Potomac Yard (Alexandria) HOA — 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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If the assignment of parking spaces is not ironclad, and it appears it isn't, why would anyone move into one? Who needs more stress and sleepless nights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting tidbits on this website, including the $90k per year shuttle that has a peak ridership of 7 persons per day.

https://www.pyhoafacts.org/

Is the shuttle to the metro? Why on earth dos PY need a metro shuttle?! It's an easy, straightforward, short walk to 2 stations, depending on which end of the PY development you're on.

According to the above web site, City of Alexandria requires a "transportation plan".

I can't find online specifics on what that plan requires, but would guess it is for much more than Metro access.

Can't the "transportation plan" be walking two blocks to the Metro?

[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.

I'm a lawyer and the compliant is very well drafted. The lawyer handling this suit for the homeowners already won a similar case. This matter follows several other parking space lawsuits in Virginia that were decided in favor of the homeowners. An HOA board cannot do an eminent domain style taking of common area that belongs to all owners and give it to only a few to use. It would take a vote of the entire HOA membership to repurpose common area, and if done, only those who have use of the spaces have to pay for maintenance. Members of the HOA do not pay to maintain private driveways and neither would they pay to maintain private parking spaces assigned to individual owners. It's not a difficult concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm a lawyer and the compliant is very well drafted. The lawyer handling this suit for the homeowners already won a similar case. This matter follows several other parking space lawsuits in Virginia that were decided in favor of the homeowners. An HOA board cannot do an eminent domain style taking of common area that belongs to all owners and give it to only a few to use. It would take a vote of the entire HOA membership to repurpose common area, and if done, only those who have use of the spaces have to pay for maintenance. Members of the HOA do not pay to maintain private driveways and neither would they pay to maintain private parking spaces assigned to individual owners. It's not a difficult concept.

Nonsense. The complaint is incoherent and legally baseless. The plaintiff/Frank will lose — bigly. Bookmark this post and look it up in a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yup. And the ones denying his MAGA-ness. He a loon. Like a small-time TACO.