While homeowners associations have been a common part of American life for more than 50 years, HOA developments are still a valuable entity to many of its residents. Designed to create shared neighborhood values and opportunities for decreased ownership responsibility, HOAs typically require all homeowners in a certain neighborhood to become members and pay HOA management fees, which are used to pay common expenses and are collected either monthly, quarterly or yearly. In some cases, HOA management services, such as an HOA management company, will be paid by these funds to ensure that the practical concerns of the community are met. This often allows HOA boards and community members to focus on more important issues, such as the value of their properties and changes to the area.
Such is the case in a Tallahassee neighborhood called Killearn Estates, where the HOA is banding together to fight changes to the neighborhood’s golf course. Called Killearn Country Club, the golf club is under the protection of a 40-year agreement, set to expire in 2021, which extends a “right to purchase” covenant to its members if any part of the course ceases operation. However, the owner recently proposed an extensive change in course operations, including closing one of the nine-hole layouts and selling a portion for redevelopment in order to pay for several million dollars of renovations to the club. However, the property owners alongside the area that would be sold for redevelopment and conservation say that these plans would be severely damaging to their home values. These concerns have resulted in the largest HOA meetings Killearn Estates has ever seen, with 300 attendees arriving to discuss the planned changes.
A number of HOA members claim that the golf course cannot be sold under Florida without unanimous agreement from affected members, meaning the homeowners and country club members, especially because the covenant is still in place. Because of this, one group of residents has announced that they have gathered investors to buy the course and put it under the control of a property management association. Meanwhile, another group has filed a complaint with the Leon County Circuit Court, requesting that a judge help clarify a number of proposed changes. A third group is also arguing that the course owner has not revealed all of his plans, and the homeowners should wait before jumping to conclusions.
While the issue has yet to be resolved, the case is a great example of how well-managed HOAs can face community problems head-on, preventing calamity that might affect their families, properties and more. This is especially true when a community has access to HOA management services, which can focus on hiring contractors and other practical details, allowing neighborhoods to turn their attention to important matters. Could your neighborhood benefit from HOA management services?
