The state water board in charge of Lake Tahoe broke California laws and its own regulations by allowing a homeowners association to put poison into the lake water, per a ruling by an El Dorado County Superior Court Judge. Read the article…………………………….
The low-maintenance, eco-friendly lawn that will still impress your neighbors
This year, a Tasmanian yard that hadn’t been watered in 10 years and featured a dead brushtail possum won the title of ugliest lawn in the world. The contest, organized by the island of Gotland in Sweden, rewards those who turn over their yards to nature to save water and change the world’s perception of […]
Bill Seeks to Raise Emission Caps, Delay Penalties for Garden Co-ops and Condos (NY)
City Councilmember Linda Lee, a Queens Democrat, has introduced a new bill that updates an old idea. The bill, known as Intro 0772, seeks to delay penalties and increase carbon emission caps for thousands of buildings that must comply with Local Law 97. Read the article…………………………….
Understanding Landscaping Architectural Requirements for Co-owners
When it comes to maintaining the aesthetic and functional integrity of shared properties, understanding the landscaping architectural requirements is crucial for co-owners. Whether you are part of a homeowners association (HOA), a condominium association, or any other type of residential community, staying informed about these regulations can help you avoid legal pitfalls and ensure your […]
Residential community will be the first with onsite greywater recycle/reuse system (HI)
After receiving approval from the Hawaii Department of Health and the City and County of Honolulu, Kuilei Place, a new condominium development in Diamond Head, Waikiki and Kaimuki, will be the first of its kind in the state with its own onsite greywater treatment recycle and reuse system. Read the article…………………………….
How climate change risk is reshaping the homeowners insurance market
The effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced, both globally and domestically. In the U.S., the consequences of changing weather patterns and climate-related disasters are impacting various aspects of the economy, with homeowners in particular feeling the cost in a very direct way. Read the article…………………………….
New nationwide laws limit power of homeowners associations to dictate residents’ yards — here’s why it’s important
Across the U.S., a growing legislative trend is empowering homeowners to cultivate native plants in their yards, even when homeowners associations forbid it. In 2022, 84% of new, single-family homes belonged to an HOA that sets landscaping rules, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But thanks to new state laws, HOAs in some areas can […]
Ocean Beach condo owners fear their homes will fall in the ocean (CA)
The sign in front of the Oceana condominium complex perfectly explains the problem: Unstable cliffs. Danger. Stay back. But what does that mean for owners of the 13 units? Every time water washes up on the rocks at the base of the cliff, the owners are hit with a wave of concern. “The fear is […]
Ocean Beach condo complex owners say property is threatened by coastal erosion (CA)
San Diego is known for its million-dollar views of the Pacific Ocean, and while it’s pretty to look, at some Ocean Beach residents say they’re worried coastal erosion could seriously impact their condo complex. “When I moved in, the bluff was eroding right in front of our complex,” said Russ Rasmussen, a resident of Oceanus […]
“There’s something radically wrong here:” Are birds safe in Estero subdivision? (FL)
Frank Albergo loves living at Wildcat Run Golf & Country Club in Estero. So that’s why he says he called me, Estero’s Community Correspondent, when he noticed something happening in their back yards that made him nervous. Albergo said he and his neighbors were concerned for the health of the animals that live nearby. Read […]
HOAs are blocking solar panels and native lawns. Here’s how to fight back.
More Americans than ever are running afoul of their HOAs for updating their homes in ways that benefit the environment, adding solar panels, native lawns, EV chargers, clotheslines or gardens. Once a rarity, 84 percent of newly built, single-family homes sold in 2022 were part of HOAs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Read the […]
Goodbye turf grass: HOA embraces native plants for their gnarly roots
When James McKee became president of his community’s homeowners association three years ago, he did it for the stormwater ponds. The 13 ponds in Seaside Farms provide protection against flooding by storing excess stormwater, but McKee was surprised to learn that their main function is to clean the water. Read the article…………………………….
Australia: ‘Money and energy to be saved’: how to get Australia’s bodies corporate to go green
A good first step, according to Megan Chatterton, chief resilience officer for the Owners Corporation Network, is to get an energy efficiency assessment done on your building. This is something the body corporate will have to pay for – although there are grants in some states to offset the costs, and you may end up […]
NYC pols urge Albany to OK tax break for ‘green’ mandate that could cost co-op, condo owners $20K
New York City Council members feeling the heat from thousands of angry co-op and condo owners are urging state pols to OK tax breaks over a new “green” mandate that could cost more than $20,000 per unit. The City Council had actually approved the mandate, the Climate Mobilization Emissions Law, in 2019 requiring residential buildings […]
Eroding bluffs could send California homes tumbling into the ocean. What can be done?
In the summer of 2019, the Casa Mira Homeowners Association sought to armor a stretch of coastline near a condominium complex, apartment building, sewage line and California Coastal Trail segment but were only authorized by the Coastal Commission to build 50 feet of seawall to protect the apartments. The association filed a lawsuit against the […]
Fairfield condominium community is ‘going green’ (IA)
The Heartland Park Condominiums in Fairfield is a community undergoing innovative changes to improve both the environment and the lives of their residents. The community values the economic, spiritual, and physical well-being of its members and encourages members to help each other. The goal is to create a safe, healthy, and supportive community of all […]
Homeowners fight to keep rain garden in flood-prone James Island yard; can HOA be stopped? (SC)
Whenever it rained, Craig and Jamie Bussard knew their yard would flood. It became saturated every time the skies opened up ever since they moved into their home on Ocean Neighbors Boulevard in 2015. Over time, the Bussards just accepted it as their reality. But then they saw a way out: plant a rain garden, […]
Going green in multi-family buildings (IL)
In Forest Park, a condominium development is proving that it’s possible to live green in a multi-family building. The board and residents are working together to back new sustainability measures that they think can be applied to other buildings in the area. Read the article…………………………….
Erosion causes concern for beachfront condominiums in Palm Beach (FL)
Concerned residents of Palm Beach oceanfront condominiums told the Town Council this week that erosion is a growing concern — and Palm Beach staff say help is on the way, though not before hurricane season. Representatives from two condominiums spoke to the council during Tuesday’s meeting, saying properties on the town’s South End were hit […]
‘It’s Just Been Chronic’: Park Street Condos Hire Environmental Consultant (CT)
A condominium association on Park Street has hired environmental consultants to help figure out what’s causing an odor and fumes rising from catch basins and drains outside the complex, officials say. Read the article…………………………
3 Ways to Maximize Sustainability in Your Community (MA)
As climate change continues to take a toll on the planet, it’s important to understand how industries like property management and development can and should adapt in order to cease contributing to the ongoing crises. Read the article…………………………….
Op-ed: The better path to environmental sustainability for co-op, condo owners (NY)
Climate change is real and we must take aggressive proactive steps to address it, but we can’t bankrupt working and middle class co-op and condo homeowners in our efforts to make change. The proposed New York City Local Law 97, with its unforgiving timelines and heavy fines endanger the housing security of working and middle-class […]
Emergency Preparedness in the Era of Climate Change: Preparing for the Unpredictable
The acceleration of global warming and the accompanying climate crisis is affecting shared-interest residential communities all over the United States and around the world. This past September was the wettest ever recorded in the eastern United States, with nine times the normal rainfall. Scientists warn that excessive rain and wind, extreme heat and cold, as […]
Embracing Sustainability: The Power of HOA Community Recycling Programs (CA)
In an era where environmental consciousness is paramount, Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) play a pivotal role in fostering sustainable practices within their communities. Furthermore, one such initiative gaining momentum is the HOA Community Recycling Program. This comprehensive guide explores HOA recycling programs’ benefits, implementation, and key considerations. Read the article………………………………
Green infrastructure a mystery for many homeowners associations (MN)
“We have a lot of wet backyards,” said Jean, a Woodbury resident who lives in a homeowners association built in 1998. “It is all either water, weeds, or grass. Nothing else.” “Part of the problem was that we didn’t know what we had when we moved in,” added husband Steve. Their HOA paid $15,000 to […]
Lake pollution lawsuit filed against North Central West Virginia Airport heads to business court (WV)
“There was a slew of plastic bottles and debris, logs, mud,” Maple Lake Attorney William Tiano said. “It was hard to believe that came down through there. You don’t really realize what water can move until you see it in action.” That was one of the allegations filed against the airport by Maple Lake Club, […]
Green Renovation For Condos: Canadian Trends And Innovations
As the world becomes more “green,” Canadians are staying on top of the trends in housing to make their condos as energy-efficient as possible. This goes especially for condos, where builders are able to create systems that affect multiple owners simultaneously. Read the article…………………………….
Denver Green Roofing Initiative and the Progression of Energy Efficient Roofing Systems
With the continued growth and modernization of urban areas comes the human response to energy efficiency and health. Surprisingly, roofing systems can play a large factor in this response. Energy efficiency in regard to roofing is not a new idea; however, it only truly began to gain traction in the United States in the early […]
Does your HOA require grass? A new bill — and trend toward xeric gardens — is coming to Idaho
It’s been an ugly year for Reggie Mace. That’s how he describes the state of the landscaping at his Garden City homeowners association. But Mace, who is the HOA president of Townhouses at Plantation near the River Club, said he’s looking toward the future when the drought-tolerant grasses and native plants that were planted this […]
Co-op and Condo Green Retrofits Are Good for the Environment — and the Economy (NY)
All those workers installing solar panels on New York City co-ops and condos, or replacing steam radiators with electric heat pumps, or performing other clean-energy retrofits are not only helping the environment. They’re helping the economy. Read the article………………………..
14 practical steps to make your HOA more climate-friendly (and save money in the process)
An estimated 74 million people in the U.S. live in areas governed by a homeowners association (HOA)—and many of them are frustrated about HOA restrictions that prevent them from saving money and helping the planet. Read the article………………………..
Zoning Changes Will Help Co-op and Condo Boards Install Green Retrofits (NY)
Co-op and condo boards struggling to reduce their buildings’ carbon emissions just got some good news. The City Planning Commission (CPC) advanced a sweeping rewrite of New York’s zoning law Monday that would eliminate bureaucratic barriers to climate-friendly building projects. The zoning changes will now be aired at a public hearing, Crain’s reports, then voted […]
Heatwaves and Housing: How Multifamily Buildings Can Prepare and Protect Residents (FL)
Heat events are no longer isolated occurrences; they’re becoming a norm. For multi-residential building association boards and management teams, this poses unique challenges and liabilities. Read the article………………………..
What Is Meadowscaping and Can Your Neighbors Handle It?
America’s love affair with the lawn is fading. For generations, the manicured emerald patches that graced front yards were a symbol of the American dream and pride of homeownership. But now many homeowners are ditching their turfgrass for a more natural, eco-friendly greenspace: the meadowscape. Read the article………………………..
Does Everybody Need Flood Insurance Now?
It has been an intense year for flooding, with no relief in sight. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now say they’re expecting an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year. The updated forecast calls for 14 to 21 named storms, including as many as 11 hurricanes. Of those, up to five could become […]
Las Sendas neighbors split on overgrowth (AZ)
Overgrown mesquite trees and other desert shrubs and bushes are blocking city light views for Las Sendas residents who paid a premium for their lots. Read the article………………………..
Lacamas Shores biofilter dispute divides neighbors in Camas (WA)
Earlier this month, a Clark County Superior Court judge ruled that a Camas homeowners’ association violated its covenants by failing to maintain a biofilter, which the complainant argues is polluting Lacamas Lake. Read the article………………………..
NYC co-op and condo owners face expensive dilemma in upgrading buildings to meet new climate law
New York City condo owners and co-op managers may soon learn that there are other major costs to climate change beyond hotter summers, stronger storms, flash floods and apocalyptic smoke. Read the article………………………..
Why Homeowners Need To Prepare For The Costs Of Climate Change
Climate change is not a distant threat, but a present danger that is already wreaking havoc on our lives and homes. From devastating floods to scorching heat waves to raging wildfires, homeowners need to prepare for the consequences of our warming planet. Read the article………………………..
Condo Gardening Tips: How to Grow Your Garden in a Condo
Those with a garden or an indoor garden are familiar with the advantages of having plants in a condo. Choose plants that grow well in low light, or install rail planters if your condo doesn’t get much natural light. Start an aquatic garden if your condo has no balcony and little to no natural light. […]
A popular Hawaii resort has lost its beach
A high seawall is all that separates the ocean from the Kahana Sunset’s beachfront condominium complex in Hawaii. Located in West Maui, the popular vacation rental resort has been battling erosion and sea level rise for decades, and some residents think it’s time for the condo association to stop fighting it. Read the article………………………..
Earth-friendly native plants aren’t always a welcome sight — some cities, HOAs aim to change that (IN)
Native plants aren’t just good for birds and bees. They also make the land more resilient to the effects of climate change and can even help prevent it. But cities and homeowner’s associations don’t always like the way they look — putting them at odds with residents who want to grow native plants in their […]
There are now 2 community ponds in the Houston area filled with dead fish (TX)
On Monday, we told you about the community pond in Magnolia’s Durango Creek subdivision that was filled with dead fish, possibly due to sewage overflow. Another pond — that is about a few hundred yards away — is starting to see the same issues. Read the article………………………..
Looming Climate Law Has Co-op and Condo Owners Fretting About Funds to Retrofit Buildings (NY)
Property owners with lower or fixed incomes are scrambling to fund renovations to comply with a city climate law that requires buildings to reduce their carbon emissions. They say the city has not provided viable financing options, or explained what mitigating factors could ease potential noncompliance penalties for the law that’s set to take effect […]
Beaver Lake ‘doesn’t foresee’ draining water after discovery of zebra mussels (NE)
Beaver Lake became the fourth body of water in Nebraska to have an established zebra mussel population, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Officials say an adult zebra mussel was found on a boat lift in mid-May. Follow-up sampling confirmed the presence of microscopic young zebra mussels and adult mussels, according to a […]
Chico homeowner’s association looks to find humane ways to solve bee problem (CA)
Beekeeper Sally Withuhn says it’s been hard trying to wrangle any bees at all these days after years of drought and excessive heat have killed nearly 50% of the population. Watch the news report………………………………
Regina condo owners down in the dumps over food and yard waste program (SK)
Last Wednesday, city council approved the bylaw amendments that will allow the program to get going. The city is expecting the bins to be delivered in August and service to start in September. But like with the recycling program, most condos in the city will have to have a plan for their food and yard […]
Homeowners Association Guide: Here’s how to make money-saving, planet-friendly changes in an HOA-run community
……they often benefit the whole community by raising property values, lowering energy costs, and making the community more resilient to storms and other disasters. However, many HOAs remain resistant to change. Based on our research, we’ve put together a simple guide to navigating your HOA — and making real changes in your home and your […]
Maui Condo Owners Are Trying To Buy Time In The Fight Against Rising Seas (HI)
A group of West Maui condo owners is asking the county for permission to raise their property taxes as a way to funnel up to $40 million into rebuilding the beach in front of their buildings. Read the article………………………..
Understanding Local Law 97 (NY)
Local Law 97, part of New York City’s ambitious Climate Mobilization Act, is set to revolutionize the way buildings in the city approach energy consumption and carbon emissions. Co-op and condo owners, as well as their building’s boards, need to familiarize themselves with the critical dates and fine structure outlined by the law. Read the article………………………..