New England Condominium magazine - Articles

Reaching Out

no@spam.com (Jonathan Barnes) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:02:15 EDT

One irony of modern life is that being in close proximity to your neighbors doesn’t necessarily make you closer to your neighbors. Often people live near each other and don’t know each other well. At best, people might know just a handful of neighbors in their community. Many of us lead hectic lives, and justify our lack of community involvement by saying we just have too little time.Lack of time is an issue, no doubt about it, but residents can be persuaded to get involved, says Michael R. Pierson, an award-winning property manager and author of “Taking Control, Time Management and Communication Tools for Community Association Management.”

Legal Briefs

no@spam.com (Joseph Saurino, Esq.) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:01:41 EDT

There seem to be at least two contrasting views of expensive community association recreational amenities – one that’s favorable, and another that’s cautiously skeptical. The first view is generally held by a minority of a condominium’s residents who actually use a condominium’s swimming pool, community room, or tennis court. The second, more cynical, view is often held by condominium boards who must wrestle with the myriad of fiscal and practical realities attendant to managing association amenities.

Environmental Issues

no@spam.com (Patricia Burke) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:01:06 EDT

So you’ve just moved into your new condo and you want to hit the ground running in terms of energy and water conservation.

Next Generation Playgrounds

no@spam.com (Lisa Iannucci) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:59:54 EDT

Unfortunately, what was fun for us at the time was also pretty dangerous. Children often fell off the teeter-totters, slides and monkey bars onto rock-hard asphalt or concrete surfaces, jacket strings got entangled on slides and merry-go-rounds causing serious injuries (and worse), children regularly got their heads stuck between poles and bars, and rough metal edges and surfaces led to many scrapes and burns.

Shoestring Socials

no@spam.com (Lisa Iannucci) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:59:02 EDT

Americans today are working harder and spending more time on the job these days. And when they finally arrive home at night, they tend to turn on their computers, iPods or televisions as their primary source of entertainment. In fact, a study by the Entertainment Software Association found that 67 percent of American heads of households now play computer and video games.That type of “recreation,” however, doesn’t exactly build a sense of community among neighbors. Faced with that reality, homeowner associations must be more innovative and persuasive than ever if they hope to get residents off the couch, out the front door and participating in association events.

Summer's Almost Here?!?!

no@spam.com (Hillary Pember) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:58:16 EDT

Oh, those lazy dog days of summer, lounging beside the pool with a cool drink and a good book, the scent of suntan lotion drifting through the air. Most who are fortunate enough to have a condominium pool know the enjoyment that it can afford. And in this current economic climate, the condo pool will be getting even more use as owners opt to stay poolside, cutting back on more expensive vacations and weekend trips.

What's Old is New

no@spam.com (Robert Todd Felton) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:57:30 EDT

Condominium managers, boards and residents have long known the benefits of clustered housing. They know first-hand what it is like to live in a community with others. They've been able to enjoy the smaller ecological footprint of higher density living. And where amenities like parks, grocery stores, and post offices are nearby, condominium residents have embraced being able to walk much of the time.

Deep Cover

no@spam.com (Greg Olear) — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:23:10 EDT

Why not cover the roof with plants? It’s such a simple idea; no wonder it’s been around for millennia.

The Lawn Haul

no@spam.com (Laura V. Scheel) — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:22:22 EDT

An attractive, verdant lawn – or the lack of one – can make a lasting first impression on potential homebuyers. Grounds that are unkempt, weed-infested and showing more brown than green will likely lead visitors to believe that it’s not just the lawn that is suffering from neglect. And while cultivating a healthy lawn does involve some important steps, itneed not be an expensive and high-maintenance proposition.

Rain Gardens

no@spam.com (Liz Lent) — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:13:06 EDT

From damp basements to flooded walkways and backed-up storm drains, too much water without a place to go can be a huge problem for condominiums. In recent years, rain gardens have come to the fore as a make-ready solution to those problems.