Town Crier Articles

Posted on April 1, 2024 6:37 AM by New Town Commercial Association (NTCA)
 
Posted on April 1, 2024 6:35 AM by Town Crier Staff
Categories: NTRA Business
 
In order to improve communications with Association Members, Ahmed Desouky, the NTRA Community Manager from Chesapeake Bay Management, holds office hours in the NTRA’s meeting room every Tuesday morning between 10 and 12 noon. The NTRA meeting room is located at 5118 Center Street, next door to the Armed Forces Career Center.  Although Ahmed will be working on his computer, feel free to interrupt him with your questions and comments.  This is a perfect time for you to get to know our manager, discuss problems in our community, and to make suggestions about ways our community could be improved.
 
Please stop by and take advantage of this weekly opportunity.
 
Posted on March 1, 2024 7:00 AM by Eden Glenn
 
There are many reasons New Town is a special place to live.  What makes it special may vary from neighbor to neighbor, but most would agree, we are all fortunate to live here.  Feeling grateful is one reason the Women’s Monthly Lunch Group supports a Giving Back Initiative for the purpose of sharing some of our resources to benefit the greater Williamsburg community.  Last year the lunch group and others donated classroom supplies to the JCC/Williamsburg Teacher Supply Closet and winter coats to FISH and House of Mercy to distribute to those in need.
 
Now in 2024, the Giving Back Initiative is conducting a food drive during the months of February and March.  FISH and House of Mercy are both in urgent need of food items during this time of year when donations typically drop off. In the United States, over 44 million people, including 13 million children, at some point in the year don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from.  Williamsburg is not immune from this problem. In 2023, FISH and House of Mercy provided, through their respective food pantries, the equivalent of over 400,000 meals.  Food insecurity is a growing problem in our community. FISH, for example, reported an 80% increase in food requests over the past year.
 
Please help us help others by bringing healthy, non-perishable food items to:
  • the NTRA meeting space located at 5118 Center Street between 11AM-1PM on either March 1st or 2nd,
or
  • bring your donation to the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 at 2PM at Lydias Park in Abbey Commons
Items most needed are canned soups, vegetables, fruits and protein (chicken, tuna), applesauce, dry spaghetti and canned sauce, boxed macaroni and cheese, cereals & oatmeal, rice, instant potatoes, and peanut butter and jelly (no glass jars please).
 
The Giving Back Initiative plans to donate school supplies to local teachers again this summer and collect 100 new winter coats for kids in 100 days later this fall. Thank you, New Town, for generously supporting these efforts.
Posted on March 1, 2024 6:55 AM by NTRA Landscape Advisory Committee
Categories: NTRA Business
 
The NTRA uses a commercial landscaping contractor, James River Grounds Management (JRGM), to provide the Association with landscaping services throughout the year. This is a standard service for each lot and is not customized landscaping for our residents. A more customized landscaping package would cost considerably more than we are currently paying.  This article is the first of a series of Town Crier reminders that will address the landscaping services that homeowners receive from JRGM so that owners can better understand which services will be provided throughout the year.
 
Spring brings the pruning of trees and shrubs and the mulching of tree and flowerbeds to all of our neighborhoods.  So, as a homeowner what services can you expect to receive?
 
JRGM will be pruning ornamental shrubs that are less than 12 feet tall; they are scheduled to start in March, weather permitting. Services begin in the Shirley Park/Village Walk neighborhoods and move through our neighborhoods, ending in Charlotte Park. Ornamental shrubs will be pruned, thinned and/or shaped to enhance the quality of their appearance. Boxwoods and other specialty ornamental plants are generally not pruned although special exceptions can be made if requested in writing. Trees, up to 15 feet high will also be pruned as needed. If your trees are larger than 15 feet, you are responsible for their care. In addition to this spring pruning, additional pruning services will be provided two more times during the year, roughly in the summer and fall.  
 
JRGM also provides one annual mulching service for our common area landscape beds, including ornamental tree and shrub beds, and home foundation planting beds, using shredded dark brown hardwood mulch. All beds will be edged in such a way that the bed areas are not enlarged.  Prior to applying mulch, weeds will be removed from beds and pre-emergent herbicide will be applied to help control future weed growth. When this preparation is complete, mulch will be applied to achieve a total depth of 2-3 inches. (Note that old mulch is not removed during this service.) This process is nearing completion. 
 
Residents have the option to opt out of James River Grounds landscaping services if they so desire by contacting Chesapeake Bay Management, our management company.  
 
Next month we will outline what you can expect to see regarding mowing, edging, and turf maintenance.
Posted on March 1, 2024 6:50 AM by NTRA Activities Committee
 
 
 
Come join the Easter Bunny for an Easter egg hunt and games!
 
The New Town Residential Association Activities Committee will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt in Lydias Park (Abbey Commons - at corner of Lydias and Town Creek) on Saturday, March 30th, with a March 31st rain date.  The festivities begin at 2.00 PM.
 
The Easter Bunny will be there to join in the fun and provide a photo opportunity. There will be an egg hunt where the younger children (up to age 4) will go first and then will be joined by the older children (5 and up). Games and prizes will follow the egg hunts.  All New Town residents, families and friends are invited. Even if you do not have kids or grandkids, that’s ok, come join in the fun!
 
If you are interested, collection boxes will be available for your donations of non-perishable food items to help stock the food pantries at FISH and House of Mercy.
 
RSVP:  Please let us know if you plan to attend and the ages of your children. Email:  Susan Schlimme at  skschlimme@hotmail.com
Posted on March 1, 2024 6:50 AM by NTRA Activities Committee
 
On Sunday, February 25, fifty-five New Town neighbors cheered on the William and Mary women’s basketball team facing the lady Pirates of Hampton University at Kaplan Arena. New Towners were part of a large lively crowd supporting the Play4Kay cancer fund raiser which honors female survivors of all cancers that affect women. Tribe Mary players shed their traditional dark green for pink uniforms while the Hampton University team sported pink shoes.
     
The afternoon began with a pre-game pizza party at the arena where attendees won gift certificates and a team-signed basketball. William and Mary Assistant Coach Kenia Cole, who previously coached at Hampton, welcomed the New Town fans. She confided that she expected an especially exciting game since Hampton’s top scorer and all conference player, forward Nylah Young, had transferred this year to William and Mary.  
     
Young and her teammates certainly did not disappoint their New Town fans.  The game itself proved to be a cliffhanger with the Tribe pulling out a 66-58 victory largely from the foul line in the 4th quarter.
 
Excitement reigned all afternoon - thanks to our Activities Committee volunteers it was rewarding fun for all! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted on March 1, 2024 6:45 AM by Jack Espinal, Board President
Categories: NTRA Business
 
Homeowner associations (HOAs) are responsible for providing a variety of services to their members, as spelled out in their governing documents. How do we pay for these services?
 
The New Town Residential Association has only one consistent source of funding -- the homeowner assessments (commonly referred to as HOA dues) which are authorized by our Master Declaration and State law, and paid by each homeowner.  While our income is sometimes supplemented by project grants, some investment income, and closing fees, this additional revenue contributes only a very small portion of our budget.
 
Each year the Board develops a budget and generates projected Annual Assessments to be collected for both the General operating expenses (e.g. property management, trash removal, maintenance of streetlights and landscape, shared expenses with the New Town Commercial Association, legal and administrative expenses) and the specific Neighborhood expenses of our community (home landscaping, and various exterior maintenance and inspections provided solely to the Village Walk neighborhood.) Assessments also include a contribution to reserves to fund the replacement of amenities, emergency repairs, and other unforeseen expenses.
 
When expenses exceed the total amount of income collected by the Association, the Board of Directors has a limited number of possible options. They are:
  1. To increase the amount of the Annual Assessments in the following year.
  2. To reduce services and thereby the associated expenses for the Association.
  3. To borrow money to cover the shortfall in funding.
  4. To assess each homeowner a special assessment.
Our governing documents give the Board of Directors the authority to increase the Annual assessments and to assess homeowners a special assessment. In the case of Village Walk, there is additional specific language that allows the Board to use a special assessment to raise funds “for significant repairs, replacement or maintenance projects” if the Board finds it is in the best interests of the Association and the Village Walk Neighborhood to do so. Given the continued exterior construction problems in Village Walk, the Board has discussed the likelihood of a Village Walk special assessment since 2022, and is now proceeding to define how this would occur to be both fair to Village Walk owners and fiduciarily responsible to the Association.
 
It is a serious step for any HOA Board to contemplate a special assessment. A variety of factors need to be weighed including how quickly the funding is needed, what the range of expected expenses could be, payment options, and potential financial hardship situations. Paying a special assessment is mandatory for affected owners and nonpayment can result in serious consequences for both the owner and the Association.
Posted on March 1, 2024 6:40 AM by NTRA Activities Committee
 
Posted on February 1, 2024 7:00 AM by Town Crier Staff
 
February is “Responsible Pet Owners Month”. So, let’s remind everyone what it means to be a neighborly and responsible pet owner in New Town. Keeping your pet healthy and happy is important. Equally important is controlling your pet’s behavior in a responsible manner. Be considerate of those living around you.
 
Always clean up after your pet - Your yard should not be filled with your pet's waste, nor should you neglect to pick up after your animal when going on walks around the neighborhood. Pet waste stations are available throughout New Town with disposable bags. Use them and encourage other pet owners to do the same with a gentle reminder pointing to the nearest area. Steer your dog to the mulched areas in our common spaces to urinate when possible. Thank those you see following the rules!
 
Leash your dog – Dogs and cats are naturally curious, so try to control where they explore and most importantly where they “do their business.”  Would you want your landscape damaged?  Recently, the Association received this complaint:
 
"I find that some pet owners are letting their pets relieve themselves in the bushes outside of my garage and the bushes near my front door. Fortunately some pets that the owner let come up to my front door didn't relieve themselves on my doorstep. Please if there's any way to remind pet owners to respect property owners property, please send out a request to all."
 
And another example:
"We have a neighbor who …repeatedly takes her dog outside off leash and does not pick up its feces. Last night, she let her dog out at the same time as us (with our dog) and her dog chased us down the alleyway barking and circling us, scaring us and our dog."
 
Do I know your dog?  Always seek permission from another dog owner before allowing dogs to "meet" while passing on the sidewalk.  Some dogs are anxious, older or more fearful and a more reserved approach is warranted. 
 
New Town loves its pets, but they can damage property if not managed responsibly. Pet droppings, noise, unleashed dogs, etc.-all of these situations are addressed in the NTRA Master Declaration (Section 7.1(x)) and Rules (Section 11.1 – Animals).  New Town pet owners should familiarize themselves with these requirements including those for use of the common areas (sidewalks, parks, alleys, etc.) in New Town. Report problems to our management company, Chesapeake Bay Management. Repeated violations are subject to fines including any poor pet management from tenants to NTRA owners. 
 
In the spirit of being good pet neighbors (minimizing complaints and possible penalties), share this article with neighbors or dog owners especially tenants who may not be up to date on our rules. Print it and pass it around!
 
Posted on February 1, 2024 6:47 AM by Jack Espinal
Categories: Life in New Town
 
Here is my story: I have worked hard to maintain my 10-year-old townhouse here in New Town.  It has recently been painted and I have always been quick to fix issues identified by the NTRA’s Asset Maintenance Committee.  I have even updated everything in the kitchen and have installed a new furnace and air conditioner.  I was ready to sell so that I could buy a single-family home in Charlotte Park.  My townhouse went on the market and the real estate agent said it should sell quickly.  Within a week I received three offers and I selected the best one.  It fell through just two days before closing, the buyer couldn’t get a mortgage on the townhouse.  The second and third potential buyers had the same problem.  No one would lend money for my beautiful, well-maintained, and upgraded townhouse.  I just don’t understand it.
 
The above story is fictional, but situations like this are happening all over the United States, and it could happen here in New Town due to changing lending requirements. Mortgage companies are in the business of making loans on local properties, and then selling those loans at a profit to investors in the secondary mortgage market.  In most cases Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the companies that purchase secondary market mortgages.
 
These two government-sponsored organizations control about 70% of the mortgages written in the United States. They control almost all of the secondary mortgage market with a list of criteria that must be met by a mortgage before they will buy it. Almost every mortgage company in the United States uses these criteria to evaluate a property and write a loan on it because they want to be able to sell the mortgage in the future. The loan requirements used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been tightened significantly over the past several years.  
 
One of the tools currently used is a blacklist of over 2300 condominiums, homeowner associations, and cooperatives that are not considered to be eligible for mortgages if they are going to be bought on the secondary market.  This blacklist of associations is growing at a rate of about 100 associations per month.  If your homeowner association is on this blacklist, most financiers will not write mortgages on any of the properties in the Association because they want to be able to sell those mortgages in the future.  This forces all sales in blacklisted communities to go to cash buyers or to buyers using less favorable loan firms that specialize in non-warrantable properties.  The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac blacklist results in depressed sale prices and low homeowner values throughout the affected community.
 
Homeowner associations may be placed on this blacklist simply by deferring maintenance and/or having unfunded repairs totaling more than $10,000.  In some cases, they may find themselves on the blacklist just because the Association is slow at repairing properties damaged by fire.  Problems in one part of a community affect the writing of mortgages in the entire community whenever that community is on the blacklist.  Even when associations are in the process of making the repairs and have signed contracts for the work, banks have been known to refuse to write mortgages throughout the community until all of the work is completed.
 
This is why it is so very important that we get the Village Walk siding issues and leaking rooftop decks resolved, and the Village Walk Replacement Reserve funded at the recommended levels sooner rather than later.  If we delay much longer, the New Town Residential Association might find ourselves on the mortgage blacklist and the property values for all of us will decline significantly. Plus, getting off of the mortgage blacklist is difficult and generally requires expensive legal intervention.
 
Paying assessments, especially additional special assessments, is never popular. But it is essential that we accomplish the needed Village Walk repairs and fund the replacement reserve to recommended levels as soon as possible. The repairs and associated additional funding are needed to maintain the well-being of those living in Village Walk homes and to protect the property values and salability of all of the homes throughout our community.
 
More information and specific examples of associations that have found themselves to be in trouble and on the blacklist can be found in the January-February 2024 issue of Common Ground (pages 27-29). This Community Associations Institute publication is written to support homeowner associations like the NTRA.  A copy of this publication is available in the NTRA meeting room.