The lifeless silver and white bodies of hundreds of fish bobbed against a receding shoreline Monday at a catch and release pond in the Villages of Woodland Springs in far north Fort Worth. The culprit: Unbearable, unforgiving Texas heat. Read the article………………………..
Community rallies behind Balch Springs fire victims (TX)
In response to the blaze, members of the Spring Ridge Homeowners Association quickly turned their planned summer block party into a large benefit and donation drive for the affected residents. More than 10 organizations pitched in to assist, along with volunteers from the neighborhood. Read the article………………………..
Broken mailbox deadlock delivers headaches in USPS, HOA dispute (TX)
At least 16 Leander households are stuck in a saga of missing mail, misinformation and misery — part of a nearly four-month dispute between a local homeowners association and the U.S. Postal Service that’s delivering nothing but headaches, residents said. Read the article………………………..
Cimarron Country Club to shutter its doors amid lawsuits, ‘defamation’ (TX)
Kamel cited a few lawsuits filed by members of the Cimarron Homeowners Association as having negatively affected the flow of business to the golf course. “Endless, endless defamation,” Kamel said. “Telling people, ‘This place is no good.’ ‘You should cancel your membership.’ ‘Leave, leave, leave.’ Within a matter of two or three months, we lost […]
Water companies, customers struggle (TX)
“Once we identified the severity of the decrease in water pressure, we alerted customers and issued a precautionary boil water notice in accordance with TCEQ regulations. We also increased drought restrictions to Stage 3 to urge water conservation. We remain in constant communication with the Comanche Harbor/Ports O’ Call Homeowners Association and have worked with […]
Residents in Sugar Land neighborhood fed up with feral hogs invading area (TX)
Neighbors in the Waterside subdivision of Riverstone in Sugar Land said they are fed up with the new nocturnal invaders. “I’ve heard about the hog issue. But, as of lately, it has literally inundated our little subdivision, our community,” Bianca Calderon de Lachica said. Read the article………………………..
A North Texas community woke up to no water Wednesday morning after supply issues
On Wednesday morning, the water supply was cut off in the Austin Corners neighborhood, which sits off FM Road 549. It was unclear how widespread the issue was. Sherry London, a member of the Austin Corners homeowners association, was among the homeowners without water Wednesday. She said she contacted RCH and was told that water […]
Texas Homeowners Face Lawsuit After Feeding Ducks
A retired Cypress, Texas, couple has been sued for up to $250,000 after feeding ducks in their neighborhood. A neighborhood homeowners association is suing the couple, George and Kathleen Rowe, for alleged neighborhood rule violations that are “detrimental to the Subdivision, Read the article……………………………
For low-income tenants, HOA restrictions drive racial housing segregation (TX)
When Danielle Ross moved to Arlington from Michigan in 2016, she was in search of a better life for her and her children. As a single mom of six children — now seven, with her youngest, Jeremiah, born seven months ago — her job at Bank of America wasn’t enough to allow Ross to save […]
Collin County health department warns of possible rabies exposure at community pool (TX)
Health officials in Collin County are warning residents about a possible exposure to rabies at a community pool on Friday. Collin County Health Services said the possible exposure happened at the Heritage Celina Homeowner’s Association community pool at 1231 Stanford Lane. Read the article…………………………..
Condos heavily damaged by fire during Feb. freeze still in disrepair amid construction holdups (TX)
Residents and homeowners at the One Orleans Place Condos say they want answers after a fire demolished their homes during the February freeze. According to those who live in the area, their homes have been under construction ever since. Read the article………………………….
City Manager provides update on Kings Crossing Golf Course (TX)
The last time the Kings Crossing Golf Course was in use was December of 2008, according to Kings Crossing Homeowners Association board member Mandy Alsop. Read the entire article………………….
Memo to Denton County HOA: Being poor is not a crime
Homeowners associations have a reputation for exerting ham-fisted control over what a homeowner can and cannot do with their property. But now an HOA in Denton County has gone too far and, in the process, is running roughshod over rent-paying residents who receive Section 8 rent assistance and the landlords who lease to them. Read […]
Providence Village HOA clarifies Section 8 fines, while Denton Housing Authority girds for fight (TX)
When word spread about the Providence Homeowners Association’s attempt to displace 81 families who use Section 8 vouchers in Providence Village, the reaction was swift and vicious, leading the HOA to close its offices over threats they were receiving, according to an email sent to residents. Read the entire article……………………………….
Section 8 landlords to be fined $300 weekly until tenants ousted, HOA says (TX)
Landlords in the town of Providence Village can expect to start receiving weekly fines of $300 for housing Section 8 tenants following a vote last week to implement new rental rules made by the Providence Homeowners Association. Read the entire article……………………………….
Battles over Airbnb and other short-term rentals dividing North Texans
In February, residents of Providence Village received an email asking them to give the Providence Homeowners Association authority to make rules regarding rental properties. Read the entire article……………………………….
KPRC 2 Investigates: HOA vs Katy homeowners in concrete wall debate (TX)
Imagine moving into your brand new subdivision and being told that the perimeter wall over there is not your property. You can’t change it. You can’t take it down and you can’t fix it. Then, 21 years later, when it needs repairs and replacement, your HOA says, “It’s all your responsibility.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Dallas City Council considers banning short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods (TX)
After a lot of complaints from homeowners, Dallas is moving closer to a decision about where short-term rentals should be allowed. It appears that council members are leaning toward prohibiting them in neighborhoods and only allowing them in the same areas as hotels. Read the entire article……………………………….
Galveston condos address possible collapse concerns after inspection reveals erosion problems (TX)
The inspection found there’s a significant risk of failure during severe storms with high winds and tides, including hurricanes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Vista Nueva residents asking for more security in neighborhood (TX)
A subdivision in east Laredo is seeing its fair share of crime. The Vista Nueva Homeowner’s Association is speaking out about recent cases of vandalism and property damage happening around the neighborhood. Read the entire article……………………………….
Blackbuck Ridge road issue returns to Burnet County commissioners (TX)
Members of The Ranches at Blackbuck Ridge Homeowners Association in the northern part of Burnet County returned yet again to the Commissioners Court seeking redress for the state of their roads. At the Tuesday, April 26, meeting, Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Luther and county Development Director Herb Darling agreed to meet with a group of […]
Texas Supreme Court restores attorney’s fees award to defendant condo association
The Texas Supreme Court recently reversed an appellate court decision wiping an award of attorney’s fees to a defendant condominium association that prevailed in a breach of contract lawsuit. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo Column: A feral frenzy (NH)
I have spent the last few columns noting the proposed Legislative changes winding their way through this Legislative session, and I will let you know how it all turns out when the session ends on June 30. But I thought I would try for something a bit less heavy this column, and let you know […]
Sienna community rallies behind neighbors who received a complaint about kids (TX)
An anonymous letter citing chaos over children playing outside and in the street is causing quite the stir in one Sienna neighborhood. Alexis Quisenberry said the letter was addressed to her family and dropped off several days ago. Read the entire article……………………………….
Downtown Austin condominium building catches fire Thursday (TX)
A cigarette butt caused a fire at a high-rise condominium building in downtown Austin early Thursday morning and forced three people out of their homes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Morning storms cause damage in southwest Houston
At this point, there haven’t been any confirmed reports of tornadoes, but the strong storms did apparently cause damage. A viewer named Greg sent us this photo of damage to a condominium complex in southwest Houston . He said he was in bed and heard rumbling. His apartment shook and then he said a bunch […]
Jury rules in favor of the residents of La Bota Ranch after civil trial (TX)
After a 5-year long lawsuit battle, a jury rules in favor of the residents of La Bota Ranch . In 2017, a lawsuit comprised of the neighborhood residents was filed against the developers, who are also the board members of the community’s two homeowners’ associations. At that time, the residents claim their home onwers association dues […]
Highland Oaks residents push for annexation (TX)
If Brent Sisson waters his lawn and a sprinkler happens to leak one morning, he may be in for quite the wait before he can take a shower or flush his toilet. As president of the Highland Oaks Homeowners Association, he says he hears similar stories from his neighbors all too often. As an unincorporated […]
Thieves using USPS ‘master key’ to steal mail in Leander (TX)
Thieves somehow obtained a stolen US Postal Service ‘master key,’ which was used to unlock hundreds of mailboxes and steal its contents — including letters and packages — surveillance video exclusively obtained by KXAN shows. Read the entire article……………………………….
Stormwater detention planned for Cypress Creek (TX)
Cathy Dunn was among the first residents to move into the Norchester neighborhood in 1973, and her home had never flooded until the Tax Day flood of 2016. She rebuilt, thinking it was a one-time event, only to see her home flood again during Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. Wanting to advocate for her 400-plus […]
Racist leaflets unsettle Guadalupe County neighborhood (TX)
Residents voiced their concerns during a meeting of the neighborhood’s homeowners association Tuesday evening to discuss Southbank’s new Dog Walker Neighborhood Watch program. An officer from the New Braunfels Police Department gave a presentation during the session. Some of Southbank’s homeowners in attendance expressed frustration over the absence of solicitation ordinances in New Braunfels that […]
Neighbors frustrated after car burglars hit Alamo Ranch community several times (TX)
Residents living in the Summit at Alamo Ranch community hope one of their gates is fixed soon to prevent the crime they’ve experienced since it became inoperable recently. The Summit I Exit Gate has been open for several days, which meant an open invitation to thieves to enter the community with bad intentions. Read the […]
Can my HOA hike my fees without limits? What to know as a homeowner (TX)
When Pflugerville resident Casey Fewell moved into the Carmel neighborhood in May 2018, she and fellow homeowners paid $75 each quarter to their homeowners association to help cover the services and amenities provided. Then in December, Carmel’s HOA board approved raising that cost to $180 each quarter. It was approved during a board meeting that […]
POA Power Shift: Texas legislature gives property owners more rights
When people talk about their subdivision’s property owners’ association (POA), also referred to in Texas as a homeowners’ association (HOA), handwringing or eye-rolling is usually involved. Many feel POA boards overreach, especially when determining what property owners can do with their own property. Read the entire article……………………………….
Stafford residents question local HOA over tennis court (TX)
A new tennis court finished last year in Stafford’s Promenade subdivision has a group of residents questioning their local homeowners association, asking who’s to blame for designing a court that is too small to use. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo at The Island on Lake Travis suffers structural damages after fire breaks out (TX)
A condo at a gated Lago Vista community suffered structural damages after a fire broke out Friday night. The Travis County Emergency Services District 1 said in a Facebook post that crews responded to a structure fire Read the entire article……………………………….
Groves officials investigate unusual staircase incident at condominium (TX)
Fire and building code officials in Groves are investigating an unusual incident at a condominium. Tenants in two upstairs units waking up to find they had no way to get downstairs. View the news report……………………………….
West Austin condo fire leaves 10 units temporarily displaced (TX)
16 units, 67 firefighters and four aerial devices were brought in to help fight the fire. “That aerial device allowed us to reach into a higher area so that we could cut into the metal roof from the outside and get to that part of the fire that we weren’t able to get to from […]
Sugar Land couple work to raise awareness about HOA protections (TX)
It’s a new twist on a tale as old as suburban Texas. A Sugar Land couple are mad at their local homeowners’ association in First Colony, not because they think the organization is being overly restrictive, but because they say it’s not doing enough to protect their view from a construction project next door. Read […]
Falcon Pointe disc golf course draws lawsuit, petition over safety concerns (TX)
The first nine holes of Falcon Pointe disc golf course are at the city-owned Central Park at Falcon Pointe, 18720 Falcon Pointe Boulevard. The second nine holes of the course are across the street on land owned by the Falcon Pointe Homeowners Association except for a pond that is owned by Travis County Municipal Utility […]
One dead in North Austin condominium fire (TX)
A woman is dead after a fire at a North Austin condominium on Wednesday afternoon. Two cats were also killed in the fire. Read the entire article……………………………….
We Got Gators in Austin. Now What? (TX)
Alberto Garnica Jr., a Travis County game warden, arrived one day in early December at a retention pond in the Berdoll Farms subdivision in Del Valle, south of the high school, and was shocked to hear a deep bellow echo from the direction of the three long, dark culverts at the pond’s edge. When another […]
No mailbox fix from USPS until neighborhood Turns to Ted (TX)
For months, residents of a neighborhood in northwest Harris County wasted hours endlessly going back and forth to the post office just to pick up their mail. “The mailboxes were vandalized. Totally. I mean, with crowbars and the doors were wide open,” Bob Braman told ABC13’s Ted Oberg. Read the entire article……………………………….
“It is unsafe” Two-story house in affluent neighborhood at-risk of demolition order by city commission (TX)
Inspectors deemed a two-story home and pool belonging to owners of properties in an affluent neighborhood unfit for habitation after members of a homeowner’s association complained of the properties’ condition. Read the entire article……………………………….
Pflugerville disc golf course draws lawsuit, petition over safety concerns (TX)
The first nine holes of Falcon Pointe disc golf course are at the city-owned Central Park at Falcon Pointe, 18720 Falcon Pointe Boulevard. The second nine holes of the course are across the street on land owned by the Falcon Pointe Homeowners Association except for a pond that is owned by Travis County Municipal Utility […]
Veteran Turns to Ted after months of waiting for HOA to approve disability accommodation (TX)
Miles began reaching out to the city to get approval for the work and had no issues there. But when he told his homeowner association he wanted to add just 24 inches to the sides of his driveway, he couldn’t get the approval. Read the entire article……………………………….
Austin to ‘determine steps forward’ with ‘reactive’ building inspection approach (TX)
Austin is working to “determine [its] steps forward in addressing existing buildings” following KXAN questions about its “reactive” approach to building inspections and a Miami-area condo collapse in June that killed 98 people. Read the entire article……………………………….
City working on cataloging, regulating Laredo HOAs (TX)
During the Laredo City Council meeting, Homeowners Associations landed on the radars of local leaders. Councilmembers discussed on Monday night cataloging and having regulations for HOAs to allow easier access for residents and to protect them from abusive behavior. Read the entire article……………………………….
Feral hogs causing chaos in Sugar Land neighborhood (TX)
Most mornings, residents in Sugar Land’s Lakes of Austin Park awaken to obvious signs they’ve received unwanted overnight visitors. From torn-up lawns and gardens to packs of them found wandering down the streets, herds of feral hogs in recent years have made the quiet neighborhood, a little more than a mile away from H-E-B and […]
KPRC 2 Investigates: Homeowner vs. HOA in fence build debate (TX)
Why can’t a homeowner build a fence if the law says it’s ok? State lawmakers passed a new law that allows homeowners anywhere in Texas to put up a perimeter fence around their property for added security. The law specifically states that homeowners associations can not restrict it. But some are trying. KPRC 2 Investigates […]