Thanks for the tip on the kind of neighbors I might expect in not-so-friendly Friendly Acres. I frequently drive through the neighborhood, and was considering buying there. I often admired the wonderful terraces and waterfall going up on Friendly Acres Drive, wondering how it would turn out.
Now I see that Starmount and a handful of neighbors have the right to watch a man put his time and money into improving his property for four years, only to override his dream with their own selfish view of what the world should look like. Evidently a homeowner either conforms to the local taste police or gets his property rights trampled in court. How utterly callous and un-American.
As far as I'm concerned, property values just dropped to nothing in Friendly Acres.
Michael Lewis
Greensboro
Comments (4)
The higher you go, the worse it gets. Who all did they trample on to get to live as they do?
Posted by steve | July 9, 2005 7:16 AM
Mr. Lewis,
You need to look up restrictive covenants. ALL of the folks in Friendly Acres agreed to abide by them when the purchased their property. Their option was to abide or not buy. Also, I think that the article stated that Starmount was removed from the suit by the judge.
As to selfish, if you lived in my neighborhood and violated the covenants with a building or landscaping that was not in accord with the neighborhood, I would be selfish as well. Most restrictive covenants are designed to protect ALL of the property owners and their property values. From the pictures in the paper, I personally did not like the landscaping and certainly would not have wanted it on my street.
Posted by Mad Dog | July 9, 2005 9:00 AM
I hate home owner's associations. When my wife and I were buying our first home, one of the houses we looked at had a very strict code. As well, we had to pay an annual dues. If I wanted someone else to tell me what I could and could not do with my domocile, I would have remained a renter.
Meanwhile, we decided to buy another property, and decorate the exterior the way we desired!
HOA's have to make themselves known. Read before you buy. If you think some clause may have a miniscule chance of affecting you...buy elsewhere!!!
Posted by gaytony | July 9, 2005 10:16 AM
One thing to consider is that the terrace and brick work had only recently been anywhere near being completed. For years and years this place has been a mudhole construction site eyesore right next to the road.
One guy with a dream and a wheelbarrow tried the patience of his neighbors and lost. I think had he contracted to have the work done when the house was built we would all be enjoying the sight as we drive down that street today.
Posted by hugh | July 9, 2005 10:53 AM