Money is a topic people are often skittish about discussing—especially when the discussion involves rising fees, or having to pay more money for something. When you’re a board member or the property manager of a condo building or residen…
For a crystal-clear picture of how an association is doing, there are few better lenses than the community's budgets and financial reports. From an investment perspective, they show the shareholders, managers, tenants, owners, and board…
Stores and other commercial businesses on the ground floor of a condo building used to be a rarity but now they are becoming a hot new amenity, even a standard for newer buildings. Restaurants, food markets, drugstores, clothing stores…
Chicago is known for having some of the very best urban opportunities in the world—among the best colleges and schools, museums and libraries, as well as some of the finest parks, the most interesting architecture, the most intriguing m…
Once a Rogers Parker, always a Rogers Parker, it seems. Whether a current or long-removed resident, folks seem to take pride in their links to the community bordered by the lake, Western Avenue, Evanston and Devon Avenue. It m…
With the possible exception of fire, nothing is more damaging to residential buildings and the property of their occupants as leaks. Whether it’s a torrential deluge from the upstairs neighbor’s overflowing bathtub or a slow, seeping lea…
For nearly 20 years, the Community Associations Institute (CAI) has recognized excellence in the practice of community law through the Falls Church, Virginia-based College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). Of the tens of thousan…
Q For the annual meeting, there are 7 people running for 5 positions. The management company sent a proxy to all owners and requested that it either be mailed to them or dropped in the mailbox in the building lobby. This mailbox is acc…
Q What options are available for amending our condominium documents? Our condominium association often has recommended and even voted in favor of making amendments to the declaration but there has been no follow-up based on such action…