Great Way To Treat A Disabled Veteran: Gorgia Homeowners Association Blocks Home For Disabled Vet

[allan]

GREAT WAY TO TREAT A DISABLED VETERAN: Gorgia Homeowners Association Blocks Home for Disabled Vet

http://www.progressivenewsdaily.com/?p=18094

There should be laws protecting Disabled Veterans from such greed and stupidity.................

[carlie]

WoW! were did that come from?

There are about 6 pages of public comment at the link below.

One person that states they live close to the neighborhood made a comment

something like, yea - welcome to living in Harlem.

There are a few additional comments that lean towards this type of mind set.

Group looks at other sites for paralyzed vet's home

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2011-06-28/group-looks-other-sites-paralyzed-vets-home?page=4

"Sharon Gittens, Sean’s wife, told news media Monday the family decided not to stay in Knob Hill because they did not feel they would be welcome. At the press conference, she said was ready to put the situation behind her and thanked neighbors who had supported her family. She asked them to encourage the association to embrace the veterans and not worry so much about property values."

[Stilt]

My two cents I am a rules and regulation man. It comes from my police and military backgrounds. The HOA in communities that have restrictive covenants take their job seriously. They enforce the rules. All that I expect is that you inform me of the rules and regulation up front. I live in a restrictive covenant community in Fairburn Georgia. Before I bought my property I asked for a copy of the covenants. I spent two days reading them. I made the decision that I could live here within the rules. In my community, we have a covenant that prohibits dogs. Personally, I like dogs although I have never owned one. Never enough time to take care of one. Yet, we have people who buy property here and expect to bring a dog or some have bought a dog after moving in. The HOA stands firm, no dogs. I commend the HOA for enforcing the rules and taking the bull that comes with it. The problem with not enforcing the rules is that people will take advantage. They see Johnny breaking a rule and nothing being done about it, then they break a rule that benefits them seeing Johnny got away it. The next thing you know the community is out of control.

I firmly believe that if you don't like something, work within the system to change it. Covenants are kind of like the Constitution, there is a built in process for changing it. That is the way you address what you might think is wrong. Although I sympathize with the veteran plight, but the rules are the rules.

Edited July 7, 2011 by Stilt

[john999]

The house I grew up in had restrictive covenant in the deed. "This house cannot be sold to anyone of African decent".

Now that I am a home owner, and hate all my neighbors I wish there was a covenant excluding all the people I don't like. You know there are low life real estate people who prey upon people with unpaid HOA fees. Someone owes 500 bucks for some fee and they get kicked out of their house and it gets sold to some preditor who then resells it for 100,000 a month later. This is why I live in old part of town where anything goes including loud SOB's and obnoxious people, including myself, who file code violations when pigs don't clean their yards full of junk. I believe in rules and regulations for other people.

[carlie]

My two cents – I am a rules and regulation man. It comes from my police and military backgrounds. The HOA in communities that have restrictive covenants take their job seriously. They enforce the rules. All that I expect is that you inform me of the rules and regulation up front. I live in a restrictive covenant community in Fairburn Georgia. Before I bought my property I asked for a copy of the covenants. I spent two days reading them. I made the decision that I could live here within the rules. In my community, we have a covenant that prohibits dogs. Personally, I like dogs although I have never owned one. Never enough time to take care of one. Yet, we have people who buy property here and expect to bring a dog or some have bought a dog after moving in. The HOA stands firm, no dogs. I commend the HOA for enforcing the rules and taking the bull that comes with it. The problem with not enforcing the rules is that people will take advantage. They see Johnny breaking a rule and nothing being done about it, then they break a rule that benefits them seeing Johnny got away it. The next thing you know the community is out of control.

I firmly believe that if you don't like something, work within the system to change it. Covenants are kind of like the Constitution, there is a built in process for changing it. That is the way you address what you might think is wrong. Although I sympathize with the veteran plight, but the rules are the rules.

The organization building the house was willing to CONTINUE working with the HOA,

even tho the HOA had tried to block the build more than once and for different reasons.

After this going on for awhile -the family no longer felt wanted in that area.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2011-06-28/group-looks-other-sites-paralyzed-vets-home?page=4

"The association had blocked construction of the Gittens home after months of negotiations because it believed the house would lower neighboring property values. Homes for Our Troops said it would continue to work to get a design approved, but ultimately left the decision up to the Gittens family, which currently rents a home in the subdivision."

[Stilt]

@ Carlie

I do believe the burden falls on the veteran. He must comply with the rules of the subdivision. I am a veteran of Vietnam. I would not expect to move into a community and announce that I am a veteran and your rules don't apply to me. The HOA isn't saying he cannot live there, they are simply saying build your house in accordance with standards of the subdivision. I don't have a problem with that. If it were me I would simply move to an area that did not have the restrictions. The veteran may have a case if the restriction is somehow in conflict with the American Disabilities Act.

@ John999

The Supreme Court ruled in 1948 that restrictive deeds designed to exclude people base on race or religion is a violation of the Constitution Equal Protectioln Clause (14th Amendment). Sure, you will still find deeds dating back before the ruling that have that restrictive language. The language is unenforcible.

Edited July 8, 2011 by Stilt

[john999]

Stilt

Your reasoning is a little like saying "If this store does not want to serve me because I am black, or a veteran then I will just go some place else". This was the way it was in Jim Crow south for 100 years. I do understand some HOA rules. For instance, retirement communites may not want an elementary school built in their neighboorhood. To discriminate against a disabled vet by a HOA is disgraceful to me. This is a guy who risked his life while others shopped at the mall. .05% of the population is doing the dying and fighting for 99.5% of the public. When we were soldiers at least there was a draft, so many could have the honor of dying for their country.

This was an honor most did not want in any way as you remember.