On the marquee The Civic Center is Available for Rent!

Contracted for construction to complete in November 2005, alas this project appears now available for Parkwood residents to use, that is to rent to use.......

Q+A:

Q: When has the Parkwood BOD had board meetings since the annual meeting and when are the next two scheduled, I presume which will be at the "Civic Center" now advertised as available to rent? Is the "Civic Center" "available to "use" besides to "rent?" - M.

A: The Board has met twice since the Annual Meeting.  I have not locked down a schedule with the Board at this time, but hopefully we will have the information in the April Newsletter.  The Clubhouse is an amenity of Parkwood, so it is treated the same as the Pool and the Pavilion.  Community events sanctioned by the Board can take place at this location. - Property Manager

Q: As the "Clubhouse" is an amenity, same as the Pool, what are its "operating days and hours" for resident's use?  As with the Pool, there is some identification procedure for entry, what is it for the "Clubhouse" and what are the "operating rules" of it? As with the Pavilion, free use may be made of it on a first come basis and only when a prior "reservation" of it does a resident not enjoy free use of it; same with the "Clubhouse?" I am interested in specific, particular answers addressing these questions.  As the "Civic Center" is "available for rent" now, when is it "available for free use?" - M.

A: Awaiting more answers........

As "information" becomes available it will be posted here.  The much, much delayed "amenity" has many projected "feelings" about it, rumors, and perceptions, and likely some or many misperceptions.  Hopefully the mist will be clearing soon?

As you would learn "answers" to your "questions" - suggest they be posted here......

 

The answer provided by the property manager....

A: Property Manager: The use is for Commttees appointed by the Board at no cost to include Community events.  This is standard for most Clubhouses in any subdivision. 

Q: Resident: I am really lost here.
Is it you are stating here that the $300K "Civic Center" will only be used by Committees appointed by the Board of Directors, I presume to use only when they are having committee meetings, and "Community" events, which for 2007 I only recall was the Annual Meeting????
If so, this is incredulous.
Please, please do explain further, as this will imply the building will be closed about 99% of the year!  There are only about 3-4 committees that I understand have ever been appointed by this Board and it supported no social events in 2007, as the Annual Meeting is simply a business event.
Please, please do explain!

A: PM: I will bring this issue to the Board.  Again, like other Homeowners Associations, there are not "opened times" unless there is a Committee Meeting, Community Events, etc. 
As you stated there has been over 300k spent on this facility and this is for the community and homeowners to use.  We have received so much positive feedback from those renting this facility, because it is much less than having an event elsewhere. 

Q: Res: I expect a very complete and reasonable, detailed explanation about "our use" of "our" $300K investment, oriented to the "our" and not the three members of the Board, can advantageously make "use" the facility for the benefit of the community, not necessarily private renters.  It really needs to be fully explored in the next printed association newsletter.  I have already "paid" for the public use of this facility and to even think of waiting for "Community Events" for which I think there were ZERO in 2007 sponsored by the Board of Directors of our HOA - appears to be as ludicrous an idea as how the center was to be ready in November 2005!
Forget how other HOAs may or may not operate their "civic centers."  The 1,254 property owners of Parkwood will need to decide how to employ their own investment for their own "use."  Is there a "tin ear" in operation here?

A: Awaiting for more reasonable answers........

It is funny to think that the PM truly believes the rent on the "civic center" is so much cheaper than elsewhere.  My wife and I rented an apartment for 6 years when we were married and had free use of the "clubhouse" when we reserved it in advance for parties or other events.  It was part of the "amenities" package of the complex.  To hear that association dues do not pay for all of the amenities but only a select few and only when hosted by a few selected members of our neighborhood is shameful.  I should let everyone know that my wife and I did not move here until the summer of 2007 so I have only had the unfortunate expense of two wasted dues payments thus far.  Those of you who have lived here since construction began, I would expect, are outraged by this, surely.  It appears that short of the pool use and maintenance our HOA does little for us and that has proven to be spotty on the few occasions we have attempted to use it.  It became quite difficult to plan it's use not knowing if it would be open as scheduled.  Sorry to get off topic about this.

Back to the point at hand, the rent and terms of use by members of the neighborhood is prohibitive of its use by the members who paid to help build it.  At $35 per hour with a 4 hour minimum, assuming there is no alcohol and no one inadvertently shows up with a bottle of wine causing all kinds of likely commotion for the the resident with the PM there will only have to be 1 security guard, chosen by the association, at a rate of $25 per hour as well as a $200 "refundable" deposit.  I don't know about y'all but I am inclined to think I'd ever see that deposit returned under any circumstances given the track record of the association and the apparent lack of fiscal responsibility.  So for $60 per hour at 4 hours is $240 + $200 deposit.  Now most resaurants large enough to hold a 30-40 person party will gladly reserve the space for paying guests.  We have done this on several occassions.  Many of them will also offer a discount for the group.  We can usually pull off a nice meal and party for about $10 a head which means about $400 for 40 people.  Of course individuals order drinks on their own dime and pay more in to the restaurant.  I'd much rather spend my money that way than spend it to rent a room that I have to clean up and still have to pay for the food and drinks on top of that.  At least with the restaurant when we are done we can all get up and leave it the way it is and the management is happy for us to do just that because of the revenue generated.

Given these thoughts I find it insulting that our association and BOD believe we are this naive and incapable of simple math.  It in fact costs more to have parties or similar events at the "civic center," at least for us.  I don't think it's a far stretch to think it is for most other folks in our community.  $440 + the cost of food or $400 and far less trouble.  It's a no-brainer!

"It's a no-brainer." Let that one echo for a little while in your mind...... Wonder when the Board of Directors of the Parkwood HOA (BOD) will appoint its Committee dealing with Recreation? Wonder when the BOD will begin opening up "our" RECREATION CENTER for "our" free use? Wonder when the BOD will make public what are its activities, when it next meets, when will the Commitees it has appointed will be meeting at the RECREATION CENTER? Wonder if the BOD can completely revamp its approach of the management of the RECREATION CENTER for 1254 property owners and HOA members to satisfy those besides the party renters who wish to "use" "their" RECREATION CENTER and do so quickly? This member here makes unbelievable sense, and can see what the BOD is doing is not representative of what the 1254 members of the HOA wish of their RECREATION CENTER, nor is the current approach one satisfactory but to a few........ We need changes, lots, and quickly........