Solutions to flooding problems in the Oakmont Commons may be identified this month, officials say. The borough community’s homeowners association hired Gateway Engineers to conduct a study in order to address stormwater issues and flooding concerns. Read the article……………………..
Judge rules against Philly’s assessments of high-rise condos with tax abatement (PA)
In a case that involved a few of the city’s most prominent luxury condo buildings, a judge has ruled that Philadelphia’s method for assigning land values to nearly 300 condo units with 10-year tax abatements was improper and not credible. Read the article………………………
Man charged with forging more than $40,000 in checks (PA)
A Williamsport man received several charges of theft and forgery after he allegedly forged checks and stole more than $40,000 from a homeowners association between 2017 and 2019. According to the affidavit, members of the Homewood Oaks Townhouse Association (HOTA) discovered high monthly fees and returned checks earlier this year on their bank account. Read the […]
Pa. prothonotary clerk put on unpaid leave after charges of stealing from homeowners association (PA)
A clerk in the Lycoming County prothonotary’s office has been put on unpaid administrative leave after being charged with stealing $41,000 from a homeowners association. The county took the action Tuesday against Ryan A. Workman, 28, a day after state police charged him with theft, forgery, receiving stolen property and tampering with records. He was […]
A Voorhees neighborhood goes to war against a proposed think tank — an ashram — for world peace (PA)
The prospect of living next door to a think tank for peace has many residents of the Centennial Mill retirement community up in arms. Members of the homeowners association in the 55-and-over Voorhees neighborhood have signed petitions and hired a lawyer. They’re turning out in large numbers to fight the township zoning code variance sought […]
Ellsworth Mews Townhomes is accused of discriminating against a resident who has a disability (PA)
Residents are suing a townhouse/condominium association, citing alleged breach of contract, disability discrimination and retaliation. John Doe, Jane Doe and Mary Doe filed a complaint on Jan. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Ellsworith Mews Townhomes Condominium, aka Ellsworth Mews Townhomes Association and others for alleged violation of […]
Peters council delays action on private road conversion request (PA)
Peters residents living on Mallard Lane, a private street off of Valley Brook Road, will have to wait a little longer to see if the road will be accepted into the township’s road system. Council on Monday tabled action on the residents’ request for the road to cease being private so the township can perform […]
Pennsylvania man says emotional support alligator helps his depression
A Pennsylvania man says his emotional support alligator helps him deal with his depression. Joie Henney, 65, said his registered emotional support animal named Wally likes to snuggle and give hugs, despite being a five-foot-long alligator. The York Haven man said he received approval from his doctor to use Wally as his emotional support animal […]
Lower Macungie OKs additional homes, but draws line on plowing the roads (PA)
Lower Macungie Commissioners last week approved plans for 42 homes to be built on a 21-acre tract at the northwest corner of Sauerkraut Lane and Indian Creek Road in a development called Millbrook Farms Phase 6. The vote came Thursday after extensive discussion about who would own and maintain the roads and a small park […]
Chester County District Attorney Opens Criminal Investigation Into Construction Of Sunoco Pipelines (PA)
A county prosecutor in Pennsylvania is opening a criminal investigation into construction on three natural gas liquids pipelines that have drawn blame for causing sinkholes and polluting drinking water and waterways……..It’s a criminal investigation homeowners like Eric Friedman were happy to hear about. “This used to be freed opened space walking trail,” said Friedman. Friedman […]
Pennsylvania Amends Condominium Law to Help Associations
The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently enacted bills amending the common interest ownership laws, the Uniform Condominium Act (UCA), the Uniform Planned Community Act, and the Uniform Real Estate Cooperative Act. The amendments require community documents to address alternative dispute resolution (ADR), strengthen the position of associations against developers, and allow associations to impose stronger penalties […]
Rotting From Within: How water intrusion in new homes turns American dreams to rot (PA)
…The Goldsteins are among hundreds of families in Southeastern Pennsylvania who bought new homes since the start of the 2000s housing boom, only to learn, years later, that shoddy construction overseen by at least 27 different builders has turned their asset — for nearly all, the most valuable they have — into a liability, an […]
We can’t boot ‘boorish, sexist’ director off homeowners association board, Pa. court says
Although his behavior might be “deplorable,” a Commonwealth Court panel has refused to remove a director accused of making “boorish, insulting and sexist” comments to female colleagues on a homeowners association. It is not the court system’s role to intervene in such matters, Senior Judge James Gardner Colins concluded in the state court’s opinion. That […]
Philly condominium complex seeking over $19K in unpaid assessments, fees from tenants (PA)
In a new lawsuit, a Philadelphia-based condominium group is seeking unpaid damages exceeding $19,000 from two of its residents connected to allegedly-unpaid assessments and other charges. Park Plaza Condominium Association of Philadelphia filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on March 28 versus Joel Jaffe and Bonnie Jaffe, also of Philadelphia. Read […]
Memo: HOAs Should Have Longer Look-Back Period for Foreclosing Institutions (PA)
Homeowner associations should have a longer look-back period to obtain unpaid expenses, dues and fees from foreclosing institutions prior to a judicial sale of a property, said a state representative in a memo. Read the article……………..
Tigger mailbox must go, Pa. court rules
Everybody loves Tigger, right? After all, as Tigger himself says, “The wonderful thing about Tiggers is Tiggers are wonderful things!” Well, Tigger, that bouncy striped friend of Winnie-the-Pooh, has no friend in the Laurel Oaks Homeowners Association in Bucks County. When Jonathan and Abbey Weber installed a Tigger-shaped mailbox in that development, the association board […]
Changes to the PA Uniform Planned Communities Act and the Uniform Condominium Act.
Governor Wolf recently signed into law House Bill No. 1340 of 2015 which amends both the Uniform Planned Communities Act and Uniform Condominium Act. The two statutes are complementary and have substantially similar provisions. The current bill makes the same changes to the relevant sections of each statute. Read the article………….
Get Marty: Delmont Plagued By Canada Geese Invasion (PA)
A Delmont community has a big problem with Canada geese. “It’s horrible. They are ruining our property,” says Charlotte Bush. About 70 Canada geese have settled into a few ponds surrounding the Bush home. The geese are leaving droppings that people in the community say are damaging property values. Read the article…………..
Condo complex fall case’s transfer to Montgomery County yields Superior Court appeal
A state court judge’s decision to transfer a condominium complex slip-and-fall case to Montgomery County court has caused a plaintiff attorney to file an appeal of the ruling with the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Read the article…………..
Commonwealth Court quashes condo association’s appeal over Mercer County (PA) Sheriff’s sale
A Shenango Township condominium group’s attempt to overturn a Mercer County Court of Common Pleas order connected to a Sheriff’s sale of property in its complex has been denied by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Read the article………….
McGrath Homes faces financial penalty for chopping down more than 150-year-old beech tree at Villas of Newtown
A developer faces a financial penalty after chopping down a more than 150-year-old beech tree at the Villas of Newtown at Silver Lake Road and Penns Trail North in violation of a 2006 court order and development agreement. The township on April 14 issued a stop work and violation order against McGrath Homes after a […]