East subdivision in White River Township with every heavy rainstorm. Residents of the subdivision and others in the county inspired County Commissioner Ron West to put forward legislation that would allow Indiana counties to step in and help subdivisions that have no other recourse for drainage control. […]
PSC investigating North Star after homes abruptly lose water (MT)
The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) has opened an investigation into what led to the loss of water to the North Star Subdivision on Sunday Aug. 30. Read the article………………………………..
Volusia condo complex reopens 4 years after Hurricane Matthew (FL)
Four years after being severely damaged by Hurricane Matthew, a condominium complex received the OK to reopen. Peck Plaza stands tall, despite being hit by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and then Hurricane Irma in 2017. It’s been a long four-year journey for the 100 or so owners of condominiums in the 29-story landmark property. Read […]
After 2 years, homeowner told to take down US flag adorned with thin-blue line, which honors police (NC)
A retired sheriff’s deputy didn’t see any problem with hanging a U.S. flag with a thin blue line outside his Lancaster County home to show his support for local police. Property management at Tree Tops retirement community told John Nakaji last week to take it down after two years. Read the article…………………………….
Suwanee works out agreement with HOA for trail access (GA)
The Suwanee City Council recently approved an agreement with the Pierce Point subdivision homeowners association for access and trail maintenance to the Suwanee Creek Greenway. The section of greenway between Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road and Suwanee Elementary School is on land that belongs to the Pierce Point subdivision. Read the article………………………………
Birds ousted by condo board may return home (FL)
Two colorful macaws and an African gray bird that have lived for more than a decade in the outdoor courtyard at Duval Square, just outside New York Pasta Garden restaurant, may be able to return. Read the article…………………………….
Several families displaced after overnight fire at DeKalb condo building (GA)
The American Red Cross of Georgia is helping several families who were displaced from an overnight fire at a DeKalb County condo building. The non-profit said its volunteers were assisting 10 families – a total of 17 people – who live at the Georgetown of Atlanta Condominiums on Colonial Way in DeKalb County. Read the […]
Removing Officers and Directors Require Different Procedures (FL)
Q: Our homeowners’ association board president has not been responsive. He is also over two months overdue on assessments. Can he be replaced and what are the steps for that process? Read the Q&A……………………………..
SW Bend HOA to residents: No ‘solidarity’ or political signs, except at election time (OR)
Some residents in southwest Bend’s River Rim neighborhood are reacting with concern to a board letter telling them that what are defined as ‘solidarity signs” must come down until election time. Read the article……………………………..
Three years after Harvey, Kingwood continues to battle for flood mitigation (TX)
Three years ago, Hurricane Harvey inundated much of the Kingwood area after Lake Houston and the San Jacinto River overflowed and deposited flood waters into thousands of homes and businesses. Established in 1970, Friendswood Development billed Kingwood as The Liveable Forest — a neighborhood on the northeast side of Houston that was lush with trees […]
Condo emergency powers allow restrictions on contractors, vendors during pandemic (FL)
Q: My husband and I are selling our condo. We have a buyer who wants to renovate. We are told that the board has suspended all construction until further notice due to COVID-19. Read the Q&A………………………..
Condominium must allow census worker to enter building (IL)
Q: A census worker contacted our condominium association in connection with the 2020 federal census. The census worker asked to be admitted into the condominium building, to which the entry doors are locked. Does our association need to admit census workers to the property? Read the article………………………………….
House divided: Plaza residents, hotel battle over union labor (NY)
An internal dispute over union labor at the Plaza has gone public. In a lawsuit filed last week, One Central Park South’s residential board, which represents the Plaza condominiums, alleged that the hotel has stalled and obstructed a nonunion contractor from initiating repairs to a 15th-floor balcony. Read the article……………………………….
Ex-St. Pete condo property manager vacationed at Disney on company dime (FL)
A former property manager of Parkshore Plaza, a high-end condominium building in downtown St. Petersburg, was sentenced to two years in prison this week after authorities say she used company money to buy vacations to Disney, book personal flights to Maryland, pay for expensive trips to the salon and cover her home water bill. Read […]
HOA Homefront: Our association stopped meeting. Is that OK? (CA)
Q: Our board says that due to the pandemic they are suspending board meetings “until further notice.” Our bylaws state board meetings must be held at least every three months. They said if they do hold a meeting they will limit attendance to 10 members, but the Open Meeting Act says it must be open […]
Mashpee Resident Alleges Discrimination, Speech Violation Over Black Lives Matter Sign (MA)
For the entire month of July, the Summerwood Condominium Association fined Mashpee resident Kristin DaLomba $10 a day for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign in her front garden, alleging a violation of the association’s regulations. After racking up more than $400 in fines for defiantly displaying the sign, Ms. DaLomba has retained a lawyer […]
Galloway neighbors say HOA targeting Black Lives Matter yard displays (OH)
Refynd Duro says she knew she wanted to take a stance. She’s seen a lot as a nurse working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and her son is half black. So when she received a sign from her union, the Ohio Nurses Association, she knew the two causes she cared about most […]
Melo’s Aria on the Bay allegedly plagued with construction defects: lawsuit (FL)
Aria on the Bay may be the Melo Group’s signature project near Edgewater and the Arts & Entertainment District, where the developer has built most of its residential buildings in Miami. Designed by Arquitectonica, the 53-story luxury tower features units with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offer expansive views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami’s skyline. […]
Family of Women Killed in Bluff Collapse Announce Lawsuits Against Encinitas, State, HOA (CA)
The family of the three women who were killed in an Encinitas bluff collapse last year has announced Wednesday lawsuits against the city, state and a homeowner’s association. Read the article……………………………
SC couple fighting neighborhood HOA over Trump flag (SC)
A Fort Mill family is fighting to keep flying their Trump flag outside their home after they say their HOA told them to take it down. “We love our flag and we love our president,” Sarah Martin said. Read the article………………………………
Swifty Creek drainage overflows made lakes (WA)
Residents of the Village at Snohomish condominiums along Ford Avenue, and surrounding homes, have dealt with the flooding of Swifty Creek for decades. In February, the parking lot was nicknamed “Lake Snohomish” by condo residents, according to Marcia Hogan, the president of the Village condominiums. Read the article……………………………….
Macomb family asked to remove ‘Black Lives Matter’ signs after HOA complaint
Aries and Tia Rodgers said they were singled out because of the “Black Lives Matter” signs that they have in their Macomb-area lawn. “This is a real sensitive time to address something as simple as a Black Lives Matter sign,” Aries Rodgers said. The couple received a letter in the mail from the homeowner association that […]
Stuart man accused of using condo association’s credit card information to buy Home Depot gift cards (FL)
A Stuart man was accused of fraudulently using a condo association’s credit card information to buy over $1,200 in gift cards. Donald Francis Keal, 44, of the 4400 block of Southeast Hamilton Lane in Stuart was arrested Thursday on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card and grand theft. Read the article……………………………
Dozens of residents evacuated from Fairfield apartment fire (OH)
Dozens of people are displaced by a Fairfield apartment fire early Tuesday, according to Butler County dispatchers. Police arrived prior to fire crews and evacuated several residents from the first and second floor, dispatchers say. Firefighters evacuated the third floor. Read the article……………………………..
Neighborhood flooding raises questions about who is to blame (WI)
Williams Bay village officials have determined that the village is not responsible for storm-water management issues in Prairie View, leaving the homeowners association to correct flooding issues. Read the article……………………………….
Tropical Storms Marco and Laura: Insurance typically covers some, but not all, damage (LA)
As Tropical Storms Marco and Laura barrel toward Louisiana, you may wonder how well your homeowners or renters insurance will hold up in a natural disaster. The answer largely depends on the disaster. Damage from many calamities are covered by a standard policy, but a handful are not and require separate coverage for protection. Read […]
Fire in Glendale Heights condo complex leaves 2 dead, 1 injured (IL)
Residents were stunned to see flames shooting out of the building; one resident was awakened by his frightened children. “I’m all the way across the pond and it felt like the fire was in my face,” Darius Jones said. “I heard a boom, so I was thinking it was something inside the house that was […]
HOA charges Denver homeowner $1,000 for trimming neighbor’s bushes (CO)
A Denver man thought he was doing his neighborhood a favor by taking on some yard work. His Homeowner’s Association thought differently. In his southwest Denver neighborhood, Curtiss Eckhardt isn’t beating around the bush about the bushes he trimmed. Read the article…………………………..
Walnut Creek resident suffers significant burns in condominium fire (CA)
A resident was hospitalized with significant burn injuries after being rescued from a second floor balcony during a three-alarm fire Sunday morning at a condominium complex in Walnut Creek, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said. Read the article………………………….
Dispute over collapsing backyards along Mossy Oaks neighborhood pond raises long-term questions (LA)
A nearly year-old lawsuit on an Ascension Parish drainage issue has now cleared early attempts to dismiss the litigation before deeper investigation could begin. The lawsuit alleges a floodwater retention pond for the Mossy Oaks neighborhood was built so poorly that it caused the backyards of two homes to partially collapse into the pond. Read […]
Condo may be obligated to give disabled owner closer parking spot (FL)
Q: My mother has lived in and owned a condominium unit for 18 years. The association recently changed her parking spot without her knowledge or consent. Her new parking spot has been moved two spots over. Is it legal to move a parking spot someone has been assigned to for 18 years without their consent […]
Condo World: Best to stay out of neighbor noise disputes (NH)
“Oh, the Noise! Noise! Noise! Noise!” I don’t hate Christmas. Far from it. But the Grinch’s comments would be applicable in almost all condominium associations. Someone, somewhere, at some time, in some condominium unit WILL contact its Board of Directors to complain about noise from a neighbor. Read the article……………………………….
HOA should rethink removing its community gate (NV)
Q: I enjoy reading your column. Our homeowners’ association community installed an automatic gate several years ago. We have a lot of gate repairs because of reckless drivers and normal wear and tear. These costs add up and so does the gate downtime. When a gate is hit, it stops dead in its track. I […]
BLM condo sign flap prompts Jewett City renter’s move (CT)
A local renter is preparing to move out of her Jewett City condominium complex after weeks of disagreement with complex officials over what she says is her overt support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Crystal Allard moved into the Anthony Estates complex off Anthony Street a year ago with her husband and the couple’s […]
Back to school for owners and associations provides opportunity to learn something new about community (VA)
As summer draws to a close, we venture into back-to-school season. Teachers, parents and students begin preparing for the new school year, both virtually and in-person. We often think that school season is only for one of these categories, but it’s also the perfect time for homeowners association board members and homeowners to learn something […]
Board members may not waive portion of their assessments (IL)
Q: We have difficulty in recruiting candidates for the board of our condominium association. To attract candidates, the board would like to either waive some portion of the assessments for board members, or pay board members. Is this permitted? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Snoqualmie Ridge homeowner association tells family to take down Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ-positive signs (WA)
A family in Snoqualmie Ridge says their homeowner association has unfairly targeted their signs that promote equality. Watch the new report………………………………..
Authorities investigating series of fires at Vinings condominiums (GA)
Cobb County authorities are investigating a string of fires that were intentionally set inside a Vinings condominium complex this week, officials said Friday. The three fires, which have all been ruled arson, were set at the Vinings Central Condominums Read the article…………………………….
‘Who knows how much longer it will take?’: Valley Cottage condo owner awaits day he can return home (NY)
It’s been 16 months since a fire destroyed the Mounainview Condominium Complex in Valley Cottage and residents still don’t know when they will be able to return. The 16 people who were displaced by the fire have had to pay mortgage and maintenance fees even though they are still not living in the building. Read […]
Questions linger after Flying Heart ruling (ID)
Though a judge granted the public the right to access the Big Wood River using a road easement in a north-Hailey subdivision earlier this month, several “No Parking” signs put up by local homeowners—and the question of their legality—remain. Read the article…………………………