This is an anonymous letter from a townhouse owner.
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Aug 13, 2012
Beazer Homes USA, Inc
TPW Property Management
Concerned Residents of Deep Harbour
To Whom It May Concern:
I will be out of town for the scheduled Deep Harbour Master HOA meeting on Aug 17th so I’m sending this letter for consideration by concerned parties. Printed words can seem harsh but please be assured I’m not trying to assault anyone personally. Some things just need to be said. As an owner and full time resident of Deep Harbour I have growing concerns about the future of our community and the way it’s maintained and managed. Had it looked as it does today during any of our visits prior to buying last year we would never have bought here. Beazer, COMANCO and TPW have not performed to the expectations set by prior appearance and upkeep of the community. The present state of affairs is unacceptable, to say the least.
The transition between management companies was poorly planned and executed and the community is suffering because of it. Complaints and questions fall on deaf ears because neither Beazer nor TPW personnel answer e-mails. When asked in person, TPW personnel say they don’t have approval or the money to do things. If an act of congress is required to repair and maintain existing structures and amenities the whole place will fall apart before we can fix anything. I’ve paid $797 in HOA fees to TPW in recent weeks and most other owners have done the same. I’m not paying $249 in monthly HOA fees just to pay salaries and hear excuses. We need less red tape and more action.
Deep Harbour’s being a gated community was a big factor in our buying decision. All gates were up and operating when we moved in last August but the fire gates (used as a const. entrance) across from my front door at Shipyard Drive and Aurora St have been down since early December, 2011. Strong winds blew them apart because they were left open with no way of locking them in the open position. The Cedar St gates have been broken for almost 5 months now. The Trenton St gates, including the entrance gate into the 700 bldg, have been broken for over a month now. It’s hard to get any benefit from a gated community when all the gates are broken. This isn’t acceptable.
Community appearance has suffered considerably since last year. Landscape maintenance has been irregular and incomplete. The grass isn’t being mowed or edged at proper intervals and shrubs need to be trimmed. Sidewalks are overgrown in places and weed control has been haphazard at best. One of the dumpster corrals has no dumpster but it’s been full of junk and trash for months. Some residents are filling dumpsters with trash from offsite businesses and non-residents dump trash here regularly.
The pool isn’t being vacuumed and the strainer baskets aren’t cleaned daily. It’s never chlorinated properly because chlorinator lines were cut by vandals several weeks ago when the building was left unsecured. Chlorine leaked all over the floor (think HAZMAT incident) and there’s still residue all over the pumps and equipment. If the MD Dept. of the Environment or Health Dept. saw that it’s quite possible the pool would be closed down and large fines incurred. The building has been left unsecure several times. Any of these things could present a huge liability problem.
The marina is another point of concern for many of us. There were quite a few lights out on the piers. Most were repaired but there are at least four lights still out. Water is still leaking from some of the pipes under the piers, though not as badly as before. Non-residents are swimming, fishing and crabbing from our piers and bulkheads. They’re leaving bait and trash all over the place and often leave crab traps tied in place. I know we’re required to have public access for the proposed river walk but I think there needs to be limitations placed on that, if for no other reason than liability alone, especially with the slips being privately owned. All of the city piers and marinas are posted no swimming, fishing or crabbing. Maybe ours need to be posted the same way. Another option is to limit public access to sidewalks only, making the marina, bulkheads, piers and finger piers off limits to all except residents and guests. Public parks are closed from dusk until dawn. The river walk at Sailwinds is posted that way. I think our river walk should be posted that way for the general public and remain open to residents and guests 24/7.
As a lifetime dog owner, showman, former livestock breeder and all around animal person I must weigh in on the subject of Pit Bulls. I feel it’s unfair to single out any breed because of a reputation. I’ve seen many more bad owners than bad dogs. All of the Pit Bulls I’ve known personally have been very nice dogs and were well trained. The key to the dog situation is to require, absolutely, without exception, that all dogs in the community be leashed at all times. This is already a city ordinance. We just need to make sure everyone knows it applies to them, no matter what. Dogs are naturally protective of their owners and property. Someone may have the nicest, friendliest dog in the world but if it’s off leash and approaches another person with a dog, it’s very likely to be seen by the other dog as a threat and the result could be ugly. Non-compliant owners or unruly dogs should always be handled singly as required.
As the community continues to grow we need to add more pet stations. We should also remind everyone they’re required by law to pick up after their pets. An increasing number of pet owners are not picking up after their dogs. From what I can tell renters seem to be the biggest offenders. It’s possible their landlords didn’t fill them in on HOA rules and requirements. We should remind all owners they and their tenants are responsible to know and obey the HOA rules.
Last but not least, I’ve heard Beazer is trying to sell the remaining lots in Deep Harbour to another developer. If Beazer sells, will the new developer be held to the same requirements as Beazer? I know they’ve changed their development plans because permits were paid and issued in January to build on lots 112-117. Permits are good for 6 months but construction was never started and Beazer has shifted their building superintendent to a new community being started in Delaware. What guarantees, if any, do we have that Beazer won’t stop development at Deep Harbour and walk away leaving owners with an incomplete community and decimated property values because of it?
Your consideration of my concerns is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx x xxxxxxxx
Sen your comments to
mc900@comcast.net
