The Pandemic is Making the Suburbs Even More Appealing - The Atlantic
"The pandemic will improve suburban life, perhaps in lasting ways."
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Is the pandemic making suburban life more attractive? The big shutdown may change things permanently. If suburbanites can continue working from home, the agonizing car commute is no longer a factor. Lawns, outdoor grills, pools, parks, low density and low risk of infection--
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Friday, June 19, 2020
How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®
How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®
"It's had a disastrous impact on African Americans," says Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "The symbolic statements that these covenants make is a national disgrace. It’s a legacy of shame.”
"It's had a disastrous impact on African Americans," says Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "The symbolic statements that these covenants make is a national disgrace. It’s a legacy of shame.”
Westchester County Family Says They Were Unfairly Targeted After Being Forced To Take Down Banner With MLK Quote – CBS New York
Westchester County Family Says They Were Unfairly Targeted After Being Forced To Take Down Banner With MLK Quote – CBS New York
"The banner reads, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It used to hang over the Brown family’s bay window in Eastchester above several yard signs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. “I had the big sign for a reason because this needs to be prominent. I want people to see this because this needs to stay in the forefront of everyone’s mind right now,” Avisia Brown said. The banner with the quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was up for nearly two weeks, the family says, until they happened to find a violation letter from the town in the dirt near their front steps."
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The city should take a hard look at this decision, because they may run afoul of the US Supreme Court decision in Ladue v. Gilleo. Yard signs are protected by the First Amendment. There could be a legitimate "time, place, and manner" issue if the ordinance deals with size, placement, etc., rather than a total ban, but I think the city might be vulnerable to a First Amendment challenge.
"The banner reads, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It used to hang over the Brown family’s bay window in Eastchester above several yard signs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. “I had the big sign for a reason because this needs to be prominent. I want people to see this because this needs to stay in the forefront of everyone’s mind right now,” Avisia Brown said. The banner with the quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was up for nearly two weeks, the family says, until they happened to find a violation letter from the town in the dirt near their front steps."
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The city should take a hard look at this decision, because they may run afoul of the US Supreme Court decision in Ladue v. Gilleo. Yard signs are protected by the First Amendment. There could be a legitimate "time, place, and manner" issue if the ordinance deals with size, placement, etc., rather than a total ban, but I think the city might be vulnerable to a First Amendment challenge.
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Coronavirus update: People flee cities to live in suburbs
Coronavirus update: People flee cities to live in suburbs
"If millennials once piled into the cities, fueling downtown renewal and growth, apparently they are now piling out. The stay-at-home orders brought on by coronavirus have more potential homebuyers looking for properties in the suburbs. Millennials are now the largest cohort of buyers. As the real estate market began to recover in May, home searches in suburban zip codes jumped 13%, according to realtor.com, one of the largest real estate listing websites. That doubled the pace of growth in urban areas...“This migration to the suburbs is not a new trend, but it has become more pronounced this spring,” said Javier Vivas, realtor.com director of economic research. “After several months of shelter-in-place orders, the desire to have more space and the potential for more people to work remotely are likely two of the factors contributing to the popularity of the burbs.”"
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Several recent articles have said this is a trend. Time will tell, and so will progress toward a vaccine and treatments for COVID. But will there be lingering fears of dense urban life?
"If millennials once piled into the cities, fueling downtown renewal and growth, apparently they are now piling out. The stay-at-home orders brought on by coronavirus have more potential homebuyers looking for properties in the suburbs. Millennials are now the largest cohort of buyers. As the real estate market began to recover in May, home searches in suburban zip codes jumped 13%, according to realtor.com, one of the largest real estate listing websites. That doubled the pace of growth in urban areas...“This migration to the suburbs is not a new trend, but it has become more pronounced this spring,” said Javier Vivas, realtor.com director of economic research. “After several months of shelter-in-place orders, the desire to have more space and the potential for more people to work remotely are likely two of the factors contributing to the popularity of the burbs.”"
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Several recent articles have said this is a trend. Time will tell, and so will progress toward a vaccine and treatments for COVID. But will there be lingering fears of dense urban life?
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®
How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®
Detailed article on race restrictive covenants and the disastrous effects they have had on African-Americans. Includes quotes from me.
Detailed article on race restrictive covenants and the disastrous effects they have had on African-Americans. Includes quotes from me.
Monday, June 15, 2020
Tempers boil over as Democrats square off with Trump supporters at golf cart rally - Villages-News.com
Tempers boil over as Democrats square off with Trump supporters at golf cart rally - Villages-News.com
The Villages is a gigantic retirement community in Florida. Things got heated when anti-Trump demonstrators squared off against pro-Trump people in golf carts. Very heated.
The Villages is a gigantic retirement community in Florida. Things got heated when anti-Trump demonstrators squared off against pro-Trump people in golf carts. Very heated.
Luxury real estate demand surges in Aspen, Park City | Fox Business
Luxury real estate demand surges in Aspen, Park City | Fox Business
"“People have realized that you can work from home,” he said. “And the big question has become: where do you want to sequester with your family in the event that this ever happens again? And so I think people are looking for space and looking for areas where there’s a lot less density.”
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Rich people have been seceding from America for a long time. Now COVID, civil disturbances, and the ability to work from anywhere are combining to accelerate that trend. Private communities are the option of choice for many of these folks.
"“People have realized that you can work from home,” he said. “And the big question has become: where do you want to sequester with your family in the event that this ever happens again? And so I think people are looking for space and looking for areas where there’s a lot less density.”
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Rich people have been seceding from America for a long time. Now COVID, civil disturbances, and the ability to work from anywhere are combining to accelerate that trend. Private communities are the option of choice for many of these folks.
Friday, June 12, 2020
Illinois Articles – Community Associations Network
Illinois Articles – Community Associations Network
Associations in the Chicago area are trying to figure out how to handle many issues arising from the COVID pandemic that has hit Cook County harder than anywhere in the US outside the NYC metro area. There are some good articles here that address that.
Associations in the Chicago area are trying to figure out how to handle many issues arising from the COVID pandemic that has hit Cook County harder than anywhere in the US outside the NYC metro area. There are some good articles here that address that.
Tuesday, June 09, 2020
‘What Are We Going To Have Left In Our Community?’ Aldermen React with Panic, Sorrow to Unrest | Chicago News | WTTW
‘What Are We Going To Have Left In Our Community?’ Aldermen React with Panic, Sorrow to Unrest | Chicago News | WTTW
This phone conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and city council members apparently happened two days ago as of this writing, on June 3. It is pretty grim. There was looting all over Chicago and in a number of suburbs, including 30 miles away in Naperville. I live just outside the City of Chicago, in Oak Park. There was quite a bit of looting here. On the east side of Oak Park, which borders Chicago, several stores on Madison just east of Austin Blvd. are boarded up, as were a number of stores elsewhere in OP, including the Target way over on Harlem and even some stores in River Forest. But I think the looting and shooting have stopped.
This phone conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and city council members apparently happened two days ago as of this writing, on June 3. It is pretty grim. There was looting all over Chicago and in a number of suburbs, including 30 miles away in Naperville. I live just outside the City of Chicago, in Oak Park. There was quite a bit of looting here. On the east side of Oak Park, which borders Chicago, several stores on Madison just east of Austin Blvd. are boarded up, as were a number of stores elsewhere in OP, including the Target way over on Harlem and even some stores in River Forest. But I think the looting and shooting have stopped.
As U.S. Cities Crumble, Demand For Rural And Suburban Properties Is Soaring – End Of The American Dream
As U.S. Cities Crumble, Demand For Rural And Suburban Properties Is Soaring – End Of The American Dream
"The COVID-19 pandemic, a historic economic downturn and extremely violent riots in major cities all across America are fueling a sudden surge in interest in rural and suburban properties. This represents a major shift, because prior to 2020 we had seen a tremendous boom in real estate prices in large cities such as New York, San Francisco and Seattle."
"The COVID-19 pandemic, a historic economic downturn and extremely violent riots in major cities all across America are fueling a sudden surge in interest in rural and suburban properties. This represents a major shift, because prior to 2020 we had seen a tremendous boom in real estate prices in large cities such as New York, San Francisco and Seattle."
Thursday, June 04, 2020
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Which U.S. cities will best weather the pandemic? | Nuveen
Which U.S. cities will best weather the pandemic? | Nuveen
"Markets with a large exposure to newer non-cyclical industries such as information technology (San Jose), life science (Boston) and telecom (Dallas) are positioned to perform the best. Industries with a large exposure to cyclical industries such as tourism (New Orleans), hospitality (Las Vegas), energy (Oklahoma City) and retail (Miami) are positioned to perform the worst. The five most highly-ranked MSAs in our analysis are San Jose, Nashville, Raleigh, Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City. In contrast, the five lowest-ranking are Detroit, Louisville, Buffalo, Oklahoma City and New Orleans."
"Markets with a large exposure to newer non-cyclical industries such as information technology (San Jose), life science (Boston) and telecom (Dallas) are positioned to perform the best. Industries with a large exposure to cyclical industries such as tourism (New Orleans), hospitality (Las Vegas), energy (Oklahoma City) and retail (Miami) are positioned to perform the worst. The five most highly-ranked MSAs in our analysis are San Jose, Nashville, Raleigh, Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City. In contrast, the five lowest-ranking are Detroit, Louisville, Buffalo, Oklahoma City and New Orleans."
The Future is Public | Transnational Institute
The Future is Public | Transnational Institute
"Resistance to privatisation has turned into a powerful force for change. (Re)municipalisation refers to the reclaiming of public ownership of services as well as the creation of new public services. In recent years, our research has identified more than 1,400 successful (re)municipalisation cases involving more than 2,400 cities in 58 countries around the world."
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New report from the Transnational Institute about deprivatization.
"Resistance to privatisation has turned into a powerful force for change. (Re)municipalisation refers to the reclaiming of public ownership of services as well as the creation of new public services. In recent years, our research has identified more than 1,400 successful (re)municipalisation cases involving more than 2,400 cities in 58 countries around the world."
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New report from the Transnational Institute about deprivatization.
Chicago Condo DeConversions Coming Back
Chicago Condo DeConversions Coming Back
Thousands of affordable condo units have been turned into apartments by megabucks investment companies that are buying people out, getting 75% or 85% of the ownership interests, forcing the rest of the owners to sell, and "deconverting" the project.
Thousands of affordable condo units have been turned into apartments by megabucks investment companies that are buying people out, getting 75% or 85% of the ownership interests, forcing the rest of the owners to sell, and "deconverting" the project.
What homeowners associations should do when residents can’t pay during the pandemic - The Washington Post
What homeowners associations should do when residents can’t pay during the pandemic - The Washington Post
Unemployment is off the charts and, as in 2008, HOAs and condo associations are seeing more owners unable to pay their assessments. This article is about how to balance the association's need for revenue with the need to show some compassion and common sense.
Unemployment is off the charts and, as in 2008, HOAs and condo associations are seeing more owners unable to pay their assessments. This article is about how to balance the association's need for revenue with the need to show some compassion and common sense.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Monday, June 17, 2019
USSC rules that public access TV station is not a state actor
17-1702 Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck (06/17/2019)
This is a 5-4 decision with all the Republicans in the majority and all the Democrats dissenting. It has some relevance for the "HOAs should be limited by the Constitution" argument that many HOA activists believe in. The case is not helpful to the HOA activist position, because the USSC overruled an appellate court that said the station was a state actor. I will have to read this in detail to analyze it, but for now, here is the synopsis:
"New York state law requires cable operators to set aside channels on their cable systems for public access. Those channels are operated by the cable operator unless the local government chooses to itself operate the channels or designates a private entity to operate the channels. New York City (the City) has designated a private nonprofit corporation, petitioner Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), to
operate the public access channels on Time Warner’s cable system in Manhattan. Respondents DeeDee Halleck and Jesus Papoleto Melendez produced a film critical of MNN to be aired on MNN’s public access channels. MNN televised the film. MNN later suspended Halleck and Melendez from all MNN services and facilities. The producers sued, claiming that MNN violated their First Amendment free-speech rights when it restricted their access to the public access channels because of the content of their film. The District Court dismissed the claim on the ground that MNN is not a state actor and therefore is not subject to First Amendment constraints on its editorial discretion. Reversing in relevant part, the Second Circuit concluded that MNN is a state actor subject to First Amendment constraints.
Held: MNN is not a state actor subject to the First Amendment. Pp. 5–16."
Here is a link to the full opinion.
This is a 5-4 decision with all the Republicans in the majority and all the Democrats dissenting. It has some relevance for the "HOAs should be limited by the Constitution" argument that many HOA activists believe in. The case is not helpful to the HOA activist position, because the USSC overruled an appellate court that said the station was a state actor. I will have to read this in detail to analyze it, but for now, here is the synopsis:
"New York state law requires cable operators to set aside channels on their cable systems for public access. Those channels are operated by the cable operator unless the local government chooses to itself operate the channels or designates a private entity to operate the channels. New York City (the City) has designated a private nonprofit corporation, petitioner Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), to
operate the public access channels on Time Warner’s cable system in Manhattan. Respondents DeeDee Halleck and Jesus Papoleto Melendez produced a film critical of MNN to be aired on MNN’s public access channels. MNN televised the film. MNN later suspended Halleck and Melendez from all MNN services and facilities. The producers sued, claiming that MNN violated their First Amendment free-speech rights when it restricted their access to the public access channels because of the content of their film. The District Court dismissed the claim on the ground that MNN is not a state actor and therefore is not subject to First Amendment constraints on its editorial discretion. Reversing in relevant part, the Second Circuit concluded that MNN is a state actor subject to First Amendment constraints.
Held: MNN is not a state actor subject to the First Amendment. Pp. 5–16."
Here is a link to the full opinion.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Country Clubs | Condos | Homeowners Association Fees
Country Clubs | Condos | Homeowners Association Fees
"Some older condos in South Florida communities built around country clubs are selling for as little as $1.
"Some older condos in South Florida communities built around country clubs are selling for as little as $1.
Stephan Burklin, for example, recently cut the asking price for a one-bedroom condo at Boca West Country Club from $10,000 to $1. Burklin also is offering to pay the buyer’s homeowners association fees for the first year. His mother and father lived there, but she died and he is moving to an assisted living facility, and the condo is too small for Burklin, 51, who is married and has three kids."
Friday, March 29, 2019
Chaos in Preckwinkle's Hyde Park condo: neighbors say she ignored their concerns | Chicago Sun-Times
Chaos in Preckwinkle's Hyde Park condo: neighbors say she ignored their concerns | Chicago Sun-Times
"Mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle owns a Hyde Park condominium where Chicago police have repeatedly responded to domestic-disturbance calls involving her 37-year-old son — and some residents say she doesn’t seem to have done anything to address their concerns."
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Toni Preckwinkle is one of two remaining candidates for Mayor of Chicago, with the election being next Tuesday, April 2. She is currently running behind Lori Lightfoot, according to the limited polling we have. The last thing Preckwinkle needs is more bad press, and here it is.
"Mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle owns a Hyde Park condominium where Chicago police have repeatedly responded to domestic-disturbance calls involving her 37-year-old son — and some residents say she doesn’t seem to have done anything to address their concerns."
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Toni Preckwinkle is one of two remaining candidates for Mayor of Chicago, with the election being next Tuesday, April 2. She is currently running behind Lori Lightfoot, according to the limited polling we have. The last thing Preckwinkle needs is more bad press, and here it is.
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