Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Question about remodelling

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Apr 19, 2005, at 11:17 AM, <normangauss [at] charter.net> wrote:

> Can anyone tell me whether a condo owner can hire her own contractor 
> to make
> an addition to a community-owned triplex residential building?  This 
> assumes
> that the community review process has OK'd the addition.

If the community approves both the contractor and the work (as well as 
getting zoning and building permits). The same risks apply -- you need 
a fully insured and bonded contractor as well as provisions about 
damage to other parts of the property.

You will probably want your lawyer to review the approvals/contracts.

I don't know how you are structured but the issue of taking common 
space for private space may apply. We have a person who wants to extend 
their deck which will increase the cost to the community for 
maintaining the deck. Do we want to do this or add an assessment for 
the larger deck?

The proper question is probably not "can she do this" but what are the 
concerns that need to be satisfied in order for her to do it. What does 
it mean for the rest of the community? If there has a downside, how can 
it be remedied?

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Building Community: A Newsletter on Coops, Condos, Cohousing, and Other 
New Neighborhoods
http://www.buildingcommunitynews.org