Homeowner associations are f[inks]ing garbage

[Torie]

I am quite familiar with such associations, my home in Laguna Niguel was in one, and I found them just fine. Different strokes for different folks. Look into the theory of economic externalities BRTD. If you let your lawn go to weeds, it affects everyone on the block. The subject color of the house in question does not bother me that much, but I digress.

[Torie]

Homeowner's associations aren't just in the suburbs. Redeveloped or historic urban areas use them, too.

It would be fun watching BRTD go through the traps to obtain a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission in Hudson, which demands architectural elevations, and has an architect on it with knowledge of historic architecture, and so forth. About half of Hudson is in historic districts. However, the one thing they don't monitor is color choices. So if BRTD wants to go psychedelic purple, he can!

[Torie]

Yeah, f**k HOAs.

Homeowner's associations aren't just in the suburbs. Redeveloped or historic urban areas use them, too.

It would be fun watching BRTD go through the traps to obtain a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission in Hudson, which demands architectural elevations, and has an architect on it with knowledge of historic architecture, and so forth. About half of Hudson is in historic districts. However, the one thing they don't monitor is color choices. So if BRTD wants to go psychedelic purple, he can!

I realize that saying this out loud probably brands me as an awful neoliberal or something... but I don't much like what "historic preservation" has turned into in our urban areas, either. That is: a series of NIMBY tripwires by which privileged homeowners can mess with their neighbors and use artificial scarcity to keep their home values high and undesirables away.  I mean, I'm more than fine with landmarking individual important buildings, but neighborhood designations are kinda bullish*t.

It's a very complex issue no doubt about it. But historic preservation is different from snob zoning. So it is less about artificial scarcity, but can increase renovation costs. And normally historic preservation is just about facades, so it would not restrict for example turing a single family home into a multi family dwelling and so forth.

My impression by the way, in speaking with historic preservationists up in the Inwood neighborhood at the northern tip of Manhattan, is that historic preservation districts in NYC are quite toothless in restricting what landowners do, unlike in Hudson. The focus is more on individually designated historic homes, rather than entire neighborhoods.

[Torie]

Homeowner associations are fine if you're on the board of one.  Their boards are all powerful and being a member of a HOA means you following the orders given by the star chamber boards.

Of course most of the boards are quite dysfunctional which is exactly what parliamentarians like me or lawyers smile as we type our invoices.   

You're a "parliamentarian?"

[Torie]

Homeowner associations are fine if you're on the board of one.  Their boards are all powerful and being a member of a HOA means you following the orders given by the star chamber boards.

Of course most of the boards are quite dysfunctional which is exactly what parliamentarians like me or lawyers smile as we type our invoices.  

You're a "parliamentarian?"

As in an expert in the rules of procedure that govern ordinary societies and an advisor to the chair on said rules, yes.  With a professional certification as well.  J.J. has two professional certifications and got me into the field.

I'm hired for a large convention of financial women for tomorrow presently.  Me and 500 women in a room.......ahhhhhhhh.     They're just a drive by one time client though.  

I must admit I have trouble envisioning you in that role. You're more of a STFU, you b**ch (to pick a word at random), kind of guy.