State House candidate Adam Botana was reported for trespassing in a Fort Myers gated community while door knocking. Surveillance cameras on July 13 caught the Bonita Springs Republican rolling through the back gate of the Forest Country Club on an electric scooter. A week later, Botana was served with a warning from the homeowners association […]
Siena gets long-awaited fixes after suit settlement (NJ)
Developed on the former Hahne’s Department Store property, the building’s owners quickly sold all but eight of its 101 units as buyers sought what the builders termed an “enclave of luxury in an urban village setting” at Church and South Park streets. But soon owners of these luxury condos were plagued with leaks through walls, […]
About 30 People Displaced After Condominiums Catch Fire In Aurora (CO)
Aurora Fire Rescue says about 30 people are now displaced after a fire tore through a condominium complex. Firefighters responded to the Red Sky Condos near Sable Boulevard and Dearborn Way Saturday morning. Read the article……………………………
Condominium not obligated to hire property manager (FL)
Can a condominium with more than 10 units and a budget in excess of $100,000 self-manage? Or do the Florida statutes require them to hire a licensed property manager? Read the Q&A…………………………………..
Fireworks violation questioned (FL)
Q: I live in a homeowners association (HOA). On July 4th I celebrated with fireworks. I now have been sent a violation letter stating I violated the HOA rule against fireworks. Read the Q&A………………………….
Peacock problems: Clearwater community killing peacocks, law enforcement says it’s not illegal (FL)
There’s a peacock problem in Pinellas County. Some said there’s too many, others argue there aren’t enough. Some neighbors consider the wild animal’s therapy pets while others call the peacocks a nuisance and kill the birds to get rid of them, but that solution doesn’t sit so well with everyone. Read the article…………………………..
Condo board exiles restaurant’s resident birds (FL)
Humans aren’t the only Key West residents struggling to find long-term housing these days. Bailey, Tango and Lola, the birds that have lived in the outdoor courtyard at New York Pasta Garden for up to 17 years, have been exiled by the condominium association that governs Duval Square. Read the article……………………………
HOAs can fine homeowners but can’t force them to follow rules (NV)
Q: I am a Realtor in Las Vegas and have lived in a homeowners association community for 22 years. Early last year the HOA sent out detailed deviations to all homeowners with a timeline for completion/response. This year, our HOA has let homes have weeds as tall as a child, brown lawns, dead palm trees […]
Grand Chute police discontinue parking on condo property to monitor neighborhood activities (WI)
Question: Do police have the right to park on private property to run the license plate numbers of all the cars driving on a private road? This is happening on Green Meadow Drive in Grand Chute. I believe they are breaking our Fourth Amendment rights, invading our privacy and trespassing, but they refuse to leave. […]
Ocean City Condo Complex to Rise Above Flood Level (MD)
Chronic flooding at the Ocean Aire Condominiums is so bad at times that stormwater literally surges as high as the windows. But residents living at the condo complex at 43rd Street and West Avenue in Ocean City’s south end won’t be moving out. They’ll be moving up. Read the article………………………………
Condo World: To tow or not to tow, Part I (NH)
People do the darnedest things with cars. They park on the grass; they take the space or spaces of other units; they take up three or four spaces when assigned two spaces; they fail to move for the plow. The list can be long. When these types of things occur, usually a board of directors […]
Idaho Falls Parks & Recreation Partners with HOA, Installs New Playgrounds (ID)
Children of Idaho Falls have two new areas to recreate thanks to the City of Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Department and a partnership with a local homeowners association. Located just west of Sand Creek Golf Course, the Dunes Subdivision HOA partnered with the City to install a new playground in Dunes Park. The HOA […]
Developers: No plans to drop ‘plantation’ in Florida community names
When Charlene Smith and her husband Matthew began searching for a place to live in Florida, they considered several communities before deciding on ICI Homes’ Plantation Bay. The couple moved from New York City into their new home here three weeks ago. While both are Black, the community’s name didn’t bother them at the time. Read […]
Private clubs continue to find that the most likely buyers are current members or nearby homeowners
Private clubs continue to find that the most likely buyers are current members or nearby homeowners. A group of 70 members recently acquired Tippecanoe Country Club in Canfield, Ohio, and the Palm Desert Resorter Homeowners Association acquired Palm Desert Resort Country Club in California. Read the article……………………………
REAL ESTATE MATTERS: Condo association erects ‘private property’ signs
Q: If our condo association posts “private property” signs, are there any implications? Read the Q&A………………………………
Woman dead, others injured after condo fire at Grove Isle in south Indian River County (FL)
A woman died and two people went to hospitals with injuries in a condo fire at Grove Isle off U.S. 1, a fire official said. After the condominium caught fire, five other condos were damaged by smoke, but Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Roger Dion said the cause of the fire remains under […]
Roof rips off Ocean City condominium (MD)
Tropical Storm Isaias was more of a wind event than a rain event for Ocean City, after the roof of a condominium ripped off, most likely by a strong wind gust, approaching 70 to 80 mph. Read the article………………………………
Foothills HOA reformers score major bylaws win (AZ)
Early last year, two Foothills Association homeowners got curious about their HOA board in the wake of a springtime vote to oust longtime board President Bill Fautsch. Though the recall bid failed when two corporate members with significant blocs of votes threw their weight in Fautsch’s favor, Ron Doherty and David Randolph began for the […]
Construction firm alleges Venetian Islands condo association skipped out on $720K (FL)
A construction company alleges the condo association at Nine Island Avenue on Miami Beach’s Venetian Islands skipped out on $723,000 for a major renovation. Miami-based Critical Path Construction is suing the condo association at Nine Island Avenue, alleging the association breached its contract after it failed to pay the construction company for completing 99 percent […]
Landmark Preservation Commission to weigh in on status for Denver’s Carmen Court Condos (CO)
The Landmark Preservation Commission will weigh in Tuesday on a request to designate the Carmen Court Condominiums in Denver as a landmark. The request is pitting the owners, who say they don’t want the designation, against some neighbors, who do. Read the article……………………………..
Subdivision change initiated to help homeowner (TX)
She continued, “Nothing seemed out of the norm. It wasn’t until we submitted a building permit application we were given the news that the city had no record of a subdivision application from 1946. So the city considers our lot and the next-door neighbor’s at 1303 S. Fifth as one large lot.” Under city regulations, […]
Firelight Meadows, Water and Sewer District report early findings, talk next steps (MT)
Last fall, Firelight Meadows and the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District No. 363 discussed the possibility of annexing Firelight Meadows into the water and sewer district. This proposition could take a step further at an Aug. 11 meeting when the Firelight Homeowners Association (HOA) will host the water and sewer district to present […]
Surf City condo fire displaces approximately 30 people overnight (NC)
Roughly 30 people have been displaced after a structure fire at the Surf Condos in Surf City ignited late Monday night as Hurricane Isaias ripped through the region, Pender County did not open any emergency shelters ahead of the storm. Read the article…………………………….
New HOA president acting like ‘Lone Ranger’
Q: We have a president that started out good but now would put the one on that new Geico commercial to shame. Sneaks around tagging cars and looking for anything she can issue a violation for. Most without warnings. She has hassled several owners to sell just because she doesn’t like them. Read the Q&A……………………..
Owners of Boston’s Rowes Wharf complex vote to oust Jim Shane from board of trustees after battle over proposed million-dollar project (MA)
Owners of the Rowes Wharf complex, an iconic part of Boston’s waterfront, have voted to oust former board president Jim Shane from its Board of Trustees. The vote came following a months-long battle over a proposed million-dollar Club Room project created by Shane, who asked residents to vote for the plan and promised to pay […]
Invasion Of Privacy? Police Catching More Criminals With Community License Plate Reader Cameras (CA)
Vacaville Police tracked down yet another stolen vehicle out of Stockton and made another arrest with the help of community cameras equipped with License Plate Recognition or LPR cameras. Read the article…………………………………
Columbia couple indicted on charges of stealing $100K from local HOA (TN)
Two Columbia residents have been indicted by a Maury County grand jury for stealing from their homeowners association while holding the two top positions in the group. Brenda Gracin, 64, and Mario Gracin, 66, have been indicted on charges of theft for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from the Benton Town Hall Homeowners Association. Read […]
Proxy voting in HOA elections often neither secret nor private (FL)
Can you advise me on what a legal voting proxy should have on it when voting for new members of the board? Are we supposed to sign the proxies so that, when we look back on the vote, we know who voted for whom? Read the Q&A………………………………
Neighbors select new name for Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood (CO)
The votes are in, and the new name for Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood was revealed Saturday. Stapleton United Neighbors announced that Central Park was chosen as the neighborhood’s new name. The name garnered 63% of the final vote. Read the article…………………………….
Turmoil at The Villages as 4 HOA directors apparently rescind resignations (AZ)
The dissension is mounting in The Villages at Rancho El Dorado. “It’s getting really ugly right now,” a resident said this week. As of Friday, the community will be without an onsite management company after Associated Asset Management of Tempe turns out the lights at the clubhouse office. Read the article………………………………
They May Be Coming After Your Emotional Support Animal (FL)
On June 24, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1084 into law, prohibiting housing discrimination for people with a disability-related need for an emotional support animal (ESA). In the ongoing battle between CONDO Associations /HOAs and residents with emotional support animals(ESAs) and service animals, this new law should crank up a number of disputes and […]
REAL ESTATE MATTERS: Board member seeks approval for change in documentation
Q: I am on the board of a condo association and it was brought to our attention by a past owner who was selling his unit that a potential buyer noticed that the par value noted in the governing documents of our association did not match that in the multiple listing services in our local […]
HVAC units catch fire on top of condo building in Norfolk
Firefighters have put out a fire that broke out on the roof of a Norfolk condominium building on Thursday. Read the article……………………………
Club West course owners raise sale possibility (AZ)
The ongoing struggle over the future of Club West’s dead golf course took some surprise turns last week when the somewhat antagonistic parties began talking and the new owners indicated they’d listen to a solid plan for buying it from them and restore it to a sustainable championship playing field without houses. Read the article………………………………..
Marco Island condos fined $4K for sea turtle lighting code violations (FL)
Marco Island code enforcement magistrate Myrnabelle Roche issued $4,000 in fines Tuesday against several condos for violating lighting restrictions during sea turtle season. In general terms, buildings located on the beach must either turn off exterior lights visible from the beach after 9 p.m. from May 1 to Oct. 31 or replace them with low […]
LCSO investigating KKK letters left in Gateway community mailboxes (FL)
People in one Gateway neighborhood found letters from the KKK in their mailboxes, prompting the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to open an investigation. The letters are allegedly from the “Cypress Cay” branch of the KKK and are filled with racial slurs about members of the Cypress Cay community. Read the article…………………………….
Bay Area couple battling HOA over BLM, anti-Trump signs (CA)
Amid a community of townhouses in Danville, a yellow hummer sits prominently in the driveway of one of the homes with two signs on the windshield. One message supports the Black Lives Matter movement. The other says, “Trump Is A Donkeys Rear End.” But the residents recently received an email from their homeowners’ association, the […]
Seven Bridges Delray: Federal Lawsuit Seeks $7M, Alleges Harassment, Discrimination (FL)
A Federal lawsuit is seeking $7M from the Seven Bridges Homeowners Association — as well as a homeowner — as a family claims it was harassed, discriminated against, and told to move to a “Ku Klux Klan” community. Read the article……………………………
Homestead homeowners association sues Lennar, alleges shoddy construction (FL)
The homeowners association at a Lennar community in Homestead is suing the homebuilding giant, alleging shoddy construction work. The suit, filed two weeks ago in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, against Lennar Homes, further alleges that the company has ignored requests to fix the defects. Read the article…………………………….
Lynn Haven neighborhood works to resolve flooding issues (FL)
In one Lynn Haven neighborhood, the recent heavy rain is taking its toll; residents said it causes significant flooding every time there is a strong downpour, blocking access to parts of the neighborhood. Read the article…………………………………
HOA’s: Some advice after 12 years at the helm (NC)
When my wife Gloria and I moved from Long Island to the Townhomes at Harborside in 2004, two unanticipated things happened rather quickly: First, we made great friends. Whether they hailed from the Carolinas or other states, it’s been a blessing. Before you know it I became president of our homeowners association. I retired in […]
Residents say Heather Gardens $1 million pandemic PPP loan was inappropriate (CO)
Some Heather Gardens residents and a city lawmaker are criticizing their homeowner’s association after its board of directors received more than $1 million in pandemic crisis government loans intended for small businesses. Read the article………………………………
Association may enforce traffic laws on private streets and impose fines (IL)
Q: The streets in our detached single family home common interest community association are private. Some of the younger drivers, and even some older ones, drive at speeds that rival the interstate, despite the posted speed limit of 10 mph. Can the association issue speeding tickets to these offenders? Read the Q&A………………………….
Citizens Insurance reverses decision to drop past-due policies on Aug. 15 (FL)
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has reversed its decision to resume canceling homeowner insurance policies of customers who haven’t been able to pay their bills because of COVID-19-related hardships. The company recently announced in a letter to agents and customers that it would resume canceling and nonrenewing policies with past-due accounts on Aug. 15. Read […]
Fire causes heavy damage, displaces dozens at Ridge View II Condominiums Sunday morning (MD)
Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire in the third floor and roof area of a three-story condominium building at 2507 Shelley Circle in Ridge View II Condominiums off Rocky Springs Road shortly before 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Arriving firefighters quickly called for a second alarm to battle the heavy fire. As many as 50 occupants […]
Palmetto Hall to keep “plantation” in name after vote (GA)
Palmetto Hall Plantation on Hilton Head Island will keep its name, after the idea of dropping “plantation” from its name did not receive enough support. After an online petition asking that the word “plantation” be dropped from the names of all housing developments received more than 5,000 signatures, Palmetto Hall sent a letter to its […]
Facilitating electronic voting (FL)
Q: Our community has an important vote coming up and we want to facilitate electronic voting so that owners do not need to attend a physical meeting due to the virus concerns. How do we accomplish this? Read the article…………………………………..
Condo living etiquette: Be a good neighbor (VA)
As a condo board member and a member of the Community Associations Institute, I follow an online forum of condo board members and managers around the country. There’s a topic that seems to come up quite often in communities of all types, and that is dealing with nuisance neighbors. Read the article……………………..
HOA Homefront: Can tenants speak at meetings? (CA)
Q: Our HOA board has consistently said they are having meetings to do emergency actions. I know that they talk on the telephone, decide what to say and never send out meeting minutes. They have decided to keep our gym closed. Can they close an amenity and keep it closed long past state and local […]
Fix for Settling Millennium Tower May Start This Fall (CA)
With the lengthy and complex permitting and approval process complete and almost all the other details worked out, construction could begin in mid-November on the estimated $100-million shoring fix for the 645-ft-tall Millennium Tower in San Francisco. The perimeter pile upgrade for the 58-story residential condominium building, which has settled more than 17 in. toward […]