Tag Archives: Ridings

All About Ella!

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

Run get the tissues and prepare to watch this video!

Nobody will forget Ella Schultz and her Make A Wish playhouse dreams. As of April 1st Ella’s wish came true! JE Dunn built a beautiful playhouse complete with a Dutch door, porch swing, loft, kitchen, and a sweet pink mailbox! We wish her thousands of hours of happiness, laughter, and fun in her special playhouse that is currently restricted to “girls only.”

KCTV5 says the Stonegate HOA caved under the pressure of the public outcry to allow the playhouse. Nothing has been reported regarding the HOA not being in good standing with the State of Missouri. It’s fair to assume the Stonegate board of directors has learned more than one lesson from this experience.

And thousands of people are asking questions about HOAs and wondering why anybody would buy a home in a place like this?

This is why activists stand up and speak out against HOA abuses, because often times it makes all the difference.

(link to KCTV5 story on ella)

http://www.kctv5.com/story/28698085/ellas-elves-sneak-dream-house-into-ailing-girls-backyard

 

Seething Over Solar Seems Senseless In Kehrs Mill Estates

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guest blog by Nila Ridings
Most of our readers can relate to being an activist working towards changes in America’s HOAs. We understand being passionate about sharing our knowledge of the abuses and corruption. We can relate to Frances and Jim Babb in many ways. For one, they live in an HOA. And they are strong supporters of solar energy. They believe it is right for America for many reasons. And it’s the most efficient way for them to provide energy to their upscale Victorian mansion in Clarkson Valley; a posh Saint Louis suburb.The Saint Louis Dispatch stated, “The Babbs’ ordeal has turned Frances Babb into a advocate. She’s lobbied state legislators over the past year for the Senate Bill 579, which bars homeowners associations from prohibiting solar energy.” The bill passed. End of the story…or is it? No, it isn’t.

The Babbs requested approval for the installation of the solar panels from their HOA board at Kehrs Mill Estates. There was no response within the time allowed by their CC&Rs. Next they applied for a permit from the City of Clarkson Valley where they ran into a snag that ultimately had to be resolved with litigation and a great deal of nonsense. The Babbs prevailed. The City of Clarkson Valley appealed the court’s decision but were again ordered to issue the permit. The Babbs installed the solar panels and looked forward to living in peace while setting a trend towards using cleaner energy and doing their part to make America less dependent on Arab oil.

Suddenly, guess who has an issue with their solar panels? I know you guessed it right, THE KEHRS MILL ESTATES HOA! Some neighbors claim the solar panels might cause car accidents or bring rabies into the exclusive community. So, now do they want them removed? The Babbs’ house sits a football field length away from the road surrounded by trees so it’s barely visible to passersby.

Will there be another legal battle or will the Kehrs Mill Estates BOD realize how senseless it would be to file suit when the State of Missouri has passed a law that allows solar panels, the City of Clarkson Valley has lost court battles twice, and they didn’t follow their own CC&Rs? We know how this historically goes….after $100,000 or more is spent in legal bills somebody gets tired or goes broke in the fight.

I’ve spoken with Frances Babb and I am 99.9% sure she isn’t going to take her solar panels off of her roof! I’m cheering her on and I hope you will, too. HOAs expect their members to jump at every command and demand but when they don’t follow their own CC&Rs it can sure come back and bite them. Perhaps this will be a lesson learned?

Oh! And a word of caution to our pilot readers. Please do not mistake the Babbs’ solar panels as the runway lights for Lambert Field. Landing your Boeing 757 on one of the HOA private streets is strictly prohibited!

The three attached links are well worth reading!)

(St Louis Post-Dispatch story on the solar fight)

(followup story on solar fight)

(story in Clean Technica)

StoneGate Stops Make-A-Wish

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

Cancer is an ugly disease and it’s uglier when an innocent child becomes it’s victim. Ella Schultz is just six years old. Sadly she is facing down two very difficult monsters; cancer and her StoneGate HOA board of directors.

Ella was contacted by Make A Wish. What she wished for is a playhouse. Make A Wish contacted J.E. Dunn Construction Company in Kansas City. They are willing to build that playhouse with a matching roof to the houses in the neighborhood. Being from Kansas City, I am well aware of this company and over the years have known some of their employees. I am not one bit surprised to hear they were ready and willing to make this wish come true for Ella. They are a big company with a big heart!

On the other hand, I am not at all surprised to hear the StoneGate HOA has brought Ella’s wish to a screeching halt. Why? Because that’s what HOAs are all about! ENFORCE THOSE COVENANTS AT ALL COSTS!!! Forget the human factor. Deny the ill child. Show her from a early age that the almighty power of the HOA will stop her wish in it’s tracks. Ignore the neighbors who are supporting Ella’s wish.

President Stacy Bayers, as the leader of your HOA board do you have any common sense? When KCTV-5 contacted you did you EVER THINK to call an emergency board meeting and share these circumstances with the other board members? Do you realize you can torment adults 365 days per year, but little Ella’s supporters from all over the world are going to fiercely support a sick child with a wish against your HOA? Can you even imagine the negative exposure StoneGate is going to get? For years to come people will drive by StoneGate and say, “That’s that horrible place that denied that little girl with cancer a playhouse!!!” So much for property values Ms. Bayers! Win your battle…lose your war!

When Ella wins her battle against cancer I feel sure I know one thing that won’t ever be in her future. She’s shed her tears at six over an HOA and what a life lesson she has had, but she won’t be shedding tears at sixty because of bullies on an HOA board. Nobody will catch her buying property in the HOA trap.

Let’s send prayers out for Ella Schultz and her battle against cancer. And much gratitude to KCTV-5 reporter Jamie Oberg for giving this story television exposure.

(link to KPHO story on cancer girl)

(latest comments on cancer girl from Kansas City Star) 

 

Portland Porch Painter

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

One the the greatest things about this Neighbors At War website is it brings people together in a very unusual way. Most women meet for coffee, a museum tour, book club, or quilting retreat to enhance their social lives. Men meet for a beer, golf outing, or a fishing trip to Alaska. But regardless of our “outside” interests we all “meet” every day or a few times per week on this website. Are we just compelled to read about the sickness that prevails in America’s HOAs? Or are we hoping for an outside chance of some humor to be found here?

This story was sent to me by a friend who finds herself reading the fascinating entertainment of Neighbors At War has become part of her daily routine. She sends me emails that only say: “OMG!” or “CRAZY!” or “NO WAY!” And on a rare occasion she sends “LOL!” With each passing day she is more and more thankful she does not live in an HOA! Today, she sent this story from Portland. I see a good deal of humor in it, so I’m sharing.

Thank you, MG for emailing the link! (I’m using initials to protect identity since her home is surrounded by HOAs. I don’t want her to end up on the area’s HOA radar screen and become their newest target)

This gal lives in Portland and tells her story of the challenging and tiring efforts she made to paint her front porch. She shares the pictures and it’s obvious she likes her house to look cheerful and welcoming. She shares her back story of what a painted porch meant in her growing up days. It certainly would not hold that meaning in the HOAs of America. It could be the catalyst to having her house foreclosed on by the HOA but she was brave…and now…she awaits the arrival of the Porch Paint Nazis.

I hope this story will make you smile, too!

 
http://thepaintfactorypdx.com/

Just When We Thought The Condo World Could Not Get Any Worse!

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

Lately, I’ve learned quite a lot about self-storage. It’s an interesting business where investors own steel structures with no plumbing, limited wiring, concrete slab flooring, and no overnight tenants. Generally speaking the square footage rents for far more than apartment rentals and the maintenance is amazingly less. The laws that protect those who rent these spaces are far more extensive and protective of the tenant than it is for the homeowner that buys into an HOA or COA. The process to cut the lock on a tenant’s unit and sell their contents to the highest bidder is closely adhered to. In addition, when it comes to taking bids for buy-outs the employees better closely adhere to the laws or find themselves in BIG TROUBLE for bid-rigging. (See below)

Much to my displeasure, I recently discovered this new concept called, ‘Garage Condos’ where you buy in and avoid paying monthly for self-storage. Yes, you pay monthly condo fees! There is a volunteer board of directors. They can foreclose for non-payment of dues. And once again, owners are clueless as to the risks. They see the fancy clubhouse, opportunity to customize their garage space, the scheduled social events, and never think twice about signing on the dotted line.

Just when we thought the condo world could not get any worse! Here’s just another way for buyers to take more risks for losing their life’s savings. I could write a list of all the ways I see this concept failing but I’ll let time expose the truth.

The sales representative I spoke with was very enthusiastic and excited to tell me these were already being built in California and Arizona. I’m so sorry they made their way to Kansas!

On the subject of bid-rigging…can somebody explain to me why the FTC has not been riding the backs of property managers, condo takeover investors, and HOA board members? Or have I missed something?
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/prk/4845475986.html

http://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/dealings-competitors/bid-rigging

http://garagekansascity.com/kansas-city-garage-condo/