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Welcome to On the Commons! |
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 On The Commons is a weekly radio show, dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory membership common ownership developments. It is broadcast live from WEBR, Fairfax, Virginia and available on this web site.
Join us as we explore the world of common ownership developments, which is the fastest growing form of residential development in America today. This housing concept includes condominiums, cooperatives, and both attached and detached single-family homes that are part of a mandatory homeowners association. Unfortunately this type of housing is not as Utopian as its advocates would have us believe. Living in a mandatory homeowners’ association means giving up a part of the American dream. It means giving up Constitutional rights and control over one’s most valuable asset - one’s home.
Winner of the Geneva Kirk Brooks Homeowner Rights Award from the Texas Home Owners For HOA Reform, Inc. March 6, 2010 
Certificate of Achievement for
500 Shows Produced and Aired Through Fairfax Public Access March 31, 2010 Other On the Commons Web Sites: On the Commons Podcast Site On the Commons Weblog
The Current Show
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On the Commons with Jan Bergmann |
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It all sounds so, so, well let's just say Utopian, doesn't it? You see, there is a neighborhood, with neighborhood amenities, where all the neighbors contribute for those amenities. And some of the neighbors oversee those amenities, collect the dues, make any business decisions that need to be made and everyone lives happily ever after. And let's call those neighborhoods associations, whether condo, homeowner or cooperative. And let's say that this set up provides for "carefree living" where the residents have a say in how their neighborhood is run. It's enough to give us the warm and fuzzies, isn't it? So why then, are there so many problems in Privatopia? And just what do those problems really mean?
On The Commons this week we are joined by Jan Bergemann. Jan is the plain speaking, energetic president of the Florida based Cyber Citizens for Justice www.ccfj.net and www.ccfjedu.net. Please join us On The Commons. We'll talk about how well these associations are doing in Florida, what is happening to the amenities and what happens when there are not enough people left to make the common contributions to the association coffers. And as always, I wonder if association living in a viable and sustainable housing model. Listen to Jan Bergmann Write Comment (0 comments) |
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On the Commons with Evan Mckenzie |
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On The Commons turns 10 years old this month. Our special guest is Evan McKenzie as we celebrate 10 years and kick off a brand new season of On The Commons
For years housing consumers have been told that associations protect property values despite the fact that there was no real evidence or data to support this pie-in-the sky notion. With the current downturn in the economy what seems to be emerging is that not only do associations NOT protect property values since they are not immune from the world around them but they can actually diminish values. While it is a fact that many associations are under water, the exact number is not known. And for those that are, will they come back? What happens to property values in those developments? How many people and how many lives will be adversely affected because of the association?
On The Commons this week we are joined by Professor Evan McKenzie. Dr. McKenzie is a professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago and the John Marshall School of Law as well as a practicing attorney, author and blogger. He is the author of Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Government. His second book is due out soon. Please join us On The Commons. We'll take a look at the big picture of the health of HOAs, and where the individual homeowners stand in all this. We also get a sneak peek at his new book and maybe some ideas for a third one? Join us and find out. Listen to Evan Mckenzie Write Comment (1 comments) |
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