Living in the Neighborhood
Volunteer Needed The COS is still looking for a Recording Secretary and would welcome volunteers. This is a non-elected position that includes the taking of minutes at all Council meetings and issuing them to the Secretary for final approval. Other functions include recordkeeping for annual membership meetings. Please call Dave Smith at 704.987.1472 or e-mail at davidbsmith@bellsouth.net if interested. This is a great opportunity for someone to serve the neighborhood while staying “in-the-know.” Finding a volunteer could save the Association a potential annual cost of $600 if the function were to be contracted through Abbott. |
Annual Termite Inspection Underway
If you live in a townhome unit, it is time for the annual termite inspection. The Association carries insurance for damage from termites and has contracted with Termitech South of Charlotte for this service. Once a year, an inspection is required to maintain this policy. Inspections of external areas of each townhome block were checked in early-October. Termitech now needs to inspect first floor interior walls, patio areas, and garages.
All townhome residents received a flyer in early-October explaining this requirement. However, the flyer information was not clear and the phone number was easy to misread. If you have not already had this check performed, please call Termitech South at 704.528.8037 to set-up an appointment. Termitech hopes to complete all units by the end of November. This is an important service covered by your assessment fees. Thank you for your help and cooperation.
This inspection does not involve any actual spraying for pests. It is a termite inspection service only. However, since the neighborhood does have this contract, Termitech offers a $35 special to townhome owners for interior pest (ants, spiders, roaches, etc.) control. If interested in receiving this additional service at owner expense, please contact Termitech at the number above.
Architectural Review Committee Process
We live in a truly beautiful neighborhood. One of the primary objectives of our governing Covenants is to help keep it a beautiful neighborhood by exercising a measure of community control as to what can and cannot be done. Everyone agreed to the Covenants when they purchased their home and these documents are a binding part of everyone’s deed. In general, the neighborhood as designed and built by the developer is the architectural standard that we have all agreed to. Any change requires approval.
The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) was established by the Covenants to preserve and clarify neighborhood standards as set forth in the Covenants and Canons of Conduct, to establish new standards as changes and needs occur, and to consider architectural and landscaping changes from the original design when requested by individual homeowners.
The committee, chaired by Luann Christine, meets once each month on the third Tuesday. If you have an architectural or landscaping change you need to have considered, please submit a Request for Architectural Approval form. A copy of this form can be downloaded from the Association website (www.stalbanssq.org). The completed Request for Architectural Approval form is mailed to the address on the form. If a change requires special timing and approval that cannot be met by the committee meeting date, please contact Luann Christine or a member of the Architectural Review Committee by phone and explain the special need.
A Request for Architectural Approval is required for any external change to the structure or property of an individual home or townhome. Removal of exterior treatments (e.g.: shutters, fencing) constitute a change and must be approved. Changes to townhome patio areas may also be subject to approval by the ARC in order to avoid Association warranty violations and to avoid compromising the “party wall.” (This is the patio wall that is common and adjacent to the next door neighbor’s living space.) In general, homeowners may not make changes to common areas and public structures or property, but if someone wishes to modify such areas (e.g.: common area between exterior townhome units), a request form is required to start the process. Repairs do not require a submission. For these purposes, a repair is defined as restoring something to its original condition using original design, materials and color. Basically, if a repair is outside and it will look different when complete, submit the form. If in doubt, submit the form. If approval is not required, the ARC will let you know.
The Request for Architectural Approval must be submitted and approved
before any work can begin. This is one situation where “seeking permission” is
most definitely easier and better than “seeking forgiveness.” Beginning
work before approval is granted is a violation of the Covenants and can result
in the work being “reversed” at the homeowners expense, a situation
that everyone would rather avoid. (This has happened.)
There are three things that we can all do to make this process work smoothly,
as it should.
- Submit a Request for Architectural Approval whenever you want to make a change.
- Wait for approval before starting work.
- Be patient, kind, and considerate. The ARC exists to serve the community. The members of the ARC are our neighbors who volunteer their time and energy to make our neighborhood a better place to live for all of us.
Your cooperation with the ARC will go a long way to helping complete changes without overlooking key items for consideration.
Thanks to Mike Stenhouse and other members of the Architectural Approval Committee for their service and for their input to this article.
Winter Holdiay Decorations Contest
The Landscape and Grounds Committee invites all residents (single family and townhomes) to participate in the New Neighborhood Second Annual Winter Holiday Decorating Contest. The contest will be judged in two separate categories:
- Best Overall for Single Family Homes
- Best Overall for Townhomes
The Yard-of-the-Month Committee will judge all entries. Judging will take place at night between 6:00 and 8:00 P.M. on December 16 and 17, 2007. Entries will be evaluated on creativity, originality, thematic elements and overall design quality and not just on quantity of lights. Winners will be awarded a blue ribbon and photographed for the newsletter and website.
All participants will be asked to remove decorations no later than the
third Sunday in January, 2007.
Begin planning now. Everyone is invited to participate and we encourage all
to get in the spirit!!
In the Know in Our Neighborhood“In the Know in Our Neighborhood” is intended to provide important, useful, or interesting information that might not be known by all neighbors. If you have ideas, call Dave Smith (704.987.1472) or e-mail davidbsmith@bellsouth.net. The most frequently asked question by townhome owners in our neighborhood is about appropriate insurance coverage. Insurance for Townhome OwnersIf you are new to townhome living in New Neighborhood, you may be paying too much for insurance. It has come to light that townhome owners pay anywhere from $150 to $600 (or more) in annual premiums and may be over-insured for their personal insurance. As you may know, the Neighborhood Association purchases the casualty insurance for each townhome building. This is paid through the Townhome Peer Group assessment. Although townhomes are deeded fee simple, including the land underneath the unit, the insurance covering the entire building is usually described as a Condominium Policy. Townhome owners should purchase an HO-06 policy to cover personal liability and contents. Townhome owners may want to shop around. If there are further questions or you feel you may be over-insured, please contact Abbott Enterprises to obtain a copy of the report prepared by the insurance consultant hired by the Neighborhood Association. Please also be aware that the Neighborhood Association budget includes termite insurance to cover termite damage up to $100,000. Further insurance is probably not needed unless townhome owners wish to purchase interior or perimeter pest control policies. |
Addition in Dog-Park a Community Effort
In the October Newsletter, thanks were extended to a number of folks who contributed to construction of two picnic tables in the off-leash dog park. This was a labor of many and some names were omitted. As a result, we would like to recognize the entire group one more time.
Builders included Ashley Page (Harper Lee), Bobby Bowers (Fairview Lane), Will and Emma Watts (Clemens Place), John Goocher (River Run), Lynn Himes (The Peninsula), Dave Phillips, and Kenn Latzer, former Community Services Officer for Davidson.. Our Neighborhood Founder, Doug Boone, fronted the money to buy materials and worked with Ashley Page to cut the lumber ahead of time. Mike Kessler helped locate the tables with his truck. Food and water support were catered by Marie Goocher, Bodil Himes, and Linda Page. Sandy Bowers and Jacquie Latzer provided support and group therapy. Erin [last name unknown] watched the dogs to allow owners to complete their work.
And here is a list of all those who made donations to buy supplies and make this possible: Linda Shumacher, Kim Hodgson, Laura Freund, Betsy & Neil Norvell, Jim Summerfield, Marie & John Goocher, Kenn & Jacquie Latzer, Bodil & Lynn Himes, Kim & Dan Cook, Marjean Jones, Dick Freund, Sandy & Bobby Bowers, and Linda & Ashley Page.
The dog park is an attractive feature in New Neighborhood. It is heart-warming to see the support and help from many of our own residents, but also from many frequent users from outside of the neighborhood. This was truly a community effort. Thanks to all!
Yard-of-the-Month Season Ends.
Will Fall Temperatures Ever Begin?
The Landscape and Grounds Committee has completed all 2007 awards for Yard-of-the-Month. Plans are to continue this monthly award from May through October in 2008, but the committee would like your input on ways to improve the criteria for selection and the incentive for participation throughout the neighborhood. The Winter Holiday Decorations Contest is just around the corner. [See article on page 4 of this newsletter.]
Homeowners receiving Yard-of-the-Month awards in 2007 were as follows:
May: Anthony & Frances Walley (613 Wolfe Street)
June: Don & Meredith Jennings (317 N. Faulkner
Way)
July: Alan & Cathy Sterling (107 Caldwell Avenue)
August: Eve & Winter Lantz (132 Fairview Lane)
September: Gregg & Lesley Swartz (310 Fairview
Ln.)
October: Ione O’Hara (424 North Faulkner Way)
Let’s give one last round of applause and congratulations to our 2007 winners! Let’s put the Star of Excellence on O. Henry in 2008! Begin planning now.
Our Towns Habitat for Humanity Homestay Program
Do you have a spare room and bath for a few weekends a year? Are you looking for a way to meet new people and make lasting friendships? Are you looking for a good way to make a difference in the community? The Homestay Program may be what you are looking for!
The Homestay Program links families in the Davidson area as host families for Davidson College families when they come to Davidson for freshman orientation, family weekend, and/or graduation weekend. Instead of paying for a hotel room, Davidson College parents make a donation to Our Towns Habitat of $50 a night per room. Habitat then makes arrangements for the visiting family to stay with a local family during that special school weekend. People can feel much more at home than they would at a hotel, while having the satisfaction of knowing that money that would have gone to a hotel will now serve a worthy community cause. Often families keep in touch with their host families and stay with the same family through their child's four years of college. It is a wonderful program of hospitality and service - just what the Town of Davidson and Habitat for Humanity are all about.
Habitat makes all the arrangements, advertises the program to the Davidson College parents, and recruits host families - many of whom have been hosting for several years and love doing it. The program is in effect for the three main parent’s events of the school year: Orientation (mid-August); Family Weekend (October); and Commencement (May). Student families may also take advantage of the program on other weekends during the school year. As a host family, you do not have to commit to all three times each year. One or two weekends would be appreciated.
Host families are needed for Commencement weekend in 2008 (May 17-18). If you are interested in further information about this program or if you wish to participate as a host family please contact:
Christine Boone
cboone@ourtownshabitat.org
704-896-8957 ext. 1105
e-mail is the preferred method of contact
Beginning in September, the Davidson College chapter of Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with Our Towns Habitat, began construction on a new home at 211 Eden Street in Davidson. This is the third “Wildcat House,” a Habitat for Humanity home funded and constructed by members of the Davidson College community. A group of 12 to 15 students, faculty, and staff work along with volunteers from Our Towns Habitat on all aspects of the home construction. Builds will occur on most Saturdays during the first semester and will culminate in January of 2008. Money raised from the Homestay Program will help fund future “Wildcat House” Builds.
Neighborhood Featured in Davidson News
An article about New Neighborhood, its history, and the recent award by the North Carolina Chapter of the Community Association Institute was featured in Davidson News and Notes on October 12. David Boraks also covered the Neighborhood Discussion Group Candidate Forum on October 4 and presented a wonderful summary, including the actual dialog, on October 5 and October 7. If you missed this coverage of our neighborhood, please visit the Davidson News website. You can access these articles from the home page by clicking on “Previous Entries” until you come to the appropriate date.
Davidson News and Notes at http://davidsonnews.net is a volunteer project that combines original news-gathering, citizen contributions, and links to other sites to help you stay informed. Contact David Boraks at dboraks@mindspring.com to be placed on the contact list or to submit information about your organization.
| "Moderation in all things, including moderation." —Mark Twain |
Newsletter Delivery Volunteers
Many thanks are due our newsletter delivery team. Our October volunteers included Barbara & Tom Doster, Tom Fischer, Sherman & Nancy Kahn, Norman Richards, Dave Smith, and John & Marcia Williamson.
If you wish to volunteer, please call Dave Smith at 704.987.1472
(e-mail at davidbsmith@bellsouth.net).
