Potomac Yard (Alexandria) HOA — Issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Sock puppet central here.

I doubt Frank's calling himself a sock puppeteer, so who are you? The only member of the audience? Must be a pretty good puppet show. Frank has a lot of socks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you read the assignment of spaces that was posted? It was done by the board. It has been stated ad nauseam how the HOA and/or board cannot give away a common area for exclusive use to individual owners.

But how do we know that the Board didn’t have authorization, from a required percentage of the owners, to modify the Declaration to effect this change?

Simple. Because there was no vote. Or minutes. Or a call for quorum. Or anything.

And it's affect, not effect.

Saying we’ve seen no evidence that it was done right is very different from saying there’s no way it could have been done right. Right?

I’m sticking with “effect”.

Yes, it's "effect change". Anyone who reads and writes a great deal knows this. It's hilarious when grammar nancys jump in and are just wrong wrong wrong.
https://kris-spisak.com/writing-tip-affect-change-or-effect-change/

What happened to the poster who liked to use "bigly"? I miss his imperious tone.

This is bigly sad.

Frank’s life must be painfully empty if his idea of purpose is suing over petty HOA squabbles. A middle-aged man with nothing better to do than obsess over declarations and arcane Virginia HOA statutes is a sad sight indeed. Even if his legal arguments held water—they don’t—anyone with perspective knows life is about picking battles that matter. Time with family and meaningful pursuits is priceless, yet he squanders it on trivial fights, burning both hours and money in the process. Sad. [/quote


It might be why he bought a home with a garage. He didn't want to hoodwink his neighbors in believing he has dedicated parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Sock puppet central here.

I doubt Frank's calling himself a sock puppeteer, so who are you? The only member of the audience? Must be a pretty good puppet show. Frank has a lot of socks!

To put it another way: Two guys are in an elevator, one of them farts and they both know who did it.

[Anonymous]

Imagine being so convinced you’re right… and yet not a single neighbor will stand beside you. Not one. That’s not evidence of bravery—it’s a flashing neon sign that your case is weak. Suing your HOA is a fool’s errand. Even if you win, you lose—because your own dues pay for the fight against you. All that time, all that money, and in the end, you’re left exactly where you started, only poorer and with a reputation for waging lonely, pointless battles no one asked for. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Firstly, the HOA's insurance policy covers relevant incidents.

Secondly, it's important to consider that homes within an HOA may sell and rent for less due to the disclosure requirement and restrictions on using the only true amenity/common area in the Potomac Yard HOA. This situation is similar to why the court awarded the plaintiff lost rental income in the Telegraph Square case.

[Anonymous]

Could you please let me know where the contractors and guests for the homes across the street from the ungarage town homes have been parking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so convinced you’re right… and yet not a single neighbor will stand beside you. Not one. That’s not evidence of bravery—it’s a flashing neon sign that your case is weak. Suing your HOA is a fool’s errand. Even if you win, you lose—because your own dues pay for the fight against you. All that time, all that money, and in the end, you’re left exactly where you started, only poorer and with a reputation for waging lonely, pointless battles no one asked for. Sad.

Most of these cases are fought by individual homeowners and often the HOAs push the cases to the Virginia Supreme Court. Neighbors usually do not get involved because they don't want the wrath of the HOA board directed at them and they don't want to risk their own money. But the Farrans did it. The Batt, Grom and Martin did it. The Tvardeks did it. The Whites did it. The Sainanis did it. Even the Fairfax County RHA did it.

See this summary of law from Mercer Trigiani law firm regarding the dominance of the Declaration in whether an association can levy fines from Shadowood Condo case:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/MT%20-%20Shadowood%20Case%20Summary.PDF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so convinced you’re right… and yet not a single neighbor will stand beside you. Not one. That’s not evidence of bravery—it’s a flashing neon sign that your case is weak. Suing your HOA is a fool’s errand. Even if you win, you lose—because your own dues pay for the fight against you. All that time, all that money, and in the end, you’re left exactly where you started, only poorer and with a reputation for waging lonely, pointless battles no one asked for. Sad.

Most of these cases are fought by individual homeowners and often the HOAs push the cases to the Virginia Supreme Court. Neighbors usually do not get involved because they don't want the wrath of the HOA board directed at them and they don't want to risk their own money. But the Farrans did it. The Batt, Grom and Martin did it. The Tvardeks did it. The Whites did it. The Sainanis did it. Even the Fairfax County RHA did it.

See this summary of law from Mercer Trigiani law firm regarding the dominance of the Declaration in whether an association can levy fines from Shadowood Condo case:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/MT%20-%20Shadowood%20Case%20Summary.PDF

They should build a Hero’s Garden to these people. With Frank in the center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so convinced you’re right… and yet not a single neighbor will stand beside you. Not one. That’s not evidence of bravery—it’s a flashing neon sign that your case is weak. Suing your HOA is a fool’s errand. Even if you win, you lose—because your own dues pay for the fight against you. All that time, all that money, and in the end, you’re left exactly where you started, only poorer and with a reputation for waging lonely, pointless battles no one asked for. Sad.

Most of these cases are fought by individual homeowners and often the HOAs push the cases to the Virginia Supreme Court. Neighbors usually do not get involved because they don't want the wrath of the HOA board directed at them and they don't want to risk their own money. But the Farrans did it. The Batt, Grom and Martin did it. The Tvardeks did it. The Whites did it. The Sainanis did it. Even the Fairfax County RHA did it.

See this summary of law from Mercer Trigiani law firm regarding the dominance of the Declaration in whether an association can levy fines from Shadowood Condo case:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/MT%20-%20Shadowood%20Case%20Summary.PDF

They should build a Hero’s Garden to these people. With Frank in the center.

It's a shame homeowners have to go through these court battles for what's right. HOA lawyers should be doing a better job with legal counseling and not just telling board members what they want to hear. Instead, everyone else (who are not lawyers) pays for it as yet another case is added to Virginia jurispurdence against HOAs. And it's everyone who pays for this while the lawyers profit. When are HOA insurance companies going to wise up and get out of this game?

[Anonymous]

Regarding the violations concerning garden flags, bird feeders, and string lights, I believe these are outside the scope of the HOA's authority. If these items are not explicitly mentioned in the Declaration, the HOA lacks the power to create rules regarding them.

Furthermore, these are temporary attachments, not permanent structures or architectural elements. In light of the Sainani ruling, it would be unreasonable for the HOA to attempt to regulate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so convinced you’re right… and yet not a single neighbor will stand beside you. Not one. That’s not evidence of bravery—it’s a flashing neon sign that your case is weak. Suing your HOA is a fool’s errand. Even if you win, you lose—because your own dues pay for the fight against you. All that time, all that money, and in the end, you’re left exactly where you started, only poorer and with a reputation for waging lonely, pointless battles no one asked for. Sad.

Most of these cases are fought by individual homeowners and often the HOAs push the cases to the Virginia Supreme Court. Neighbors usually do not get involved because they don't want the wrath of the HOA board directed at them and they don't want to risk their own money. But the Farrans did it. The Batt, Grom and Martin did it. The Tvardeks did it. The Whites did it. The Sainanis did it. Even the Fairfax County RHA did it.

See this summary of law from Mercer Trigiani law firm regarding the dominance of the Declaration in whether an association can levy fines from Shadowood Condo case:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/MT%20-%20Shadowood%20Case%20Summary.PDF

They should build a Hero’s Garden to these people. With Frank in the center.

It's a shame homeowners have to go through these court battles for what's right. HOA lawyers should be doing a better job with legal counseling and not just telling board members what they want to hear. Instead, everyone else (who are not lawyers) pays for it as yet another case is added to Virginia jurispurdence against HOAs. And it's everyone who pays for this while the lawyers profit. When are HOA insurance companies going to wise up and get out of this game?

Oh, right — the great tragedy of our time: a homeowner forced, forced, to wage a heroic legal crusade against… the people who live next door. This is Lexington and Concord, but with lawn disputes and parking regulations. And those dastardly HOA lawyers? How dare they give the board actual legal advice instead of nodding along to one man’s pet grievances. As for “adding to Virginia jurisprudence,” sure — right between the case about barking dogs and the one about someone’s fence being 3 inches too high. The real shame here isn’t the lawyers. It’s that an insurance company is stuck underwriting someone’s midlife crisis.

-Ungaraged and lovin life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you read the assignment of spaces that was posted? It was done by the board. It has been stated ad nauseam how the HOA and/or board cannot give away a common area for exclusive use to individual owners.

But how do we know that the Board didn’t have authorization, from a required percentage of the owners, to modify the Declaration to effect this change?

Simple. Because there was no vote. Or minutes. Or a call for quorum. Or anything.

And it's affect, not effect.

Saying we’ve seen no evidence that it was done right is very different from saying there’s no way it could have been done right. Right?

I’m sticking with “effect”.

Yes, it's "effect change". Anyone who reads and writes a great deal knows this. It's hilarious when grammar nancys jump in and are just wrong wrong wrong.
https://kris-spisak.com/writing-tip-affect-change-or-effect-change/

What happened to the poster who liked to use "bigly"? I miss his imperious tone.

This is bigly sad.

Frank’s life must be painfully empty if his idea of purpose is suing over petty HOA squabbles. A middle-aged man with nothing better to do than obsess over declarations and arcane Virginia HOA statutes is a sad sight indeed. Even if his legal arguments held water—they don’t—anyone with perspective knows life is about picking battles that matter. Time with family and meaningful pursuits is priceless, yet he squanders it on trivial fights, burning both hours and money in the process. Sad.

LOL. And here you are wasting life arguing with strangers about something on which you are wrong. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so convinced you’re right… and yet not a single neighbor will stand beside you. Not one. That’s not evidence of bravery—it’s a flashing neon sign that your case is weak. Suing your HOA is a fool’s errand. Even if you win, you lose—because your own dues pay for the fight against you. All that time, all that money, and in the end, you’re left exactly where you started, only poorer and with a reputation for waging lonely, pointless battles no one asked for. Sad.

You mad, bro?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so convinced you’re right… and yet not a single neighbor will stand beside you. Not one. That’s not evidence of bravery—it’s a flashing neon sign that your case is weak. Suing your HOA is a fool’s errand. Even if you win, you lose—because your own dues pay for the fight against you. All that time, all that money, and in the end, you’re left exactly where you started, only poorer and with a reputation for waging lonely, pointless battles no one asked for. Sad.

Most of these cases are fought by individual homeowners and often the HOAs push the cases to the Virginia Supreme Court. Neighbors usually do not get involved because they don't want the wrath of the HOA board directed at them and they don't want to risk their own money. But the Farrans did it. The Batt, Grom and Martin did it. The Tvardeks did it. The Whites did it. The Sainanis did it. Even the Fairfax County RHA did it.

See this summary of law from Mercer Trigiani law firm regarding the dominance of the Declaration in whether an association can levy fines from Shadowood Condo case:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/MT%20-%20Shadowood%20Case%20Summary.PDF

They should build a Hero’s Garden to these people. With Frank in the center.

It's a shame homeowners have to go through these court battles for what's right. HOA lawyers should be doing a better job with legal counseling and not just telling board members what they want to hear. Instead, everyone else (who are not lawyers) pays for it as yet another case is added to Virginia jurispurdence against HOAs. And it's everyone who pays for this while the lawyers profit. When are HOA insurance companies going to wise up and get out of this game?

Oh, right — the great tragedy of our time: a homeowner forced, forced, to wage a heroic legal crusade against… the people who live next door. This is Lexington and Concord, but with lawn disputes and parking regulations. And those dastardly HOA lawyers? How dare they give the board actual legal advice instead of nodding along to one man’s pet grievances. As for “adding to Virginia jurisprudence,” sure — right between the case about barking dogs and the one about someone’s fence being 3 inches too high. The real shame here isn’t the lawyers. It’s that an insurance company is stuck underwriting someone’s midlife crisis.

-Ungaraged and lovin life.

The embodiment of a midlife crisis is to buy a house without a driveway or garage, then hector your neighbors with an unlawful parking policy.

[Anonymous]

Why don't they just have the 'common' area spots be common again and not numbered? With reasonable restrictions like contractor vehicles, abandoned vehicles, vehicles have to be in active rotation, and maybe a special pass system for moving. I realize as I type this how administrative that is and pretty ridiculous but I have strong feelings about what's "right" and the current state does not seem right based on the little I have read.