ARE YOU TIRED OF RISING FEES, UNCLEAR FINANCIAL DECISIONS, AND STAGNANT PROPERTY VALUES?
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.
Most Recent Articles
Article Archive
Burglary at 175 E. Delaware Pl. HOA Met With Stonewalling
May 11, 2025
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
May 4, 2025
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
April 20, 2025
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
March 9, 2025
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
February 2, 2025
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
January 19, 2025
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
December 29, 2024
“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
December 22, 2024
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
Speak At The Upcoming HOA Board Meeting
December 14, 2024
If you’re an owner at 175 E Delaware Pl, you should know that for the first time in years, our HOA board is permitting owners to speak during an official board meeting. This is the first small step in a positive direction for our community, and I encourage every owner to seize the opportunity to make your voice heard.
