Page 12 - Nevada Cooperator February 2019

12 THE NEVADA COOPERATOR
—FEBRUARY 2019
NEVADACOOPERATOR.COM
City Versus Suburbs
Management Approaches Change Based on Geography
BY MIKE ODENTHAL
T
he ‘big city’ is known for its break-
neck pace, as life whirls around the versus-sprawl contrast is the biggest variable removal or much landscaping work. But slip-
unprepared out-of-towner in an when it comes to managing communities in and-fall cases can happen anywhere; those are no additional management – just the three-
overwhelming swirl. Suburbia, on the other those respective settings.
hand, is supposed to be a respite from that
intense metropolitan grind – a place to pa-
tiently teach the kids how to play tee-ball garden-type apartment community further high-end Back Bay condominiums. There’s no
out in the yard until it’s time for dinner.
Of course, the accuracy of these generaliza-
tions varies from person to person and family ny in Plainview, New York, “because with the
to family. But distinctions do exist between latter, you have to consider landscaping, snow ciation is likely to vary based on where it is
urban and rural communities, and those dif-
ferences impact how those communities are looking at a high-rise, much of what is vital is location has a number of owners and occu-
managed and run. Community associations contained within the building: you have your pants literally stacked on top of one another in
in more densely-packed locales have different boiler, the roof, elevators, heating systems and close proximity, it can lead to things like noise
concerns and priorities than those in sprawl-
ing townships. The Nevada Cooperator spoke and need to be in compliance with local laws. elling to another,” says Benjamin J. Rooney, a
with some professionals who have worked But outside of the city, you have many of those shareholder with law firm Keay & Costello in
with both to delve into the similarities and same issues, in addition to sewage treatment, Wheaton, Illinois. “This is less of a concern
differences.
Population Density
Space tends to be at a premium in the city, track of more vendors and contractors.”
while an association in the suburbs generally
occupies more square footage – or more acre-
age, to put it more accurately. The vertical-
“From a management perspective, an ur-
ban high-rise can be easier to handle than a see that with equal frequency in suburbs and
out from the city,” says John Wolf, CEO of rhyme or reason as to where hoarding behav-
management firm Alexander Wolf & Compa-
removal, and things of that nature. If you’re located. “When a high-rise condo in an urban
mechanics, which are more or less standard and odor emanating from one unit and trav-
pools, siding, etc. A community with more in suburban associations, which oftentimes
acres means that you’re going to have to keep consist of free-standing single-family homes
The day-to-day complaints one hears in community associations comprised of single-
the city also differ significantly from what you family residences or townhomes frequently
might hear in the suburbs. require the owners to maintain exterior por-
“With city condos, I get a tions of those homes. That can create prob-
lot of noise disturbances, lems should they fail or refuse to perform this
especially given how there maintenance, thus creating an eyesore which
are more brownstones and the board must then address.
smaller associations,” says
Jennifer L. Barnett, a partner not typically have the right or obligation to al-
at the litigation department ter – or maintain – any portion of the proper-
of Marcus, Errico, Emmer ty visible to other owners or the public. While
& Brooks, PC in Braintree, this may mean that the high-rise condomin-
Massachusetts. “More often ium association is ultimately responsible for
than not, code violations more maintenance than some other types of
happen more often in large community associations, it also results in the
municipalities than they do board having more control over the portions
inside of the city, whether of the property visible to the public, which can
those are related to mice in-
festations or any other sort
of pest issue, balconies, and
retaining walls, etc. The Bos-
ton Fire Department makes serves as president of his board at the latter. A
it a point to periodically in-
spect buildings throughout it, is the handling of reserves.
the city. And if you don’t take
care of a violation right away, he says. “The reserve is whatever we deter-
they take the next step and mine to make it. And our board only consists
pursue a criminal complaint of three people; we have the president, a secre-
with the housing courts.
“In suburban associa-
tions, I see more issues that away, but it’s nowhere near as significant as it
pertain to contracts,” she is in Vegas, where major projects are routinely
continues. “In the city, it’s being done. We have some flexible monies
less likely that you’ll have a – with a limit of $1,000 – that the president
large area that needs snow can access for association use without seeking
pretty evenly dispersed. And I’ve also found person board.”
that hoarding doesn’t depend on the setting; I
iors take place.”
The physical layout of a property or asso-
on larger lots. But on the flip side, suburban
“In a high-rise,” he continues, “owners do
lead to fewer problems.”
Monetary Matters
Carl Blum splits his time between asso-
ciations in Las Vegas and Moline, Illinois, and
major distinction between the two, as he sees
“We do not have reserve laws in Illinois,”
tary and a treasurer. We try to survive month-
to-month by having a little bit of money put
board approval. But other than that, we have
What a Handful
This may not come as a relief to managers
the world over, but there are actually multiple
reasons why managing an association in ei-
ther city or suburb can be extremely difficult.
But those reasons vary, based on location.
“Disputes over management operations
are equally balanced between city and sub-
urbs,” says Barnett. “However, I do see a lot
more city condos opting for self-management,
just given the fact that they tend to be smaller.
When there are disputes among two- or three-
unit associations, I see more instances involv-
ing derivative claims, because it just becomes a
standoff situation. I think that just boils down
to the housing options that are available.
“And with a lack of formal management
company, you have issues with informal op-
TRENDS
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