Greenlaw Townhouses: Why have these bushes not been trimmed since 2002?

Hi Neighbor,
“Is the purpose of landscaping to enhance the appearance of the community, or to detract from it? Is the HOA sacrificing thousands of dollars in resale values to save a few hundred dollars in landscaping costs? Fine trimmed lawns don’t protect our investments if they’re surrounded by overgrown and unattended bushes, shrubs, and hedges.” This is from a letter I wrote to the Directors in August of 2003.
They did not respond.

This was not my only effort to have something done about the bushes and hedges planted by the developer. Over the years I have repeatedly brought it to the attention of the Board in meetings and in letters. In December of 2009 I distributed a letter to my neighbors. Here is most of the text:

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that 2536 Eva Loop is a foreclosed property and is for sale. And I’m sure you’ve noticed that across the street the bushes at two townhouses, neither of which is owner-occupied, have not been trimmed in seven years, and one of the lawns is turning to dust. Any prospective buyer of the foreclosed property is sure to wonder why the landscaping across the street is so poorly maintained, and will probably wonder if those townhouses are also going through foreclosure; they certainly look like it. Obviously, this situation brings down property values on our block, yet even after repeated requests that the landscaping be properly maintained, the Board has failed to act. At the November 19 annual meeting the Board finally agreed to trim the bushes yet nothing has been done. At the annual meeting, Director Susan Jennings had the gall to tell me I didn’t have the right to complain about my neighbors’ bushes. These bushes are not my “neighbors’ bushes”. As she surely knows, these bushes belong to the HOA. The front yards are Common Area and are owned by, and are the responsibility of, the HOA. These homeowners are paying for the landscaping to be maintained just like the rest of us. I know waiting for spring before trimming the bushes would be better for the bushes, but it sure as heck will not be better for our property values. It will lower the selling price of the foreclosed property, and it will lower the value of our homes.
Please sign the attached letter and hang it on the doorknob of Director Judith Kyrala at 2501 Eva Loop
One other thing: I realize that you may have heard that I’m a trouble maker, always causing problems for our hardworking, self-sacrificing directors. I don’t mean to cause trouble. I just think you should be told about things you may not know about. For instance...”

The attached letter stated:
“Dear Director Judith Kyrala:
Please help us protect our property values!
Across the street from the foreclosed property on Eva Loop are two townhouses with bushes that haven’t been trimmed in seven years. An eyesore like that is sure to bring down the selling price of the foreclosed property and hurt the value of every other townhouse on Eva Loop. We realize that you can’t do anything about the foreclosed property but you sure as heck can do something about the overgrown bushes across the street.
Please arrange to have the bushes trimmed immediately.”

It is now nineteen months latter and, as you can see from the above pictures, the bushes have still not been trimmed. And just a month ago, on June 2^nd I wrote to our newest “Director” James French. I had hoped that he would arrange for the bushes to be trimmed at 2529 and 2525 Eva Loop since the only townhouse between those townhouses and his townhouse is my townhouse. So far, Mr. French has not responded.

Throughout Flagstaff, there are single family home communities that have HOAs for the sole purpose of maintaining landscaping standards so as to maintain property values. Over the years, our property manager Jim Joyce has managed many of those properties. At the first 2010 Annual Meeting, I asked Jim Joyce how many letters he had sent to members of those HOAs demanding that they maintain their landscaping. His answer was, “Hundreds”. Yet for nine years our own Board of Directors has neglected the bushes and hedges planted by the developer: the nine years since Jim Joyce first became our property manager.

Hopefully this posting will be sufficient to get the bushes trimmed and the hedge pictured below restored. If not, I will follow up.

Your Neighbor,
Bill Lee