Potomac Yard (Alexandria) HOA — Issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Youtube turned up this video where the board discusses the lawsuit.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CHGtDRw-kfqzjIfQ1q6dOr4k9ruRLG4K/view

Absolutely insane that the board that his fees pay for fined some guy $900 for sinle piece of missing trim on his garage door. And even more insane that these people spent one hour and 16 minutes discussing whether or not to waive it. And they voted not to. You couldn't pay me to live in such a place.

Did you notice Clea stated the lawsuit is "bonkers" but is adamant about not circulating it to all HOA members? I guess this suit must have merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Youtube turned up this video where the board discusses the lawsuit.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CHGtDRw-kfqzjIfQ1q6dOr4k9ruRLG4K/view

Absolutely insane that the board that his fees pay for fined some guy $900 for sinle piece of missing trim on his garage door. And even more insane that these people spent one hour and 16 minutes discussing whether or not to waive it. And they voted not to. You couldn't pay me to live in such a place.

What is the basis for the suit? How gross that they were joking about depleting his kid's college fund?

Did you notice Clea stated the lawsuit is "bonkers" but is adamant about not circulating it to all HOA members? I guess this suit must have merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Youtube turned up this video where the board discusses the lawsuit.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CHGtDRw-kfqzjIfQ1q6dOr4k9ruRLG4K/view

Absolutely insane that the board that his fees pay for fined some guy $900 for sinle piece of missing trim on his garage door. And even more insane that these people spent one hour and 16 minutes discussing whether or not to waive it. And they voted not to. You couldn't pay me to live in such a place.

Did you notice Clea stated the lawsuit is "bonkers" but is adamant about not circulating it to all HOA members? I guess this suit must have merit.

What is the basis for the suit? How gross that they were joking about depleting his kid's college fund?

[Anonymous]

First, the suit alleges that the HOA unlawfully took away the common area to assign parking to the 23 townhome owners without garages while all HOA members most pay to maintain it. Second, it states that the HOA lacks the authority to cite a fee simple townhome owner for an alleged violation that is not a clear and unambiguous restrictive covenant in the Declaration.

This case strongly reminds me of Batt v. Manchester Oak and Sainani v. Belmont Glen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, the suit alleges that the HOA unlawfully took away the common area to assign parking to the 23 townhome owners without garages while all HOA members most pay to maintain it. Second, it states that the HOA lacks the authority to cite a fee simple townhome owner for an alleged violation that is not a clear and unambiguous restrictive covenant in the Declaration.

This case strongly reminds me of Batt v. Manchester Oak and Sainani v. Belmont Glen.

Lies. Fake news. I’m on the board — this misrepresents the issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, the suit alleges that the HOA unlawfully took away the common area to assign parking to the 23 townhome owners without garages while all HOA members most pay to maintain it. Second, it states that the HOA lacks the authority to cite a fee simple townhome owner for an alleged violation that is not a clear and unambiguous restrictive covenant in the Declaration.

This case strongly reminds me of Batt v. Manchester Oak and Sainani v. Belmont Glen.

Lies. Fake news. I’m on the board — this misrepresents the issues.

The suit is a public record, and you are free to post it. The association pleading does not purport that there is any city zoning requirement to assign those spaces to the ungaraged townhome owners. The suit also references Boundary v. White and Telegraph Square. It looks like HOA members with garages can sue the Potomac Yard HOA for lost rental income. https://sevacai.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year=2024&month=06&day=19&id=66:summary-of-recent-case-law

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The next time someone asks why we will not ever live in any HOA, I will tell this story.

I grew up in a locality that generally did not allow HOAs. We did have some entirely voluntary neighborhood associations. They had no power to levy fees. They were not responsible for storm water ponds or such like. They were not allowed to plow or maintain roads. Guess what, almost all people behave well even without an HOA -- simply because their house is their biggest investment and most people are decent. Also, in that locality, developers were required to create/install neighborhood parks that then were deeded to the local government as a public park. There was a robust Parks & Rec Dept that maintained their parks, operated low cost Rec Centers, and a robust set of sports teams. Property taxes were lower than in NoVA, so this was not more expensive to homeowners.

I'll also never live in HOA. We live in Del Ray, nearly across from the PY townhomes. No HOA. Neighbors are great. People take pretty good care of their property. I could not care less what color someone paints their door, but it's not like there are broken down vehicles in the yard. Their yards are not perfect, but tidy and fine. We shovel ourselves (it's not like it snows a lot here), and often neighbors shovel for others while they're at it.

I can't imagine the additional HOA drama that would have unfolded had the arena actually gone through.

[Anonymous]

I don't live in Potomac Yard but I do live in a nearby HOA. I wish there was a way for all HOA members in Virginia to have access to this information. Good for these homeowners who, per the video, appear to have children take on the Potomac Yard HOA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, the suit alleges that the HOA unlawfully took away the common area to assign parking to the 23 townhome owners without garages while all HOA members most pay to maintain it. Second, it states that the HOA lacks the authority to cite a fee simple townhome owner for an alleged violation that is not a clear and unambiguous restrictive covenant in the Declaration.

This case strongly reminds me of Batt v. Manchester Oak and Sainani v. Belmont Glen.

Lies. Fake news. I’m on the board — this misrepresents the issues.

Seems pretty simple to dispute. The spaces that are now for the exclusive use of the 23 THs- what were they before? Was it a common area?

[Anonymous]

Yes and still are a common area owned by the Potomac Yard HOA.

[Anonymous]

My girlfriend, now wife, used to rent one of the ungaraged townhomes on Van Valkenburgh Lane. As a lawyer, I informed her that the parking spaces there were likely to be challenged and overturned in a matter of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't live in Potomac Yard but I do live in a nearby HOA. I wish there was a way for all HOA members in Virginia to have access to this information. Good for these homeowners who, per the video, appear to have children take on the Potomac Yard HOA.

This post is obviously Frank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My girlfriend, now wife, used to rent one of the ungaraged townhomes on Van Valkenburgh Lane. As a lawyer, I informed her that the parking spaces there were likely to be challenged and overturned in a matter of time.

Will never be overturned. The complaint is poorly drafted. It’s a crock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The next time someone asks why we will not ever live in any HOA, I will tell this story.

I grew up in a locality that generally did not allow HOAs. We did have some entirely voluntary neighborhood associations. They had no power to levy fees. They were not responsible for storm water ponds or such like. They were not allowed to plow or maintain roads. Guess what, almost all people behave well even without an HOA -- simply because their house is their biggest investment and most people are decent. Also, in that locality, developers were required to create/install neighborhood parks that then were deeded to the local government as a public park. There was a robust Parks & Rec Dept that maintained their parks, operated low cost Rec Centers, and a robust set of sports teams. Property taxes were lower than in NoVA, so this was not more expensive to homeowners.

I'll also never live in HOA. We live in Del Ray, nearly across from the PY townhomes. No HOA. Neighbors are great. People take pretty good care of their property. I could not care less what color someone paints their door, but it's not like there are broken down vehicles in the yard. Their yards are not perfect, but tidy and fine. We shovel ourselves (it's not like it snows a lot here), and often neighbors shovel for others while they're at it.

I can't imagine the additional HOA drama that would have unfolded had the arena actually gone through.

It appears that properties in HOA-governed communities tend to have a lower return on investment compared to homes located outside the boundaries of HOAs.

https://independentamericancommunities.com/2019/06/18/new-research-busts-myth-that-hoas-protect-property-values/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My girlfriend, now wife, used to rent one of the ungaraged townhomes on Van Valkenburgh Lane. As a lawyer, I informed her that the parking spaces there were likely to be challenged and overturned in a matter of time.

Will never be overturned. The complaint is poorly drafted. It’s a crock.

You are entitled to your denial. However, I will never recommend a 2700 square foot townhome to anyone without dedicated parking.