Residents who bought high-end homes in a neighborhood near Okemos High School are clashing with the subdivision’s developer over his plan to build eight more houses on a wooded lot they say he told them would never be developed.  Just shy of 50 homes, many valued at more than half-million dollars, sit in The Sanctuary […]

Q: Our condominium association board recently found out that its corporation has been “dissolved.” What does that mean and how can we fix it?   Read the Q&A……………

The price tag almost kept it from happening and it was the subject of debate by the Ann Arbor City Council in recent years, but the Lansdowne bridge is now a reality.  A roughly $361,000 footbridge over Malletts Creek in the Lansdowne neighborhood — a project funded by the city — opened this spring and […]

A Farmington Hills woman was cited for apparently stealing a pizza after refusing to leave a condominium complex swimming pool at closing time.  Police were called just after 9 p.m. June 1 about a disorderly person at the Echo Valley Condominiums at 12 Mile and Orchard Lake roads. When a condo representative told the woman […]

At least once a year, property managers, attorneys or the association itself files corporate documents with the State of Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (“LARA”) on behalf of the association. In a Michigan condominium association or homeowners association, certain documents such as Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or a Change in Resident […]

Q: My new downstairs neighbors in the condo unit below me are cooking strong-smelling foods every single night and my unit is constantly “perfumed” as a result. The constant odor is driving me crazy and attempts at talking with my neighbors have been fruitless. Can I demand the condominium association do something about it?   […]

Q: Short-term rentals are becoming a big problem in our condominium association, especially during the holidays and summer, where leases may be for a week or less. Short-term tenants rarely follow the rules if they even happen to know about them in the first place, damage to the common elements is on the increase and […]

Oakland County will be contributing $1.35 million for the extension of a water main in the Greencastle Subdivision.  The City of Farmington Hills and Oakland County have reached an agreement on the extension of the main located within the Greencastle Subdivision in Farmington Hills.

Q: I just bought my condo from the developer and there is a water leak, I assume from the unit above, coming through the ceiling of my unit and into my bedroom. Who is responsible?   Read the Q&A……………

The City of Novi has created a grant program that both encourages and funds beautification entryway projects in city neighborhoods.  The Neighborhood Entryway Enhancement Matching Grant Program was established by Novi City Council to provide funding assistance to Homeowners Associations to support their efforts to enhance their neighborhoods.   Read the article………….

An Eaton County Sheriff deputy has been released from the hospital after rescuing three people trapped inside a burning condominium Tuesday night in Lansing.   Police say the residents trapped inside had medical issues and were unable to escape the burning home.  First responders arrived shortly after Deputy Jenkins and had the fire under control within […]

A dispute over two units resulted in a lawsuit between Oshtemo Township and local developer Van Kal Partnership LLC.  Van Kal alleges Oshtemo Township illegally denied a proposal to develop a 40-unit condominium project on a site owned by the company. The complaint separately lists trustee Dusty Farmer for basing her objection not on township […]

A judge has accused the City of Rockford and a developer of “chicanery” to gain approval for a controversial condominium project.  Kent County Circuit Judge Donald Johnston said it appears the city colluded with the developer of the 51-unit project and “cleverly undermined (opponents’) democratic rights.”    Read the article…………

By fall, there could be three new condominium complexes made out of used shipping containers in Detroit.   Leslie Horn, CEO of Three Squared Construction, said Tuesday that her North Corktown model building is finished.    Read the article…………..

This story begins in a Bloomfield Township neighborhood, known today as Wing Lake Farms. The large subdivision was born as Sly Farms nearly 70 years ago.  When the homeowners’ association recently sent a resident a copy of the 1947 deed restriction agreement–it was the second restriction that sticks out.   Read the article………….

Public outcry from homeowners facing an approximately $20,000 bill to pay for new roads in the Independence Commons subdivision prompted the Farmington Hills City Council on Monday to postpone awarding a contract for the work.    Read the article………….

Most speakers, however, wondered if the city could or would reconsider the ordinance. Representatives of several homeowner associations said their memberships are satisfied by the current service provided by companies including Duncan Disposal, Rizzo Environmental Services and Advanced Disposal. Many felt that the ordinance represented a solution in search of a problem and had done […]

A Bloomfield Township condominium association wants to foreclose on a property owned by legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin for non-payment of more than $11,563 in fees and maintenance assessments.  Read the article………..

When a boat capsized recently on Cass Lake and homeowners rushed to help the victims, one rescuer wondered why there wasn’t a sheriff’s marine boat on scene.    Read the article………..

Spencer had once been employed as a handyman in the condominium complex and Whitelaw, who was the condo association’s president, knew him and hired him to do work inside his own residence. Family and a longtime girlfriend said Whitelaw was unhappy with work Spencer had done and had called him back Sept. 4 to repair […]

Q: Do you think a fair housing violation occurs when a disabled unit owner seeks permission to park in a handicap parking space that is a limited common element of another unit?  Read the Q&A

Novi Mayor Gatt has proposed that city administration research and analyze the feasibility of the city taking over the management of all garbage collection services for Novi residents.  “Novi residents are upset,” Gatt said. “They just aren’t getting the level of service that they deserve from their waste collection companies. My telephone is ringing off […]

When Mark Evans contacted Royal Oak officials about trapping coyotes on city property, he didn’t expect their answer: “What coyotes?”   Evans — owner of Critters Be Gone, a Waterford-based animal removal service — was hired by the Arlington Park Homeowners Association after complaints about aggressive coyotes in the neighborhood.     Read more……….

Ron Paler said there’s one reason Pine Creek Ridge subdivision residents want to turn their subdivision into a gated community, which would eliminate cut-through traffic and speeders.    Read more………

Residents of an affluent Brighton-area subdivision are closer to their goal of closing through traffic on a county road often used as motorist thoroughfare.     Read more………

An attorney who has successfully challenged East Lansing’s rental license requirement is back in court defending an Ann Arbor woman who was cited 45 times and fined $23,000.  Mark Grebner said the city could have levied smaller fines and that the city’s code enforcement officer ignored an amended city ordinance that allows officers to reduce […]

Citing such things as academics and the welfare of their children, a group of homeowners in southwest Canton Township is asking Wayne RESA to make a block transfer of their neighborhood from the Wayne-Westland to the Plymouth-Canton Community  Read more……..

A fire at a Novi condominium complex Wednesday morning has injured at least one woman and badly damaged five homes.    Read more……