Los Feliz Towers

WRITTEN OCTOBER 17, 2013

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EDITORIAL FROM A CONCERNED HOMEOWNER

As all Homeowners have noticed, we appear to be rebuilding… Currently the Los Feliz Towers are going through some structural changes. And therein lies the problems and issues that have prompted the building of this community website… Our elected Home Owners Association [ or HOA] Board members have made rather dubious history by enacting one the the largest Special Assessments in Los Angeles Condominium history: One Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars.

This staggering amount of money was approved to enact some (read: SOME) badly needed repairs and re-building of our sagging LFT infrastructure. Almost all homeowners pretty much agree that such changes and improvements were eventually going to be necessary. However, what is still being questioned by some of us, is the queesy feeling that comes from watching this Board throw in many questionable and un-necessary “improvements” (such as “redecorating” two service elevators? Service elevators! Really?), and that has us most alarmed. It is reasonable to ask, are we being railroaded by an out-of-control HOA Condo Board?

This particular HOA Board has already established a history of mis-prioritizing, underestimating, and overspending.

For instance, did you know that it’s estimated the new hallways decorating went OVER budget more than Two Hundred Twenty Thousand dollars ($220,000.00)? …And did you know that when this HOA Board had the choice to use our dwindling money surplus to repair defect that threatens our buildings called the spalling**, they still chose to re-decorate the hallways with that money instead? Was that wise? Was it smart? Was it intelligent?

Oh, and it’s established, but after the fact, that there were many OTHER ways our current improvement monies could have been raised. Ways that were less drastic with little-to-no impact on the Homeowners. We were ignored. Instead, our 2013 HOA Board chose for us the most dramatic and expensive route – a $1,500,000.00 bank loan to be paid back at 5% interest over ten years. (‘Gotta admit, it was gutsy and showy!)

Finally, the Board achieved their goals by a narrow ‘majority’ of votes (38% of 196 Homeowners) that is still being questioned in its legality because it blatantly contradicts our own CC&Rs. It’s no wonder that more than half of our Los Feliz Towers neighbors passed for a while through our lobbies acting moody, cranky, or both. ***

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PERHAPS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

The biggest and most distressing issue however, is the inconsiderate methods that this particular HOA Board has used as it has gone about rapidly enacting it’s collective will over the rest of us. This Board does not tolerate dissention. This Board does not even tolerate discussion. In what has to be their efforts to suppress all potential friction, this 2013 Board has ignored any objections raised by it’s membership, and had done so in condescending ways. (The words “snarky,” “snide,” “bamboozled,” “covert,” and “arrogant” have also been batted about by distraught Homeowners, as well.) In twenty years, no previous LFT Board has ever appeared to behave so heavy-handedly. In short: this 2013 Board is just plain intolerant to anyone who dares to disagree. Heck! They’ve even been intolerant to people who’ve supported their point of view! They exibit no tolerance for discussion – whether or not someone is agreeing or disagreeing with them. …BUT there IS one up side. Yes, at the end of each HOA meeting, they at least try to buy off any wounded feelings with a gift basket door prize!

There has been one brave Homeowner who has dared to challenge this particular Board by filing a Small Claims Court legal action. This action failed and the HOA board prevailed. However, some dissidents have commented this was always meant to be just a test. It should be noted the board did not win gracefully. In fact, they gloated about their victory at not one but two HOA meetings. This gloating further upset several homeowners and may have alienated this Board from more of their neighbors. Time will tell… This Board may yet have to swallow some of it’s own smugness since there are rumors of more legal actions yet to come from an organized group of dissatisfied Homeowners. …’Best guess? This fight is not over. It’s just beginning.

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THE FUTURE OF THIS SITE – A HOPEFUL RESET BUTTON

We believe if there were better communication all around then there would be less dissatisfaction. We need to start over again by being FAIR to everyone. This website is being established as an internet FORUM that will provide ANY-AND-ALL HOMEOWNERS, (including all HOA Board members) a place to express themselves, and be heard in a way that our current leadership seems bent on denying us. Believe me, once the Board discovers this space, they WILL be reading it.

So keep watching. This website is your homeowner’s hangout. It is your future place to comment/blog/discuss.

And it will be ready and running before Nov 12th. So join now!

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Thanks ~ ronn lucas #1404W

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(until recently, a happy LFT Homeowner of 24 years)

PS: I mean no dis-respect; the above is an opinion. ‘Feel free to disagree. I know that being a Board member is an unpaying and thankless job. I truly, TRULY get that. But until this particular 2012/2013 Board came along, I’ve never met a board that I’ve wanted to thank less. -r

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** spalling – a condition where concrete in a building begins to break down over time, and in certain spots, due to excess retention of moisture.

*** “…half of the Homeowners are moody and cranky,…” – admittingly based on an informal and therefore unscientific survey. I spoke to about 40 of my neigbors in my 4455 tower.