Potomac Yard (Alexandria) HOA — Issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Regarding the "reserved" markings on the pavement, you are heading in the right direction. Those markings are essentially graffiti and hold no legal effect. The HOA cannot reserve parking spots, even for moving purposes, as all members have a non-exclusive easement.

This situation can be resolved through two main avenues: a lawsuit and time. Once the lawsuit is resolved, most future buyers of ungaraged townhomes are likely to own 0-1 cars, which should help alleviate the issue. If prospective buyers are already being notified of the lawsuit, the correction process has begun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

How many times does it have to be spelled out for you? Unless you pay to maintain my garage, I'm not paying to maintain your parking space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

How many times does it have to be spelled out for you? Unless you pay to maintain my garage, I'm not paying to maintain your parking space.

At least one of these ungarage owners lacks understanding of homeownership costs in this area. It appears that a significant number of residents are struggling to afford their homes, let alone cover the cost of 46 parking spots and then not even be able to use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree with this vision. Administrative, yes, but it gives the property managers something to do to earn their rates. And, yes, the HOA can give passes to people who are moving in or out. The HOA does have the right to grant temporary assigned use of parking spaces. Common area does not mean everyone gets use everything all the time. It just means no member can be excluded from use most of the time. Rules and scheduling may come into play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree with this vision. Administrative, yes, but it gives the property managers something to do to earn their rates. And, yes, the HOA can give passes to people who are moving in or out. The HOA does have the right to grant temporary assigned use of parking spaces. Common area does not mean everyone gets use everything all the time. It just means no member can be excluded from use most of the time. Rules and scheduling may come into play.

This would be a huge improvement for overall safety. As of today, moving trucks across the street from the ungarage homes are parking in the fire lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree with this vision. Administrative, yes, but it gives the property managers something to do to earn their rates. And, yes, the HOA can give passes to people who are moving in or out. The HOA does have the right to grant temporary assigned use of parking spaces. Common area does not mean everyone gets use everything all the time. It just means no member can be excluded from use most of the time. Rules and scheduling may come into play.

This would be a huge improvement for overall safety. As of today, moving trucks across the street from the ungarage homes are parking in the fire lane.

This is another reason why street parking, even on private streets, should not be reserved. On public streets, where parking is open to everyone, first-come-first-serve, the city can post No Parking notices for limited periods of time to make room for equipment to do street, sewer, water line, tree trimming work. It's also possible in some areas to get street sections reserved for moving trucks for a day. I don't believe I've ever seen reserved parking for residents on a street before. Parking lots, parking garages, sure. But not a street.

This whole problem may not have developed into a lawsuit if only one space had been assigned to each ungaraged homeowner instead of getting greedy with two spaces and essentially removing almost all guest parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

Just because something illegal has been done for years does not at some point make it legal. Wrong is wrong, no matter when the wrong comes to light or when someone finally speaks up about it. It's unfornate it will take yet another court battle about HOA assigned parking spots in common areas to fix this problem. The only ones really benefiting from this are the lawyers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

Just because something illegal has been done for years does not at some point make it legal. Wrong is wrong, no matter when the wrong comes to light or when someone finally speaks up about it. It's unfornate it will take yet another court battle about HOA assigned parking spots in common areas to fix this problem. The only ones really benefiting from this are the lawyers.

What is the point of having a board if they do not correct matters such as this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

Just because something illegal has been done for years does not at some point make it legal. Wrong is wrong, no matter when the wrong comes to light or when someone finally speaks up about it. It's unfornate it will take yet another court battle about HOA assigned parking spots in common areas to fix this problem. The only ones really benefiting from this are the lawyers.

What is the point of having a board if they do not correct matters such as this?

It exists for people that lost the 7th grade student council race.

[Anonymous]

Well, in Potomac Yard, it is for people who continuously lose US Senate races.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/26/iowa-senate-democrat-kiss-allegation-00058668

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

Just because something illegal has been done for years does not at some point make it legal. Wrong is wrong, no matter when the wrong comes to light or when someone finally speaks up about it. It's unfornate it will take yet another court battle about HOA assigned parking spots in common areas to fix this problem. The only ones really benefiting from this are the lawyers.

What is the point of having a board if they do not correct matters such as this?

It exists for people that lost the 7th grade student council race.

So the latest armchair political scientist over here thinks HOA boards are just a retirement home for people who lost the 7th grade student council race. Right. The reality? Those ‘losers’ are the ones actually dealing with budgets, contractors, insurance, covenants, and the bizarre legal universe of property law—while you sit on social media and write zingers that sound like they were workshopped at a middle school lunch table. It’s easy to mock governance when you’ve never had to seriously do it, never carefully read a budget, and never really been the one on the hook for fixing the mess when the roof caves in. But sure—keep telling yourself the HOA is just junior high drama club for adults. That way you never have to face the fact that some people are willing to do the hard, thankless work you can’t be bothered with.

[Anonymous]

Lost the 7th grade student council race’? That’s the best you’ve got? Listen, the people on HOA boards are the only ones with the courage to actually take responsibility.

You? You sit in the cheap seats throwing insults because the idea of accountability terrifies you. So keep giggling about your 7th grade joke—adults are handling the real work while you hide behind your phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why not just leave it alone? It’s been like this for years and years, and everything was fine until the HOA Joan of Arc started suing.

Just because something illegal has been done for years does not at some point make it legal. Wrong is wrong, no matter when the wrong comes to light or when someone finally speaks up about it. It's unfornate it will take yet another court battle about HOA assigned parking spots in common areas to fix this problem. The only ones really benefiting from this are the lawyers.

What is the point of having a board if they do not correct matters such as this?

It exists for people that lost the 7th grade student council race.

So the latest armchair political scientist over here thinks HOA boards are just a retirement home for people who lost the 7th grade student council race. Right. The reality? Those ‘losers’ are the ones actually dealing with budgets, contractors, insurance, covenants, and the bizarre legal universe of property law—while you sit on social media and write zingers that sound like they were workshopped at a middle school lunch table. It’s easy to mock governance when you’ve never had to seriously do it, never carefully read a budget, and never really been the one on the hook for fixing the mess when the roof caves in. But sure—keep telling yourself the HOA is just junior high drama club for adults. That way you never have to face the fact that some people are willing to do the hard, thankless work you can’t be bothered with.

With the Potomac Yard HOA directors, it appears that the directors are not fulfilling their responsibilities, and I am particularly concerned about the wasteful spending of residents' money and the issuance of violations that do not align with the Declaration. Additionally, I am aware of a situation where a board director is allegedly maintaining two unauthorized parking spots. This situation is causing significant issues for the Potomac Yard HOA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lost the 7th grade student council race’? That’s the best you’ve got? Listen, the people on HOA boards are the only ones with the courage to actually take responsibility.

You? You sit in the cheap seats throwing insults because the idea of accountability terrifies you. So keep giggling about your 7th grade joke—adults are handling the real work while you hide behind your phone.

Oh, OK. Who are you?