Realtors: Condo associations hindering hurricane recovery


 

Article Courtesy of  the Venicegondolier.com

By Tommy McIntyre
Saturday, August 21, 2004

 

Hurricane Charley has brought out the worst in condominium associations and the people who run them, according to local realtors.

 

Given broad powers by the Florida legislature, the condo associations, with some exceptions, are running roughshod over displaced storm victims and relief workers, the realtors said.

 

"They are refusing to bend the rules and restrictions in time of dire need," Eric Wild, broker for the Palm Realty Group, said. "The legislature ought to make it automatic that in disaster situations, condo bylaws are waived."

 

In wanting the legislature to waive condo rules in disasters, Wild has support from the Venice Area Board of Realtors.

 

"I can't imagine the legislature not agreeing to emergency rule changes," VABR Executive Vice President Marlene S. Merkle said. "I think it's horrible that such unreasonable 'rules' get in the way of helping these poor unfortunate souls. Human decency demands that someone just bend (or break) the rules. This attitude is disgusting."

 

We card under 55

According to Wild, the Harbor Isles Condominium Association recently refused to allow three insurance adjusters from Texas to stay on the premises.

 

Wild said the adjusters were refused because of condominium age restrictions and because they drive trucks.

 

HICA by-laws state there is a minimum 55-year age requirement to live in the complex.

The rules also state that trucks are not allowed to be parked on the streets.

 

The other side

HICA attorney Kevin Wells said Wild's version of what happened at the HICA is simply not true.

 

"The only reason those people were asked to leave is because the realtor did not contact the home owner," he said. "The association is already accommodating over 60 people and some of those are children, so they are already bending the age restrictions."

 

Wild said he could not respond to Wells's statement.

 

Another complaint involved the Mission Lakes development on Capri Isles Boulevard.

"They will not bend the rules on pets or pick-up trucks," the complainant said.

Mission Lakes representatives did not return phone calls.

 

One realtor said, "These are the kind of people that if they were the victims, they would be running all over town screaming 'Somebody help me.' "

 

Landlord: 'Don't lay that guilt trip on me'

Lauren Meadows, of ERA Preferred Properties, said she has had all kinds of problems with local condominium associations not bending their restrictions in an emergency.

"I just fired one of my landlords at Gulf Horizons who said he wasn't going to let his place be used as a dormitory," Meadows said.

 

She reminded the landlord that this was an emergency, that the relief workers coming down to help homeless victims needed temporary shelter.

 

He said, "Don't lay that guilt trip on me," according to Meadows.

 

'What's their problem?'

Meadows also said one man walked into her office and said he needed space for 200 relief workers. She said many are retired insurance adjusters from other states.

"They are nice people who drive nice vehicles but they have ladders on top, that's what they do for a living," Meadows said. "I had to tell him that even though I had the space I couldn't put them in it because the associations wouldn't drop the restrictions on age and trucks."

 

Several other realtors called the Venice Gondolier Sun with similar stories.

"What's their problem?" another realtor said referring to the condo associations.

Meadows applauded those few condo and homeowner associations that said they would bend the restrictions.

 

The last straw

Finally, a sheriff's deputy who lives in North Port went to stay with her parents during the storm.

 

Her parents live in a the deed-restricted condominium complex Jacaranda West in Venice.

 

The police officer was told she could not park her marked patrol car in the lot because of the condo restrictions regarding vehicles.

 

Jacaranda West could not be reached for comment by press time.