Gated Community

[legalmoose]

I think I'm going to have to do a smack-down letter for the board at the cult co-op. We've put in a perimeter fence. It is finally going on-line this week (after starting construction May of last year). So, yes, I will be living in a gated community. Mainly this was because of the foot traffic that used the property as a cut-through to get to and from the Metro, some of which preyed on members who lived in the property, many of whom were loud and obnoxious when crossing.

Anyway, because I don't have a car (there are not enough parking spots for each resident to have one), and because I don't rent one of our few parking spaces, I don't qualify (to the board) for one of the fobs that will open the parking lot gates via a radio signal, I only get a fob that opens the pedestrian gates. Never mind that I might have cause to enter in someone else's car, or a rental car, or even, heaven forfend, ride up on my bicycle. Because I don't own a car, I somehow don't need the fob that opens the car gates. This royally pisses me off. I have just as much right to access any part of the property (since it is a co-op, and therefore is all owned in common by the corporation) as anyone who has a car. And, frankly, I'm miffed that I'm not going to be able to roll onto the grounds with my bike, as I can now. Instead I'll have to get off the bike, haul the bike up onto the curb, wrestle the door open, hold it open with the bike in hand, get inside before it closes on me, and then hop back on and ride up to the building. Not so keen on that idea. So I'm going to fuss, and hopefully get one of the damned car fobs for my bike.

View this post at the Glen

Comments

[fredo-joaquin.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that co-ops do not seem to have caught on here in SF.

[legalmoose]

Co-ops, in an of themselves, are not a bad thing. There's a lot more pressure to maintain the entire property, instead of just your little portion, like there is with a condominium. Overall I think I prefer it to a condo, it's just that they need to get their acts together with regard to certain things they've not thought through.

[topstorylive.livejournal.com]

Why doesn't every fob open every gate? Do they think people will drive in and steal other people's spots? (If that's the thinking what prevented people from doing that before when there were no gates?)

[legalmoose]

I suspect they got sold on something by the security company. I won't take a "you're an idiot" tack when I write the letter, rather that they "inadvertently" relegated those of us without cars to 2nd class membership. :-p

[kytty.livejournal.com]

It's a car culture...time for the car oriented folks to acknowledge the validity and equality of more sustainable types of transportation. I was recognized for having the longest record for having not driven an single occupancy vehicle during a local contest. And Oly is known for its bike culture. Seems odd.

[ironmanjt.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're an attorney, you should have mastered the art of the nasty letter by now. It's amazing how much sooner condos/etc react when threatened with legal action ;-)

[matintin.livejournal.com]

Dear Co-op:

I use the gate. I want a fob.

I am entitled to a fob. Besides, they're cheap.

Sincerely,

legalmoose

[jss]

Like matintin said, but more terse:

Dear Coop,

Me resident. Me want fob. Gimme fob or me sue your asses off. Oh: Me lawyer, too.

No love,
-legalmoose