ARE You Tired Of rising fees, unclear financial decisions, and stagnant property values?
Brought to you by Drew McManus, your neighbor in 7908.
FEATURED ARTICLE
THE SURPRISING POWERS HOAs HAVE TO WREAK HAVOC IN PEOPLE’S LIVES
The April 10, 2023 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver featured a segment where the host discusses homeowners associations (HOAs) and the surprising amount of power they wield.
Our Right To Know Election Results Is Being Removed
Imagine a bank that suddenly announces, “We’ll no longer tell you your balance after each transaction. Just trust that we’ll record everything correctly and let you know your total… eventually.” That’s exactly what our board leadership is proposing by eliminating same-day preliminary election results.
Burglary at 175 E. Delaware Pl. HOA Met With Stonewalling
A resident’s unit at 175 E. Delaware Pl. was entered without permission by a now-terminated staff member. While Board President Scott Timmerman confirmed the breach and announced a $51,000 digital key management system upgrade, he has refused to answer critical questions about what failed, who was responsible, and what’s being done to prevent this from happening again.
Break-In Raises Serious Security Questions
Is our building doing enough to protect residents? A recent burglary has raised urgent questions about security, oversight, and accountability that remain unanswered.
Why Transparency Matters
Imagine feeling a growing unease as you realize critical decisions about the building you call home are being controlled by a single board officer. At 175 E Delaware Pl, residents are facing this unsettling reality as the Board President’s unilateral control over the process to identify the election services provider lacked transparency after past election issues raises serious questions about whose interests are being served.
HOA Surveys That Matter: The Courage to Ask Better Questions
When my HOA Board recently announced plans to distribute a “feedback survey,” I was initially optimistic. But instead of thoughtful questions designed to provide the Association with actionable information, we received vague topics with rating categories that left no room for corresponding feedback. Worse yet, many owners were intentionally excluded. With the management company’s contract renewal in process, we deserve better. Let’s examine the specific problems with this approach and detail how a process that truly values every resident’s voice works.
The Smart HOA’s Guide to Management Contract Renewal Success
When a high-rise condominium’s board president recently announced his approach to reviewing their property management contract, he unknowingly provided a perfect example of how not to handle this critical decision. Let’s examine why this common approach falls short and explore a better way forward.
A Lesson from “I’m a Mac” Ads
Remember Apple’s iconic “I’m a Mac” commercials? In one particularly telling 2007 ad, the “PC” character proudly announces his budget allocation: nearly everything goes to advertising to counter Windows Vista’s negative press, leaving virtually nothing for actual improvements. When “Mac” suggests fixing the underlying problems instead, PC dismisses the idea, doubling down on PR spending. … Read more
Fixing Our Community’s Communication Gap
“Owners are always encouraged to send ideas, questions or concerns to Management and/or me and indicate that you would like your correspondence included in the Board Packet.” That’s the assurance our HOA president, Scott Timmerman, has made to owners on several occasions, most recently in the December 2024 HOA newsletter. All things being equal, this … Read more
Chicago Media Spotlight Builds Awareness
Despite growing concerns about election integrity that have attracted media attention, HOA Board President Scott Timmerman responded to a detailed proposal I submitted for creating an ad hoc election process committee with a brief statement that “The Board is already handling this issue directly.” The proposal emerged after research identified multiple qualified vendors capable of … Read more