Another reason why I hate Homeowner's Associations!
07-01-2011, 04:09 PM
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Another reason why I hate Homeowner's Associations!
HOA Halts Construction of Paralyzed Army Vet's Home
| By Stefanos Chen | Posted Jun 28th 2011 8:30AM
SFC Sean GittensPlans to build a new home for a paralyzed Army veteran at no cost to his family have been put on hold by the local homeowners association.
The reason, said the president of the nonprofit homebuilding group, is fear that the home would drag down property values in the neighborhood.
The Evans, Ga., home was to be built for Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean Gittens (left), who was struck in 2008 by an IED blast on his second tour of duty in Iraq. The trauma left him paralyzed on the right side of his body and unable to speak.
It wasn't supposed to turn out this way. "This is the total opposite of what usually happens," said John Gonsalves, president and founder of Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds homes for injured veterans. "We've met every requirement they've asked for," he told AOL Real Estate during a phone interview.
Construction was to begin on Friday, but Gonsalves said the homeowners association at the last minute filed a cease-and-desist order on the project, claiming that he had failed to file all the necessary paperwork.
"This could have been a done deal had they just gotten us the paperwork," said Rick Trump, president of the **** Hill Homeowners Association, during a phone interview. "Who's really to blame here? Is it that we blocked them or that they're disorganized and don't have everything they need?"
While Trump maintains that the HOA's only contention is the paperwork, he said that some homeowners are concerned that the Gittens project will drag down the value of their homes, either because of the style of the home or the size.
The home will include several disabled-accessible features to accommodate Gittens, who currently is bedridden. But the neighbors' major complaint, Gonsalves said, is that the home is only 2,785 square feet, while other homes in the area are in the 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot range. The discrepancy should be a moot point, though, he said, because the minimum suggested size of homes for the area is only 2,700 square feet (see the supporting document here).
In reality, though, the HOA needn't have worried, according to New York appraiser Alice Palmisano.
The claim that smaller houses drag down neighboring property values is unfounded, she said. "It usually works the other way around, where the smaller house typically sees a boost in home value," but there's no evidence that smaller homes hurt the value of larger ones. Given the special nature of the home, it wouldn't even be used as the basis for a "comparable property," she said.
"Just because a custom home is built for a handicapped person does not mean that home can't sell to a conventional buyer," she added. "And considering the circumstances, it sounds kind of mean-spirited."
But Trump argues that the dispute is simply a matter of upholding HOA guidelines, and neither he nor the association has anything against the Gittens family.
"If they leave, that's the family's choice, but we're honored to have them in the neighborhood," he said.
For Gittens' wife, Sharon, the message conveyed has been less hospitable.
"They just don't want us here," she said during a phone interview. Gittens moved to **** Hill with her husband and children last year and has been renting an apartment in the development. Her husband's military career began in 1988 with a tour of duty in Kuwait during Desert Storm and ended in 2010 when he was forced to take medical retirement.
She says that she doesn't accept HOA members' claims that their new home is too small for the area, as there are other properties in the development that are even smaller. She took particular umbrage to the association's request that they add a second floor to the home.
"My husband doesn't need that. He's wheelchair bound," she said.
But no matter the outcome in the **** Hills dispute, Gonsalves said that his organization will keep their promise and build the Gittenses a new home.
"This home is about freedom and independence adapted to the Gittenses' needs," he said. "But it's also about roots. Luckily we can enjoy the [American] dream because of people like Sgt. Gittens. So who deserves it more than him?"
Gonsalves expects to make an announcement on the future of the project early this week.
UPDATE: Late on Monday, Homes for Our Troops issued a press statement in which Sharon Gittens confirmed that she will be leaving the **** Hill development. The Gittenses are currently exploring other options in the area. John Gonsalves, president of Homes for Our Troops, has agreed to continue the project in a new location.
http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/28/hoa-halts-construction-of-paralyzed-army-vets-home/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl10|sec1_lnk3|73851?ncid=AOLCOMMre00s harartl0001&a_dgi=aolshare_facebook
| By Stefanos Chen | Posted Jun 28th 2011 8:30AM
SFC Sean GittensPlans to build a new home for a paralyzed Army veteran at no cost to his family have been put on hold by the local homeowners association.
The reason, said the president of the nonprofit homebuilding group, is fear that the home would drag down property values in the neighborhood.
The Evans, Ga., home was to be built for Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean Gittens (left), who was struck in 2008 by an IED blast on his second tour of duty in Iraq. The trauma left him paralyzed on the right side of his body and unable to speak.
It wasn't supposed to turn out this way. "This is the total opposite of what usually happens," said John Gonsalves, president and founder of Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds homes for injured veterans. "We've met every requirement they've asked for," he told AOL Real Estate during a phone interview.
Construction was to begin on Friday, but Gonsalves said the homeowners association at the last minute filed a cease-and-desist order on the project, claiming that he had failed to file all the necessary paperwork.
"This could have been a done deal had they just gotten us the paperwork," said Rick Trump, president of the **** Hill Homeowners Association, during a phone interview. "Who's really to blame here? Is it that we blocked them or that they're disorganized and don't have everything they need?"
While Trump maintains that the HOA's only contention is the paperwork, he said that some homeowners are concerned that the Gittens project will drag down the value of their homes, either because of the style of the home or the size.
The home will include several disabled-accessible features to accommodate Gittens, who currently is bedridden. But the neighbors' major complaint, Gonsalves said, is that the home is only 2,785 square feet, while other homes in the area are in the 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot range. The discrepancy should be a moot point, though, he said, because the minimum suggested size of homes for the area is only 2,700 square feet (see the supporting document here).
In reality, though, the HOA needn't have worried, according to New York appraiser Alice Palmisano.
The claim that smaller houses drag down neighboring property values is unfounded, she said. "It usually works the other way around, where the smaller house typically sees a boost in home value," but there's no evidence that smaller homes hurt the value of larger ones. Given the special nature of the home, it wouldn't even be used as the basis for a "comparable property," she said.
"Just because a custom home is built for a handicapped person does not mean that home can't sell to a conventional buyer," she added. "And considering the circumstances, it sounds kind of mean-spirited."
But Trump argues that the dispute is simply a matter of upholding HOA guidelines, and neither he nor the association has anything against the Gittens family.
"If they leave, that's the family's choice, but we're honored to have them in the neighborhood," he said.
For Gittens' wife, Sharon, the message conveyed has been less hospitable.
"They just don't want us here," she said during a phone interview. Gittens moved to **** Hill with her husband and children last year and has been renting an apartment in the development. Her husband's military career began in 1988 with a tour of duty in Kuwait during Desert Storm and ended in 2010 when he was forced to take medical retirement.
She says that she doesn't accept HOA members' claims that their new home is too small for the area, as there are other properties in the development that are even smaller. She took particular umbrage to the association's request that they add a second floor to the home.
"My husband doesn't need that. He's wheelchair bound," she said.
But no matter the outcome in the **** Hills dispute, Gonsalves said that his organization will keep their promise and build the Gittenses a new home.
"This home is about freedom and independence adapted to the Gittenses' needs," he said. "But it's also about roots. Luckily we can enjoy the [American] dream because of people like Sgt. Gittens. So who deserves it more than him?"
Gonsalves expects to make an announcement on the future of the project early this week.
UPDATE: Late on Monday, Homes for Our Troops issued a press statement in which Sharon Gittens confirmed that she will be leaving the **** Hill development. The Gittenses are currently exploring other options in the area. John Gonsalves, president of Homes for Our Troops, has agreed to continue the project in a new location.
http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/28/hoa-halts-construction-of-paralyzed-army-vets-home/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl10|sec1_lnk3|73851?ncid=AOLCOMMre00s harartl0001&a_dgi=aolshare_facebook
07-01-2011, 06:18 PM
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What a bunch of uptight buttholes. We have a HOA in our area that hada fit because a Veteran installed a flag pole and flew the colors and a MIA/POW flag. They claim the pole was 3' too tall. The guy was sharp and knew the drinking water regs. Called in to verify that chlorine needed to added as a disinfectant to all community systems and that occasionally the pressure would drop to a trickle in the second floor bathroom. The HOA messed with the wrong person.
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07-02-2011, 12:03 PM
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One guy that I really liked, lived in the area of Naples, Florida. The town council, which was made up by ( no offense intended) retired Yankees, had passed a town ordinance. This ordinance, REQUIRED that you repaint the exterior of your house, every year. After several code violations, and a threat of a law suit, this guy finally painted his house. He bought enough QUARTS of paint, each a different color, to paint his house. It looked like it had been painted, by 3 year olds. Of course EVERYBODY complained, and it went to court. The judge said that the ordinance only stated that the house had to be painted. It did NOT say what color, nor did it put a limit on the number of colors. Last I knew, the town was trying to change it, to limit 'acceptable' colors, and limit it to 2 colors on any one property.
07-02-2011, 03:45 PM
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I agree with Wyododge. time to gather the boys/girls and circle the wagons. ACLU and ADA would have a hay day with this AND every one of those HOA members should be forced to help build the house FREE of charge.
07-02-2011, 08:50 PM
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This is what happens when a bunch of small minded people are put in charge of others. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Short of a legal challenge you can't fight HOA's.
07-03-2011, 06:08 AM
#12
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OK. Ive finally calmed down enough to post in this thread.
No lie. I wanna blow up that entire neighbor hood. Alfred P Murrah style. Thats how absolutely unfathomably mad this makes me......
Snobbish flippin idiots, the whole lot of em. It also does a number on me how good people who give and give die slow horrible deaths of cancer and the such instead of these winners....
No lie. I wanna blow up that entire neighbor hood. Alfred P Murrah style. Thats how absolutely unfathomably mad this makes me......
Snobbish flippin idiots, the whole lot of em. It also does a number on me how good people who give and give die slow horrible deaths of cancer and the such instead of these winners....
07-03-2011, 07:17 AM
#13
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Yep, I got a whole trailer park behind the farm that I feel the same way about. Only good thing about HOA's is that the idiots are flocked together and at least you know where they are most of the time!
07-03-2011, 07:59 AM
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I've done battle with HOA's on several occasions, and it's never pretty. Down here in Fl. they are made up of mostly retired North-Easterners who have nothing better to do than obsess about the value of their investment, (their house.) In this day, that investment has turned sour, Thus, so does their attitude.
I don't know what it's like in the rest of the country, but down here if a house is foreclosed upon and there are HOA dues owing, the HOA is first in line, not the bank. They have the power to take the property and sell it to cover their costs. HOA's are very, very powerful. And as we see here with this story, they are generally run by power hungry, small-minded people who care nothing for anything/one but themselves and theirs.
It's completely unfathomable that they would be pulling this kind of stuff with a disabled vet with a wife and kids. This guy, and everyone else just like him, has more right to a home than the rest of us, especially folks on that HOA, who I'm pretty sure have done nothing of any significance for this country. Hypocritically flying the American flag and touting, 'Freedom' at every opportunity, without knowing or wanting to know how that freedom was obtained.
... I kinda like Blake's idea...
I don't know what it's like in the rest of the country, but down here if a house is foreclosed upon and there are HOA dues owing, the HOA is first in line, not the bank. They have the power to take the property and sell it to cover their costs. HOA's are very, very powerful. And as we see here with this story, they are generally run by power hungry, small-minded people who care nothing for anything/one but themselves and theirs.
It's completely unfathomable that they would be pulling this kind of stuff with a disabled vet with a wife and kids. This guy, and everyone else just like him, has more right to a home than the rest of us, especially folks on that HOA, who I'm pretty sure have done nothing of any significance for this country. Hypocritically flying the American flag and touting, 'Freedom' at every opportunity, without knowing or wanting to know how that freedom was obtained.
... I kinda like Blake's idea...
07-04-2011, 11:54 AM
#15
Why would one even want o be in a HOA development if they treat their people like this.
Find some other place to live in peace after you sue the pants off the HOA (of course).
Find some other place to live in peace after you sue the pants off the HOA (of course).