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MichelleC4 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 7

Posted:

Hi everyone! I am new to this board. Although I have been attending the board meetings for our HOA for the last year, I was just voted in on our last election.

Our developer did not put a park in. The last HOA board purchased on of the empty lots for us to put one on. They also tried to get the owners to pay for a pool/park etc to put on the lot. It failed when it went to a vote. Their are a lot of concerns about the stability of the dention pond which is common area. (A lot of people are afraid that we will not be able to handle the problems we are faced with financially already).

My question is, does anyone know of any grants to help pay for a play park?

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

I know of no grants for a private community to recieve money for a recreation area. One thing that you should pay a great deal of attention to is the insurance liability that you will need to have for such an area. Including a pool is very costly as it will need alot of care, heating it, fencing, perhaps monitering. Many communities have given up their community pools because of spiraling costs.
There was a message in the failed vote that your residents had. They did not want to pay for a pool. Installing a pool is a matter that can only be changed by a positive vote from the owners. It becomes common property and everyone has to pay for it, even the ones who don't want or use it.

MichelleC4 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 7

Posted:

I agree, their was a message, we gave three options (Do nothing, hold the lot, put in a park and pool, and just put in a pool). Unfortunately, it would have raised the rates and over 100 lots are still owned by the builders and they have a full vote for each lot. They all voted no, so nothing passed.

Quote:

Posted By DonnaS on 09/23/2007 6:14 PM

I know of no grants for a private community to recieve money for a recreation area. One thing that you should pay a great deal of attention to is the insurance liability that you will need to have for such an area. Including a pool is very costly as it will need alot of care, heating it, fencing, perhaps monitering. Many communities have given up their community pools because of spiraling costs.
There was a message in the failed vote that your residents had. They did not want to pay for a pool. Installing a pool is a matter that can only be changed by a positive vote from the owners. It becomes common property and everyone has to pay for it, even the ones who don't want or use it.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

AHH- HAA, The old builder holding lots story. Maybe after they are built out you might get somewhere but for now, maybe a swing set and slide will have to do on your newly acquired lot. Good luck to you.

Jadedone4 (Virginia)
Posts: 495

Posted:

Michelle, question.... who was the "last HOA board"? Was it developer board, builder board, or combo of owners and the above? I am just curious as to how this came about (purchase of the lot) if the required number of votes were executed to achieve the purchase, but then were not available for changing the lot (i.e. putting in play area, pool, etc).

I am not sure, but if the builder/developer board spent HOA funds to purchase a lot - that sounds to me to be a (potential) conflict of interest. Again "potential" conflict - would need more information to make a full comment.

MichelleC4 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 7

Posted:

It was not the developer. The home owners did a hostile take over about 7 years ago (yep, its taking that long for our development to get finished.) The board that bought the property was made up of 7 home owners. When our development is finshed, we should have about 180 homes. (We have about 100+ homes filled now. When they bought the property there was about 90). They bought the property with the ability to return it.

According to our by-laws the board had the power to purchase the property. Some home owners where upset that they did it with out a vote, but the board had an opportunity were they had to act fast or lose any chance of having a park or pool. I am not condoning the decision, but I know these people and they really did have the best interest of the neighborhood in their hearts. Personally, I am not apposed to a park. I think we need one. I am not in favor of a pool. I really would have preferred that they purchased a lot around the dention pond that is now stocked with fish and put a dock on it. I think they were all sold already.

Jadedone4 (Virginia)
Posts: 495

Posted:

Michelle, thanks for the follow-up information.. but chances are you are not going to like what I have to say about that.

The "board" (quotation used for clarification), was just a group of owners (as you stated seven) who got together and purchased the lot. They are not a "board" of anything to be recognized by the HOA - they collectively have one vote, as does any other "owner" in the development. If I am reading your post correctly, the developer still has the majority of votes on your real board (HOA) and thus can determine what is done (or not) in your community.

You mentioned "hostile takeover" if this was executed, then the developer should no longer have any votes on your HOA's business - i.e. seats on HOA board. Look to your governing documents (you stated 100/180 homes have been completed/sold) so there may be "triggers" in the doc's which allow actual owners to fill seats on the HOA board (it is usually some percentage of units sold = seats for owners, not developer/builder).

I am still not quite sure if you have a true HOA where owners sit on the HOA board, and not a developer-ran board. If the "board" (seven owners) purchased the lot with the intention to convey back to HOA, then the developer is NOT required to build on that in any manner. The developer/builder is only required to provide the site/development as they filed with your local municipality (site plans, plats, etc). Any additional changes or build-outs would be the responsibility of the HOA.

MichelleC4 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 7

Posted:

All of the remaining lots have been sold to a handful of builders. According to our by-laws/covenants each lot has a vote, house or not (they also pay full dues). The only votes the actual developer has is the ones where he and his son (a builder) owns lots. I think there is about 14 of them. The hostal take over happened about 8 years ago. Basically, everyone was sending the dues to the developer and he was not taking care of the mowing and the lights, thus the take over. The board members are voted in with full authority, but I agree until the home are occupied by permanant residents we will continue to have trouble getting things to upgrade and improve our neighborhood. Which also goes back to my orginal request. Does anyone know of any grants for park equipment?

Quote:

Posted By Jadedone4 on 09/23/2007 9:32 PM
Michelle, thanks for the follow-up information.. but chances are you are not going to like what I have to say about that.

The "board" (quotation used for clarification), was just a group of owners (as you stated seven) who got together and purchased the lot. They are not a "board" of anything to be recognized by the HOA - they collectively have one vote, as does any other "owner" in the development. If I am reading your post correctly, the developer still has the majority of votes on your real board (HOA) and thus can determine what is done (or not) in your community.

You mentioned "hostile takeover" if this was executed, then the developer should no longer have any votes on your HOA's business - i.e. seats on HOA board. Look to your governing documents (you stated 100/180 homes have been completed/sold) so there may be "triggers" in the doc's which allow actual owners to fill seats on the HOA board (it is usually some percentage of units sold = seats for owners, not developer/builder).

I am still not quite sure if you have a true HOA where owners sit on the HOA board, and not a developer-ran board. If the "board" (seven owners) purchased the lot with the intention to convey back to HOA, then the developer is NOT required to build on that in any manner. The developer/builder is only required to provide the site/development as they filed with your local municipality (site plans, plats, etc). Any additional changes or build-outs would be the responsibility of the HOA.

GloriaM (North Carolina)
Posts: 829

Posted:

Michelle:

It would depend on what state and city you live in. Charlotte, NC actually has a matching Grants fund. There are requirements to being able to apply (criteria) but there are many municipalities that have such programs in effect.

We have 3 communities right now going through this process of having the City help in installing playgrounds, fencing, and landscape improvements.

MichelleC4 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 7

Posted:

Wow! That is great! We are in Oklahoma. I know that our city does not have any program currently.

Quote:

Posted By GloriaM on 09/24/2007 3:47 PM
Michelle:

It would depend on what state and city you live in. Charlotte, NC actually has a matching Grants fund. There are requirements to being able to apply (criteria) but there are many municipalities that have such programs in effect.

We have 3 communities right now going through this process of having the City help in installing playgrounds, fencing, and landscape improvements.

GloriaM (North Carolina)
Posts: 829

Posted:

Oklahoma Department of Commerce - Communities - Grants & Funding

Michelle,

I would look into it more, I see that they do have community funding programs, per the above link.

TimH1 (Alabama)
Posts: 17

Posted:

You might also consider a playground equipment designated to be used by handicapped persons; there are many types of equipment that are made specifically for them and funding is available from several sources. Our city just built one with matching Federal funds; funding may be available from the city or other non-profit agencies.

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