Condo 1 Alexandria manages several properties at
Island Creek. Last night the vehicle of one of our tenants had a
vehicle towed.
When I found this out I was a bit upset, so I worked a round of emails through the tenants, the landlord and the condo association. We advised all parties concerned that Condo 1 Alexandria proceeds from several assumptions:
- Landlord and the tenants are entitled to all the benefits and rights
of the subject association
- Our tenants
and landlords are bound by the same rules and regulations as everyone else.
- We also
believe that we are part of a community and as such we should treat our
neighbors with respect and dignity.
I treat the condo associations as if they were our friends and neighbors.
Now, if my next door neighbor improperly
parked a vehicle at my home, my response would be to discuss the matter with my neighbor.
My neighbor might not know the rules. My neighbor might need one night of
lenience. My neighbor might have some reason for doing what he is doing. By
talking with my neighbor or by issuing a warning of some sort I could preserve a
friendship and partnership with my neighbor.
If my neighbor was not reasonable
and if I could not come to an informal solution, then we would agree---as friends
and neighbors---to fall back on the rules and regulations that guide our
community.
Tow First --- Ask Questions Later
I was upset because someone at the association or the towing company made the decision to tow first and ask questions later. That policy is the quickest way to
destroy a community and pit neighbor against neighbor. Condo 1 Alexandria and our tenants and our landlords do not want to
antagonize our neighbors or community. But, we ask that our neighbors wish us the same.
As a part of my due diligence, I reviewed the new parking resolutions at Island Creek and came to understand that
the tenant's work van was an unauthorized vehicle per the new November
regulation. I had an older set of condo docs. Commonly, commercial vehicles are
banned in residential areas, but there is a difference between a commercial
vehicle and a work van with a logo painted on it.
Landlords and tenants should know that I do not make it my business to read
each new resolution from the forty or so condo associations where Condo 1 Alexandria does
business.
But if you ask me I personally think that the new Island Creek resolution diminishes the value of Island Creek, because it diminishes the number of people who will live in (and thus
buy or rent in) Island Creek. However, I respect the resident's right to choose the type
of community they wish and I agree that my clients will abide the resolution as
written. I apologize
for any offense, but I am complaining to better the community---not to make
enemies.