Treehouse - Wow what a story.

[BzyCookn]

Originally Posted by T8erman

I was simply replying to "The article states that there are no places nearby for kids to play." But thanks for the lecture anyway.

Get off your high horse already!!!

[T8erman]

Originally Posted by BzyCookn

Get off your high horse already!!!

Why the hostility? Look, if you interrupted my post as being offensive in some way, let me assure you that none was intened. I sure did not think a simplistic answer to a simplistc post about a play area would cause anyone such distress.

[Charmed1]

Here is my opinion and forgive me, but I'm compelled to share it. The article was irresponsible in that it tugged at the heartstrings and tried to get an emotional, outraged response from the reader. It worked. What the typical reader who might not live in our neighborhood doesn't understand is that the HOA, while sometimes nit-pickey, is for the homeowners' benefit and to protect our neighbors. I moved here last year from a neighborhood without an HOA and as the real estate market plummeted, so did home values, foreclosures and short-sales flooded the market and buyers had their choice of a saturated market - no more bidding wars. Add to that some of my neighbors were very "creative" in their color choices, there was no consistency enforced throughout the neighborhood in any way and you had potential buyers who walked away, simply because they didn't want to wake up and look at the periwinkle and green house across the street. An effective HOA could have helped in that situation. Just an example of the good that can come out of it.

Is this treehouse a sad situation - ABSOLUTELY, without a single doubt. It was BEAUTIFUL and it is so obvious what an extraordinary amount of love, care, sweat and craftsmanship went into it. It's painful to know that it's coming down. PAINFUL. Here's the thing though, I wanted to make some changed in my backyard - add a patio with an outdoor fireplace. We went through the process. It was pretty painless, we just needed to provide a plan. We had to make a change on the chimney height. We added a shed - same thing, went through the process and we had to make a change. We had to find a shed that was a certain size and a certain height. No easy feat, but we did it. I wanted a higher chimney and a bigger shed, really, I did, but when we moved here, I signed a form that said that I would follow the rules, and that's what we did. If the treehouse folks didn't have to follow the rules, does that mean that I can have my bigger shed and higher chimney and not take the time to go through the process? What if he had gone through the appeals process and maybe there could have been a compromise worked out? I cannot fathom that anyone on that subcommittee had any malicious intent or wanted anyone to suffer. These are our neighbors and friends - not some evil eye atop Mount Doom watching us. I feel so badly for this family and I feel so badly that it's brought out so much hostility directed neighbor to neighbor.

[KTdid]

Originally Posted by Charmed1

...I feel so badly for this family and I feel so badly that it's brought out so much hostility directed neighbor to neighbor.

Do you think there's a lot of hostility between neighbors? Honestly, I have no sympathy or compassion for MTKeister, nor do I feel hostile about it. If anything - I feel sad for him. His latest ploy with the media makes him appear needy and self-entitled. It is what it is, unfortunately.

[Charmed1]

I think you misunderstood what I meant by saying hostility between neighbors - I'm talking about people getting upset with others in the forums - not literally neighbor v. neighbor.

[KTdid]

I understand your point. Thank you.

[Home Sweet Home]

Originally Posted by KTdid

His latest ploy with the media makes him appear needy and self-entitled.

Looking at the comments on the LTM article, I don't think your opinion is shared by many.

[T8erman]

Originally Posted by Home Sweet Home

Looking at the comments on the LTM article, I don't think your opinion is shared by many.

If you read enough LTM articles and enough replies, you will see that most all of them are negative, mean-spirited or just outright stupid (read a political article and sit back and enjoy). HOA's certainly fall under politics IMO. I think many people play some kinda sick game and also post arbitrary and/or inane comments knowing people will respond. Anonymity will do that to some people.

[Home Sweet Home]

Originally Posted by T8erman

If you read enough LTM articles and enough replies, you will see that most all of them are negative, mean-spirited or just outright stupid (read a political article and sit back and enjoy). HOA's certainly fall under politics IMO. I think many people play some kinda sick game and also post arbitrary and/or inane comments knowing people will respond. Anonymity will do that to some people.

I believe you. I actually only read the comments because of this thread.

[lilpea]

Originally Posted by Charmed1

What if he had gone through the appeals process and maybe there could have been a compromise worked out? I cannot fathom that anyone on that subcommittee had any malicious intent or wanted anyone to suffer. These are our neighbors and friends - not some evil eye atop Mount Doom watching us. I feel so badly for this family and I feel so badly that it's brought out so much hostility directed neighbor to neighbor.

And that is one of several critical data points that the paper and reporter completely glossed over, because it did not fit in the narrative of the story they tried to portray.

Not to beat a dead horse, but here are the facts, not opinions just facts;

1) Mr. Keister did not chose to work with the Modifications Subcommittee. He did not participate in appeal. To date he has yet to presented a plan or provide the Subcommittee with a compromise.

2) At no time did the Subcommittee suggest that Mr. Keister use the scraps of the tree house to build a bird house. That is an absolute unequivocal fabrication.

3) It was Mr. Keister who decided to tear down the tree-house, not the HOA. After he informed the HOA in writing, he was taking the tree-house down that is when the HOA & Subcommittee gave him a date - to which he demanded another 7 month extension.

I've served on the Subcommittee for a little over 6 years, this Committee has viewed and approved thousands of applications. Sometimes we have to go back to the homeowner to get more info, but it is always in the spirit of helping the homeowner obtain an approval.

As you stated in your two examples, the Subcommittee tries to work with homeowners and offer a solution that will be approved. Proof of this is, I can literally count on 1 hand the times the Subcommitttee has denied an application. I can also account for at least 2 appeals where the BHOA over-turned the Subcommittee's decision.