It’s not unusual for a condo or two to go up for auction at the Berrien County delinquent tax sale. It is unusual when 43 condos do, and that’s exactly what’s happening this year. The New Harbor Condos are near the water, with the river and boat slips right across Riverview Drive. But the complex […]
Christian requirement at Northern Michigan resort illegal, federal government says (MI)
The federal government will oversee a Northern Michigan cottagers’ association that had required prospective cottage owners to be practicing Christians. The Bay View Association of the United Methodist Church, an idyllic resort near Petoskey, amended its bylaws last year after membership overwhelmingly rejected the requirement that only church-going Christians could join the association, required for […]
Novi family angry over request to remove Virgin Mary statue (MI)
Every morning, each member of the Samona family stops to pray in front of a small statue of the Virgin Mary that adorns the flower bed in the yard of their Novi home. They pause again in front of the tiny statue when they return home at day’s end. It’s been part of the family’s […]
Judge rules against developer of 100-foot condo project in Traverse City (MI)
A judge has ruled in favor of Traverse City against the developer of a 100-foot tall condo who was suing Traverse City and the City Commission over the project. Read the article……………………….
If Amazon uses drones, can it come to my condo? (MI)
Q: I heard that Amazon recently said that it is going to start deliveries to residences with drones in the near future. What does this mean for people who live in condos? Read the Q&A………………………..
How much should Birmingham regulate enclosed balconies, patios, terraces (MI)
Amidst a growing trend of Birmingham residents enclosing their balconies, patios and terraces, city officials may regulate the practice. The Birmingham City Commission and Planning Board decided in a joint workshop session June 17 that officials will examine a formal review process and/or regulations to potentially govern approval for such structures. Read the article…………………..
When problems arise in your condo’s front yard (MI)
Q: We live in a condo that had a general common element tree in front of our unit that shed very sharp thorns, and research determined the species of the tree to be toxic. The condo association board finally removed the tree, but has refused to replace it. Do we have a basis to demand […]
Luxury condo building in Birmingham has been sitting mostly empty for 2 years
A newly constructed luxury condominium building in downtown Birmingham is sitting mostly empty and in trouble with its bank lenders after failing to sell enough $1.7 million-plus condos. The Forefront, 400 S. Old Woodward Ave., opened nearly two years ago but has sold only two of its 10 residential condos. The three-story building fell into […]
Residents lead charge to install Ann Arbor’s first curbside EV station (MI)
Because it had never been done before, there wasn’t an established city permit process for a curbside EV station. They also needed to convince their condo association to approve the project. Torrella approached the city and the Pittsfield Village board of directors with the idea early last year. His persistence led to a closed meeting […]
What’s the point of a condo association quorum? (MI)
Q: Our condominium association’s bylaws state that a quorum of a majority of the association members is required to hold meetings, but we never reach quorum. We’ve tried to get people to come to the annual meeting, but it’s like pulling teeth. Do we really need to reach quorum in order to have a meeting, […]
Residents of Detroit Suburb Fight Anti-Canvassing Law (MI)
Political activists filed a First Amendment lawsuit Monday challenging “No Canvassing” signs in a Detroit suburb. Michigan Liberation, a nonprofit organization seeking “to end mass incarceration,” and three individual plaintiffs sued the city of Wixom and the Loon Lake Woods Wixom Homeowners’ Association. Read the article……………………
ACLU says Wixom ordinance that allows neighborhoods to ban political canvassers is illegal (MI)
Should a neighborhood association have the right to ban political canvassers? A city ordinance in Wixom allows them to do just that. Now the ACLU has filed a lawsuit saying the city and the neighborhood association are violating canvassers’ rights. “I wasn’t aware of the ordinance. I didn’t know what was going on. I was […]
Residents’ frustration is mounting as Lilley Road bridge remains closed two years later (MI)
When Canton Township’s Lilley Road bridge, located just north Michigan Avenue and one-half mile south of Palmer Road, was abruptly closed due to unsafe conditions in April 2017, neighboring residents were understanding, tolerant and patient, realizing the connector had outlived its serviceable days. A replacement would be constructed in due time, they rationalized. Exactly two […]
Fenner Glen residents want answers about flooded basements (MI)
According to homeowners, Fenner Glen homes passed Laketon Township inspections without having draining systems like sump pumps to push out excess water. Read the article…………………
Ice, ceiling cave-ins and flooding plague downtown condos (MI)
Is it the fault of the builder, the contractor, the city, the state inspectors who claimed everything was good to go — or simply Mother Nature. Regardless of who’s to blame, the residents and business owners in the downtown Fenton building are faced with months of clean up and repairs, after the pipes burst on […]
Battle Creek Considers Funding Road Repairs At Condo Complex (MI)
The City of Battle Creek could be funding the cost of fixing a stretch of road in a condominium complex south of Lakeview High School. The Battle Creek City Commission will be considering Tuesday night a resolution which would authorize the city to fix up Woodhaven Dr, and then levy a special assessment on the […]
Sherman Woods holiday lights help Salvation Army (MI)
“Two years ago we looked at this as an opportunity to leverage the interest in our neighborhood’s Christmas displays to raise a few extra dollars for the Red Kettle campaign,” said Fred Kemp, Sherman Woods Homeowners Association president, in an email. “Our homeowners are proud of their displays and have been generous with their time […]
Botsford Commons residents suing Beaumont Health (MI)
Virginia Halley says she’s seen the river bank behind her unit in the Botsford Commons Condomimium complex drop some six feet in the last five years. Halley and other residents of the complex have seen similar erosion around the complex, and they want Botsford Commons to do something about it. After what they say has […]
New Harbor condo residents hope relief is coming (MI)
Help is hopefully coming soon for residents of New Harbor Condominiums, commonly known as Captain’s Quarters, on Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor. At various times, residents there have had to deal with water, gas and electricity being turned off to different parts of the three-building complex. Read the article………………
Is a dam hole thwarting lake levels? (MI)
Mother nature follows her own rules, regardless of what the judge says. That’s one way to look at the low lake levels that caused consternation among waterfront owners this summer. Lack of rain means lake levels fall. And a dam, closed tight to keep water from escaping lakes Mitchell and Cadillac into the Clam River, […]
Rules set for boy with autism to keep ducks (MI)
Georgetown Township officials laid out a series of restrictions Wednesday to allow a 12-year-old boy with autism to keep the ducks he uses for therapy……..The family said it will work with its homeowners’ association to implement the ducks. Read the article………………
Okemos neighbors clash with developer over rezoning of vacant land
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 […]
Montmorency board rejects Twin Lakes canal dredging (MI)
The Montmorency Board of Commissioners on Wednesday shot down a proposal to distribute funds for the Westwind Homeowners Association that would have helped pay for sand dredging in the Twin Lakes canal. Read the article………………
What happens if association board is ‘dissolved’? (MI)
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……………
Ann Arbor’s new $361K footbridge over creek a hit with residents (MI)
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 […]
Woman cited for stealing pizza after argument over pool closing time (MI)
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 […]
Upcoming Changes to LARA Corporate Filing Submissions Starting October 31, 2017 (MI)
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 […]
Fire safety concerns delay Milford Township condo plan (MI)
The project received preliminary site plan approval from planning officials last month, then hit a snag at the township board meeting Sept. 20, when Fire Chief Thomas Moore said there wasn’t enough room allowed in the plans for fire trucks to turn around. William Mazzara, trustee and board liaison to the planning commission, said it […]
Will Short-Term Rentals Be Limited in Northern Michigan?
Among members of lake associations, condo associations and local zoning boards, setting limits and operating rules for short-term rentals has long been part of the conversation—sometimes contentiously so. But online booking services like the longtime player Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO) and the surging Airbnb have poured kerosene on a smoldering fire, explains cottage law […]
Strong cooking smells: Get used to it
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? […]
Condo association can limit short-term leases (MI)
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 […]
Airbnb, state of Michigan agree to new tax structure
San Francisco-based Airbnb and the state of Michigan have agreed that the online room-rental platform will now collect and pay a use tax. Under the agreement, starting July 1, Airbnb will collect a 6 percent tax from users of the service and then directly pay the state, said Ben Breit, Airbnb’s Midwest press secretary. The […]
AirBnB’s popularity adds to short-term rentals debate in West Michigan
AirBnB, an online rental marketplace that has become a go-to place for those seeking vacation and business rentals, allows travelers to scan available homes for rent in specific areas and quickly book a time. These AirBnB customers are asked to share who will be staying at the rental space, why they are visiting and acknowledge […]
Greencastle Subdivision water main extending; county paying $1.35 million for installation
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.
New condo? Answers you need to common questions
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……………
Novi’s neighborhood enhancement grant program supports beautification projects (MI)
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………….
“He put his life on the line:’ Sheriff deputy saves residents trapped in burning condo
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 […]
Oshtemo Township sued over proposed condo development
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 […]
Condo owners’ dogs to get park (MI)
There won’t be any recess at the former Jefferson School, being converted into condominiums, unless you have four legs and a tail. On Monday St. Joseph city commissioners approved a request from developers of the Jefferson Loft condos at 2214 S. State St. to remove playground equipment on the lot and to use the space […]
Judge accuses Rockford, developers of ‘chicanery’ in controversial condo project
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…………
Shipping container home complexes to be built in Detroit by September
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…………..
Bloomfield neighborhood by-laws show outdated, racist language
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………….
Outcry delays awarding contract for subdivision roads (MI)
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………….
Residents challenge Novi’s trash plan
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 […]
Condo group sues Aretha Franklin, says she owes $11,000
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………..
Lake patrol costs pass to Oakland homeowners
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………..
Handyman sentenced in killing of Bloomfield condo owner
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 […]
Court rejects fair housing claim on parking
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
City control of Novi trash collection services proposed
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 […]