While it's common for buildings and associations of any size to have designated committees in place to help boards and management handle aesthetic, social, and other community concerns, environmentally-friendly committees are a more recent…
They are the greenery that gives life to our cities, the leafy giants that give us shade and that unforgettable rustling sound just outside our windows late at night. Trees are the unsung heroes of the urban landscape—and with proper plann…
New Jersey is only 166 miles long and 65 miles across at its widest point, with less than 8,000 square miles in total land area. Compact as it is, the Garden State nevertheless experiences a full range of seasonal changes in all five of it…
Keeping lawns, trees, bushes and flowers healthy is an association goal for nearly all condos and co-ops; notwithstanding, effective landscaping management is essential. Aside from the sun and soil rich in nutrients, the key to remaining “…
People aren’t the only life on your association's property; there are plants, trees, and other living landscaping elements, as well. More than just decoration, these features provide the community a vitality and serene pleasure only nature…
It was January 1977 when the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) first identified and isolated a previously unknown strain of bacteria found breeding in the cooling tower of a hotel air conditioning system. The bacteria, subsequently named L…
Most condo/HOA boards are made up of ordinary, well-meaning folks who volunteer for the relatively thankless job of running their association. They donate their time, expertise, and effort to make their community as functional, solvent, an…
On most occasions, HOAs and condo communities in New Jersey are not—as some would say—party central. Indeed, the wild, frenetic energy found in East Coast urban centers like Philadelphia and New York City is lacking. The generally quiet li…
The media and political buzz surrounding so-called 'homeshare' or 'short-term rental' websites (primarily Airbnb, but also other similar services like Homeaway.com and VRBO.com, just to name two) has been on the upswing over the last year …
For those looking to move into a condo, there are myriad factors that come into play while searching for the best—and most efficient—place to live. Of course, location, size, and safety are always a concern. Amenities attract home seekers,…
Most of us wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if we didn't have a smartphone or tablet to help us communicate, navigate, and otherwise organize our lives. Property managers throughout the country, whether they handle urban high-rises,…
The headline of a recent Walpole, Massachusetts newspaper article read: “Fight between Walpole selectmen cuts meeting short.” The first sentence of the article stated, “Selectmen came to verbal blows on Tuesday night, prompting other board…
Named a “New Jersey Healthy Town” under the state’s Mayor’s Wellness Campaign in 2013, Paramus—a city in Bergen County—rests less than 10 miles from Upper Manhattan. With a modest population of just over 25,000 residents, the city is an id…
What happens when people begin to notice that their next door neighbors are having difficulty with their mobility, are suddenly at risk of falling or have fallen, are confused about where they are and begin to exhibit this and other types …
Q My question is this: can a cooperative board of directors require board members to be residents of the state of New Jersey? —Garden State State A “Co-ops are often governed by the same rules and procedures that apply to corpor…