Boreal Preserve, Door County’s first-of-its-kind conservation subdivision, grows in Baileys Harbor Home development and land conservation don’t have to be oppositional concepts, as can be shown by a conservation subdivision that’s working its way through the County of Door approval process…..As a conservation subdivision, Boreal Preserve is allowed more homes – 13 versus the seven […]
Franklin condo fire; cat rescued, no injuries reported (WI)
It happened on Parkwood Drive, southeast of Lovers Lane and College, around 3:45 p.m. The Franklin Fire Department said a “full assignment” response was dispatched due to the high heat index. The fire department said there were no injuries to residents or first responders. A cat was rescued from the condo and reunited with its […]
Waukesha County cellphone tower lawsuit, homeowners’ claims rejected (WI)
A Waukesha County Circuit Court judge rejected the latest lawsuit from a group of Big Bend homeowners over the placement of a cellphone tower in neighboring Vernon……Vernon signed off on the project in 2020. The Scenic Ridge of Big Bend homeowners association sued – and lost. The association appealed the decision and won in 2022, […]
Waukesha condo complex fire; lightning strike suspected as cause (Wi)
Initial callers reported that they believed the 8-unit condominium building had been struck by lightning. When crews arrived at the scene, they found smoke coming from the attic of the building. The occupants were actively exiting with the assistance of the Waukesha Police Department. Read the article…………………………….
Mount Pleasant village president dumps waste from private pond on public land to avoid cost (WI)
The village president of Mount Pleasant is facing public criticism for using a village-owned property slated to become a public park as a dumping ground for the waste created by his homeowners association’s dredging of a pond in his neighborhood. Residents who live near the property say the president, Dave DeGroot, has used his position […]
Two Rivers Services to Help Private Condo Group (WI)
Buckley says the condo association was developed with private infrastructure and the maintenance of roadways and sewer systems is their priority. However, the agreement will allow the city to flush the private water and sewer mains and collect leaves. Read the article…………………………….
Waukesha condemned condo owners asking state insurance commissioner for help (WI)
Demolition of the Horizon West Condominium building is ongoing two years after it was evacuated over worries it could collapse because of structural issues. Even though the building is stripped down to its steel beams, the residents who used to live there are still paying their mortgages. Read the article…………………………….
Workers demolish the structurally compromised Horizon West Condominiums (WI)
Workers begin the final stage of demolition of the structurally compromised Horizon West Condominiums on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 in Waukesha, Wis. https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/2023/12/05/horizon-west-condominiums-demolition/71768952007/
Horizon West condo owner overwhelmed following denied insurance claim (WI)
A justice in the 7th circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against the residents of the condemned Horizon West Condos in their lawsuit against traveler’s insurance. This is putting them on the hook for the cost of razing the building, as much as $7 million dollars. Read the article……………………………..
Horizon West demolition, federal judge rejects condo owners’ appeal (WI)
As Waukesha’s Horizon West building comes down, a federal judge Tuesday rejected an appeal from condominium owners who sued their insurance company to cover demolition costs. The city told condo owners in December 2021 they had to evacuate the building due to concerns it might collapse. Nearly two years later, demolition began – with an […]
Waukesha Horizon West condo demolition begins, case still in court (WI)
Demolition of Waukesha’s Horizon West Condominium building began Thursday, Nov. 9 – crews removing sections piece by piece because of asbestos. The city forced everyone out of the building in December 2021 due to fear it might collapse. Residents sued their insurance company to cover demolition costs. Read the article………………………………
Homeowners association horror story: Residents sue to stop payment demands (WI)
A dispute involving a homeowners association has boiled over into a court battle pitting neighbors against one another, with thousands of dollars at stake. About a dozen residents of the Crestview Park subdivision have filed suit against William Van Offeren accusing him of fabricating the organization and installing himself as president so he could collect […]
Demolition company lays out plan for condemned Waukesha condo building, as owners continue court battle (WI)
For about a week now, those crews have been removing non-hazardous materials like carpeting and furniture. Then they’ll seal it up and remove hazardous asbestos. At the same time, the 48 condo owners are battling their insurance company in court, trying to get millions of dollars they say is owed them. Read the article………………………………..
Waukesha’s Horizon West condo demolition set for fall; questions remain (WI)
Neighbors surrounding the condemned Horizon West condominiums are relieved to know demolition of the building will begin this fall. This, after Waukesha’s Common Council approved a bid for the demolition. Read the article………………………..
Residents and business representatives present concerns about short-term rental properties (WI)
Short-term rental properties continue to be a topic of discussion in the City of Lake Geneva. Several Lake Geneva residents and business representatives expressed their concerns regarding short-term properties and other housing-related issues to city aldermen during the city council’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, Aug. 7. Emily Hummel, president of the Maple Park Homeowners Association, said she […]
Raze order settlement reached between city of Waukesha and Horizon West condo owners (WI)
The now-condemned building needs to be razed, and the city took the condo owners to court, wanting them to foot the more than $1 million bill. Friday, the two sides reached a settlement. Where the money is coming from, though, depends on a pending appeal the condo owners have against its insurance company. Read the […]
‘We’re fighting against gravity’: How MFD’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team responded to condo explosion (WI)
Three weeks after a condominium unit on Madison’s west side exploded, News 3 Now got a look at how the Madison Fire Department searched the building for victims without going all the way inside. Read the article………………………..
Condo building damaged in explosion condemned, property manager says (WI)
A condominium building rocked by an explosion on Madison’s west side earlier this week has been condemned, according to building management. Read the article………………………..
4 hurt in condo complex explosion caught on camera (WI)
An apparent condo complex explosion led to four people being hospitalized, authorities said Tuesday. The explosion sent debris into the road and the parking lot in the back of the building. Chimneys were also observed to have blown off the condo. Read the article………………………..
Expert shares critical advice for homeowners trying to outsmart their overzealous HOAs: ‘That can’t be an issue’ (WI)
Kathy Kuntz of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change is weeding out illegal HOA policies that may be blocking Wisconsin residents from getting solar panels, Yale Climate Connections reports. Read the article………………………..
Sides in Horizon case may seek settlement (WI)
An attorney representing the displaced residents of the Horizon West Condominiums said Tuesday he hopes to have discussions with the city to resolve its request for an order to tear down the building. Read the article………………………..
Rothschild condominium total loss following fire, cause under investigation (WI)
An 8-unit condominium in Rothschild is a total loss following an early morning fire. The fire was reported around 2 a.m. Friday morning at a property on the 7300 block of Whitespire Road. The condo is located south of Highway 29 and east of Volkman Street. Read the article………………………..
Horizon West residents meet at Waukesha City Hall to commemorate one year anniversary of forced evacuation (WI)
Residents of the Horizon West Condominiums wanted to commemorate the one-year anniversary of their forced evacuation by gathering together in front of the Waukesha City Hall. Read the article………………………..
Residents to appeal federal judge’s ruling for insurance company in lawsuit (WI)
Residents of Horizon West Condominiums plan on appealing a federal judge’s decision in favor of the insurance company they sued. Residents of Horizon West Condominiums were evacuated from their homes with 15 minutes’ notice on Dec. 2 due to risk of imminent collapse. Read the article………………………..
Horizon West condo owners won’t give up fight for relief after federal court rules against them (WI)
The owners of the Horizon West Condominiums are continuing to fight for financial help after a federal court ruled against them. Last year, the City of Waukesha forced the condo owners out because of structural damage to the building. The condo owners filed a class action lawsuit against Travelers Insurance, the company they paid to […]
Insurance Exclusions Leave Waukesha Condo Owners With Demolition Bill (WI)
A federal court judgment issued Wednesday left the owners of a Waukesha condo building expecting to foot the bill to tear down their homes that were deemed structurally unsound without the benefit of full insurance coverage. Read the article………………………..
Horizon West Condo owners express frustration almost one year later (WI)
Almost one year ago the condo owners and residents of Horizon West Condominiums were evacuated from their homes with 15 minutes’ notice Dec. 2 due to risk of imminent collapse. Some have fared all right since, while other owners have struggled immensely. Read the article………………………..
Horizon West Condos: City of Waukesha files suit; potentially leaving condo owners on the hook for demolition cost (WI)
The city of Waukesha filed a suit on Monday that would require condo owners to foot the bill for demolition of the Horizon West condo building. That means those condo owners may potentially be in charge of paying for the building to be knocked down if the suit is ruled in the city’s favor in […]
Brookfield cat hoarding, 73 need new homes (WI)
Hoskins said they first started getting calls about the property about a year ago. Neighbors were complaining about the smell from the condo next door. The Elmbrook Humane Society finally got permission to go inside the home on Aug. 31. The owner surrendered all 57 cats found in the 1,200-square-foot condo. Ammonia levels were so […]
Horizon West raze order, Waukesha’s deadline expires Tuesday (WI)
A big step has been taken regarding the future of Waukesha’s troubled Horizon West condos, one that could soon trigger the wrecking ball. The raze order we’ve been hearing about for months is now officially in effect. Read the article………………………..
Kitchen fire at Madison condo extinguished by sprinkler (WI)
Officials said the resident was heating vegetable oil when it ignited. The resident instinctively put water on the fire, which only made the flames worse. The fire triggered an automatic sprinkler which put out the flames before firefighters arrived. Read the article………………………..
Evacuated Horizon West condo owners to raze building by Sept. 20 (WI)
Nine months after being evacuated from their homes at Horizon West Condo, the condo owners are starting to get back to normal. However, a pending civil lawsuit against the insurance company and looming raze order of the building, 315 N. West Ave., has left the dust unsettled. Read the article………………………..
Keeping It Blue: Rain gardens, buffer strips help filter pollutants out of Geneva Lake (WI)
Over the last three years, the Geneva Lake Conservancy has worked with 15 different property owners or homeowner’s associations around Geneva Lake to planted 30 rain gardens and buffer strips as part of the Healthy Lakes program. Read the article………………………..
How to Deal With an Unresponsive HOA
Dear Monty: We recently purchased a condo in a community with a homeowners association board and bylaws. This property was only a slab when we bought it with a July closing date. The builder did not complete the unit until the middle of October. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Horizon West condo break-ins; owners, neighbors concerned (WI)
Owners say someone broke in to Waukesha’s condemned Horizon West condominium building – and may even be living there. “The back door was completely open,” neighbor Dennis Unterbrink said. “Trash. Some cigarette butts and uneaten hamburgers.” Read the article……………………………
Friendlier HOA attitude needed for solar, wind
The recent dustup between a homeowner in the Madison suburb of Waunakee and her homeowner’s association (HOA) should serve as a reminder to HOAs across the state that they should be taking a more friendly attitude toward solar and wind installations. Read the entire article……………………………….
Waukesha condo owners out thousands as city orders building to be torn down (WI)
“It’s all on the building insurance,” Nieskes said. “We can’t cover your unit because everything technically in your unit is fine. There was no water damage, no fire damage. It’s the building that is the cause of why you have to be out, so you have to take it up with the building insurance company.” Read […]
Homeowners associations hinder solar deployment, despite Wisconsin law
For as long as she can remember, Sherrie Gruder wanted to put solar panels on her home. In the fall of 2020, Gruder and her partner, Wayne Harris, finally got the chance. They’d recently moved to a subdivision near Waunakee, and while there were issues with putting solar panels on the roof, there was plenty […]
Waukesha condo collapse threat, Horizon West raze order,120-day deadline (WI)
A big step has been taken regarding the future of Waukesha’s troubled Horizon West condos, one that could soon trigger the wrecking ball. The raze order we’ve been hearing about for months is now officially in effect. Read the entire article……………………………….
Waukesha Horizon West condo lawsuit, $17M sought after collapse threat (WI)
Waukesha Horizon West condo owners who had to be evacuated from their building after a threat of collapse are now suing the building’s insurer. The 27 homeowners have brought a $17 million lawsuit against Travelers Insurance for failing to pay claims. Read the entire article……………………………….
Oconomowoc fatal condo fire; woman dead, smoke detectors not working (WI)
Officials say the fire was isolated to a single unit of the condo complex. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A news release says smoke detectors in the condo were not in working order — and did not alert the residents to the fire. Read the entire article……………………………….
Horizon West Condo Association to review all options (WI)
The Horizon West Condominium Association met over the weekend and formally voted to review all possible options, including the possibility of repairing the condominium instead of razing it, in order to buy the owners time to plan their next steps. Read the entire article……………………………….
Horizon West owners denied by insurance, bills piling up (WI)
A home is more than concrete and beams, but the financial hit to Horizon West’s owners is making it hard to settle into new ones. In addition to new rent payments, the Hastreiters are still paying their Horizon West mortgage, among several other things. Read the entire article……………………………….
Displaced Waukesha Condo Residents To Appeal Demolition Order (WI)
Residents of a deteriorating Waukesha condominium retained a lawyer and are in the process of appealing a raze order. The city of Waukesha issued a raze order on Horizon West Condominiums, after 65 residents were forced to evacuate the structure in December. Read the entire article……………………………….
Elm Grove 2-alarm condo fire, partial roof collapse, no injuries (WI)
Firefighters responded to the four-unit condo building on Bluemound Road near Elm Grove Road around 10:30 a.m. for a fire that started on a porch, reported by a resident. Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the second floor, Read the entire article……………………………….
Waukesha: Collapsing condo must be razed in 120 days, residents may face large fines (WI)
City of Waukesha officials have ordered the razing of a condo that threatened to collapse last December, forcing all of its residents to find new homes. City documents show the city and the fire department ordered that the Horizon West Condo must be torn down within 120 days. Read the entire article……………………………….
Raze Order Issued For ‘Dilapitated’ Waukesha Condo (WI)
The city of Waukesha has issued a raze order on Horizon West Condominiums, a month after 65 residents were forced to evacuate the structure. Read the entire article……………………………….
‘Total disregard’: Sherman Park residents are fed up with reckless driving. Here’s how one resident is trying to stop it (WI)
Sherman Park resident Jordan Morales said that when he bought a home to accommodate his family of five children, he wanted them to feel safe enough to play in the front yard. Just three years in, however, and he said the idea of them doing that is “terrifying.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Evacuated Horizon West condo resident shares his story (WI)
On Dec. 2, R G (also known as RJ) Esposito was enjoying dinner with his wife after a work trip when a Waukesha County Sheriff’s deputy knocked on his door at the Horizon West Condominiums building. Read the entire article……………………………….
MFD crews battle condo fire near 99th and Fountain, 2 people injured (WI)
Milwaukee fire crews were called to a condo fire near 99th St. and Fountain Ave. According the Milwaukee Fire Department, two burn victims were taken to local hospitals. Read the entire article……………………………….