Living in the Neighborhood

In the Know in Our Neighborhood: Byway Parking Pads

Townhome owners are familiar with a number of concrete parking pads located along the byways. These pads will generally accommodate two vehicles of average size. Residents should be aware that these parking pads provide reserved parking space for townhome owners who are in units with casitas. On most byways these pads are marked with the unit number. On others, the spaces may not be marked, but are in close proximity to the casita unit.

These spaces should not be used by neighborhood residents for general or guest parking unless they own a casita and the space is designated for their unit. Since many of the garage apartments are occupied by family members or rented to tenants, it is important to respect this space so that the renter or resident will always have a place to park.

During the day, service vehicles often utilize these spots to avoid blocking byway traffic. However if anyone not assigned to one of these spots wants to temporarily park on the pad, that person should receive permission from the owner. Cooperation and compliance with this assignment is greatly appreciated.

“In the Know in Our Neighborhood” is a new section that will continue to be a regular feature in the newsletter and is intended to provide important, useful, or interesting information that might not be known by all neighbors. It is intended to be positive and helpful, often humorous, and always short and to the point. It may appear on the front page or at other points in the newsletter depending on subject matter. Since this is a new addition to your newsletter, I am interested in input and suggestions. I also need topics (nothing heavy) that you feel appropriate. If you have some ideas, please call Dave Smith at 704.987.1472 or e-mail at davidbsmith@bellsouth.net.

Neighborhood Website — Update

October has been the busiest month so far for our neighborhood website in terms of both number of visits and the number of unique visitors. (June had a larger number of pages viewed and bandwidth usage because of the SPINN pictures.) And, we’ve had our first person to visit the site between 5 and 6 a.m., according to the server’s statistics files.

The online directory is now the most frequently visited page other than the home page. So far, 34 families have received IDs and passwords so that they can access the members’ areas. To request them, just click the Sign up link from the home page and fill out the form.

Each month the neighborhood newsletter and calendar are posted and back issues are available. Somehow, the July issue has been popular during October. Maybe it’s a way for new residents to catch up.

The maps of the neighborhood and the general area might be useful to new folk and visitors alike. You might also want to refer friends and family in other areas to the site so they can see what our neighborhood is like.

So far, we have only one document to download, other than the newsletters and the calendar, but more should be on the way soon. We hope to have the whole covenant in PDF format as soon as the covenant committee finishes a definitive version. We hope that the site will become useful, not only for residents and their families and friends, but also for realtors and prospective buyers seeking information about our community.

Several people have mentioned that the Community Links page is a handy resource. If you have other links to suggest, frequently asked questions to answer, or other suggestions and comments for the site, please email webmaster@stalbanssq.org.

New Neighborhood Committee Property Transition

One of the activities most poorly managed in New Neighborhood is the transition or sale of property (townhome or single family home) from one owner to another. This problem was less obvious when homes were sold by the builder to the original owner. Transfer fees and copies of such documents as the Neighborhood Covenant were generally handled properly in the original transaction. However, as existing homes are resold and new neighbors move into the community, key financial obligations regarding sale fees and payment of assessments are not always made clear, and important information about living in New Neighborhood is not always readily available. This is not a direct responsibility of the Association, but rather an obligation by the realtor(s) involved and the attorney that handles the closing process.

One of the most frequently overlooked items at closing is the collection of a $100 transfer fee from the seller. This fee is separate from fees charged by the Management Company and goes into an account designated as an Enhancement Fund. This fund is utilized to the general good and welfare of the neighborhood for items not otherwise addressed by the Association’s general operating budget. For example: Neighborhood Enhancement Funds helped a local Boy Scout build the wooden bridge from Harper Lee Street to Forest Park as his Eagle Scout project. [Owners can find further detail of this fee in Article IX of the Neighborhood Covenant (Section 9.11: Neighborhood Enhancement Fee)]

A second problem frequently encountered at closing is failure by the closing attorney to adequately determine accountability and collection of Association assessment fees. New owners may not be aware of the fact that they can potentially shoulder the liability of unpaid assessments from previous owners if these fees are not collected and cleared at closing.

However, there are some things that the Association can do to help prevent future problems for sellers and new residents. Steve Baker, a member of the Council of Stewards, has been assigned the task of coordinating the process of “Property Turnover.” Steve’s responsibility will include the following:

• Notification to Abbott Enterprises of new listings as they appear in the neighborhood. Abbott would then send a letter to the real estate agent and the home owner explaining the enhancement fee and the collection and settlement procedure for final property assessments.
• Delivery of a welcome packet to the new home owner as soon as they move in. Such information will include the following: information on and operation of the Association; review of the process and options for payment of Association assessments; verification that the new owner has received a copy of the covenants (and the handbook summary when it is available); an information sheet to be completed and returned to Abbott Enterprises; explanation of the neighborhood website; discussion of the Council of Stewards and the various neighborhood committees.
• Follow-up with the new owner as necessary. (This does not eliminate a need for the new owner to contact Abbott Enterprises immediately if account problems do surface.)

As with any new procedure or committee, the help of all neighbors is needed. Steve Baker needs your input regarding what items should be included in the “welcome packet.” Please dig into the memories of your own moving experience and let him know what was a problem for you. Steve will also need help in executing this task. It would be particularly helpful if delivery of the information could include someone on the same street as the new neighbor. Please provide your suggestions to Steve Baker at 704.892.2332 (e-mail at stbaker127@aol.com).

Let’s help make moving into New Neighborhood a positive experience!

Neighborhood Covenant

The Covenant is the primary document outlining restrictions and regulations for our community. All owners should have been given a copy of the Covenant at the time of closing. If you were not given a copy or cannot locate these documents, you may obtain a copy from Abbott Enterprises, Inc. at a cost of $35.00 ($15 handling fee to Abbott and $20 copy fee to the Association). If you have not already done so, it is important to take time to read these documents. You may also download the covenant documents in PDF form from the Forms and Documents page.

The Covenant Committee meets on the first Tuesday of the month and is currently adding to its membership. As issues are discussed and questions regarding restrictions and regulations develop, the newsletter will highlight parts of the Covenant and keep residents informed. If you have concerns or input, please contact Kathy Cox, Chairperson for the committee, or Steve Baker, Council of Stewards representative on the committee. Other members and their contact information are listed near the end of the newsletter.

O. Henry Avenue — Yet Another Update!

In the October newsletter, we reported that the “O” in O. Henry stood for Oliver, a tidbit reported by Garrison Keillor on NPR. This month, Shannon Boyle Sukits of O. Henry Avenue has found another interesting story regarding the author’s name while researching the background of her street name several years ago.

In the April 2005 newsletter article on O. Henry Avenue, it was mentioned that William Sydney (originally Sidney) Porter was imprisoned in the Ohio State Penitentiary in 1898 for three years as the result of criminal charges brought about from his “inept bookkeeping” at a previous job. In her research, Shannon learned that William Porter began his writing career while in prison. He was too ashamed to use his real name as the author, so he created a pen name – OH from Ohio and EN and RY from Penitentiary. Thus, he began his career as O. Henry.

Fact or Fiction – Who knows for sure?

Thanks go to our neighbor Shannon Boyle Sukits for passing another interesting O. Henry story to us. Her information was found in O. Henry – Selected Stories (Penguin Classics, 1993).

Clemens Square Fish Pond Update

Inclement weather caused cancellation of activities to help restore the pond on October 8. Meanwhile, on a sad note, all of the Koi fish in the pond were found dead from unknown causes sometime around mid-October. Manny, the Koi fish, and his unnamed family members had been moved to the Clemens Square pond in October last year during a period of maintenance on the St. Alban’s Square fountain. The upkeep of the fish at Clemens Square had become a much-loved activity of the children in that area. Manny will be missed by all. It is uncertain when, or if, the pond will be restocked. Please monitor and report inappropriate activity around the pond to Doug Boone at 704.987.5099.

The Council of Stewards and the Landscape & Grounds Committee are also currently reviewing bids for maintenance contracts on both neighborhood fountains in order to help maintain their health and appearance.

This photograph was taken by Doug Boone while working on the St. Alban’s Square fountain. Could this visitor be the reincarnation of Manny, the Koi fish? Or is it Frogzilla out for revenge? Whatever the answer, this cute little guy has moved on to a more lush habitat.

Newsletter Delivery by Mail

If you want Association information and the newsletter mailed instead of delivered to your door, please write to Abbott Enterprises, Inc. (5970 Fairview Rd., Suite 710, Charlotte, NC 28210) requesting the change. Association information is automatically mailed to all non-resident owners.

Newsletter Delivery Volunteers

Many thanks are due our newsletter delivery volunteers each month. The October newsletter was delivered by Tom & Barbara Doster, John Hart, Sherman Kahn, Norm Reid, Dave Smith, John & Marcia Williamson, and Chuck Womack.

I am pleased that two of our newest neighbors have also volunteered to help with delivery. If you wish to volunteer, please call Dave Smith at 704.897.1472 (e-mail at davidbsmith @bellsouth.net).