Personally, I think HOA's are just plain evil, however, I have come up...

with a different sort of HOA.

How about an eco-HOA.

In order to live in this particular neighborhood, people must have solar water heaters, clothes lines, composting piles, grow a garden, water barrels, low flow toilets and florescent light bulbs to start off with.

From there, anything that improves the house or surround property in an eco-friendly way (xeriscape, perforated concrete driveways, composting toilets, solar panels, wind turbine, etc) will be awarded points, which could be used to cash in for either more eco friends stuff or discounts on contractors working on your home.

Just like any organization, it would take time for people to join and for it to become a movement.

Personally, I don't care for anyone being forced to join anything, but given it's basis, I think it's a pretty good idea. Current home owners can opt in or out, but new owners would have to become a member.

The upside is, lower water bills, lower electric bills, fresh food from the yard, providing a basis for sustainability.

The downside...well, it's another HOA.

just off the top of my head.

But the initial investment, I'd think, would be considerable. Just to get the idea off the ground.

I think perhaps some sort of endorsement via a solar water heater company then them offering discounted installation or several companies to get the ball rolling.

what is interesting as I think about it more, once the houses are set up with these additions, I would think, logically, their value would go up.

And with a higher value, it would attract more investors.

However, the biggie is getting the various neighbors interested and on board.

Maybe a staged plan. Start off with the solar heaters or maybe just low flow toilets :), the build from there.

I think also working with the local town council would be good. Here in Austin, they are pretty hip to energy conservation. Maybe make it a city wide thing.

I felt terrible for her. Then she said they were moving to Austin, and I practically cheered. She said there is no way they would have gone anywhere but Austin, lol.

Apparently it is more solidly progressive (and more intellectual) than right here (San Fernando Valley). So good for her.

only the have mores can afford. I want this to be for everyone.

simple things sometimes are the best solutions.

that would allow middle- and lower-income people to afford to buy in.

For example, could a community of 200 houses get a windmill or geothermal heat exchange? :shrug:

On energybulliten.com I read a story a few weeks ago about a community that did just that.

just so you don't have to google it.

Some things would need to be a bit more flexible. For example, I have allergies, and drying anything outdoors is a no-no. Others may not be physically able to garden. But the rest of the ideas DEFINATELY would be great ideas.

I would think that in the beginning those who can should and those who can't, do the best they can.

And for those who aren't physically, financially or mentally up for it, there could be other things that they could do.

I want to caste a large net and include everyone.

Once a person feels left out, problems begin and it falls apart.

As someone who lives in a Florida condo with huge HOA fees, I love your ideas. As a matter of fact, since I am on the Board of Directors, I'm going to to try to institute some of your suggestions. The florescent light bulbs will be the easiest, but the old rich people give me a hard time when I suggest we solar heat the pool that they like kept at 80-degrees year round. They don't care about saving the planet - they're almost out of here and they think they're taking it all with them! After all, Florida is God's waiting room.

Thanks.

go for it! good luck. :)

to maintain.. in the meantime, you get to know your neighbors while tending it.

sadly, the few open spots around there are quickly built upon. The housing bubble hasn't hit Austin quite like it has the rest of the country.

community gardens, to me, are really the the best idea, not just for growing food, but for the obvious reason of bringing a community together.

I used to live in Austin in the 80's! I guess Liberty Lunch is long gone? I miss Tejas!

I am working in a building that is on the site of the old liberty. :(

electric lounge is gone, black cat went up in smoke, the list goes on and on.

It's not the capital of live music anymore for about 10 years. It's the capital of live bad cover bands aimed at drunk frat boys now. :(

At least the Continental is still here.

What about sixth street? Did it do it's big thing on Halloween? It was always just sheer madness like a mardi gras, but something to behold!

more or less the same, but it's now so controlled by mounted police the days of actual fun, per say, have been dampened down.

Sixth street, is slowly being gentrified. Various chain type "college bars" are moving in. I suspect it will be a like times square is now only on a smaller scale in a couple of years.

Any good live music you want to hear, you have to go down to red river. That's were the last vestiges of music reside.

Oh and Emo's now charges to get in. Totally depressing.

feasible. Same goes for water barrels. I'd love to have a garden, but my every effort has failed. The desert doesn't lend itself to gardening . . . and a water barrel? No way. It would never get even close to full, as whatever was in it would evaporate before the next rainfall!

It's certainly a better idea than the HOA's that apparently exist ONLY to force everyone to comply with the tastes of a selected few, but it would have to be tailored to the region.

Definitely something to think about!

It certainly wouldn't be a one size fits all sort of thing.

would work best for your community needs.

On Edit: it may just come down to being the only thing that sustains your community. Greenhouses can grow gourds (pumpkins and squash), tomatos thrive in this environment and don't get chewed alive by bugs, and beans and pepper plants do nicely as well.

If you are talking about an HOA for single family home communities they will be individually metered for water and electricity. Therefore, the HOA is not paying the electric or water bill and has absolutely no say about low-flow toilets, solar water heaters or fl. light bulbs. Period.

Discounts from contractors? Again the HOA has no relationship with the contractors working on individual homes, therefore no discounts can be offered.

The changes you suggest that you might like would make an HOA more, not less invasive. It seems the opposite of what you would want.

HOAs are like an abortion - if you don't want one don't have one.

did you actually read my post? I said people who already live in the neighborhood could opt to be in or out and only new owners would be required to be members.

And like I said, in my OP, I hate HOA's, however, since there is a large number of them in the states, I think it's time that some rethinking as to how they are organized and run needs to be redone.

having a "eco-HOA" is something that, given our current state of economy, fuel prices and price of food, would actually help a community develop into something that traditional HOA's have failed miserable at, which is, bringing together a community that supports one another.

you have no idea what you are talking about. An HOA exists for the single purpose of collecting the money to pay the common expenses of a community. Example- hiring and paying the landscaper to mow the common areas, maintaining the entry signage, paying the bills for common lighting, etc.

HOA's are created by the Developer (also known as the Declarant of the HOA). The Developer hires the attorney that draws up the governing documents for a community that later becomes the constitution of the HOA. The HOA won't actually function for several more years, either after a period of time has passed or the Developer has sold a certain percentage of the lots/houses. The HOA that you hate so much is not even in existence and it can not influence anything, or change anything that you suggest, even at a later time. When you buy a home you buy into the existing "Developer" plan or you don't buy in at all. The HOA can not change the legal/property structure.

In short, you hate the wrong entity - hate the developer, the city/county planning departments and your fellow citizens that don't desire non-traditional communities.

piss on the idea, have fun with that.

instead of deriding the idea, why don't you add to the conversation rather than being a life sucker.

I'm only proposing the concept. It's about flushing out the idea, for crying out loud.

get a grip.

So far I have received very positive replies, with some really great insights and suggestions.

I guess you choose to be part of the problem rather than trying to come up with a solution.

I don't really care for negative people who choose to scoff.

You will now be blocked.

hating and blaming HOAs.

If you want to fight about something at least pick the correct target. That was my point.

It was a bit before my time. Could be wrong. Like any "association," it would be good if your inner-product with the association's goals is high. If your inner product is low, then you will hate it.

:P

Although, years down the road, it may evolve into that.

I'm trying to attract a broad spectrum with this idea.

The repuke nuts that think global warming is a scam to the full on believers.

What they both have in common is wanting to lower monthly bills.

That's what I'm after. A two fold solution. Present it as being good for the earth and as a good economic choice.

As it becomes more and more ingrained, then perhaps it will then take the leap to an eco-village, but if it was presented that way, unless you have a bend to embrace the eco-lifestyle, most Americans would avoid it, mostly due to bad press and our bizarre belief in self reliance. Most people don't talk to their neighbors now.

However, if they all have something in common (besides being human and sharing the planet), then dialog begins. And only then do the wheels of change begin to turn.

EcoVillage is not a commune. It's an "intentional community."

most of the press would look at them as such.

Frankly, I think they are wonderful examples of where we will all be in a decade (hopefully).

Unless the general press gets better in pointing out there advantages (perhaps in a few years), they will be viewed (sadly) as communes.

Frankly, I personally believe that we need a radical change in society in order to survive, but again, sadly, only a few people are hip to that, the others have to be led into it more slowly.

states. because the water has to reach the ground and go to those with water rights and of course end up greening some lawn in Las Vegas.

Well, I think like any well managed group, it would have to adapt to the local surroundings. Just a concept right now.

can help fight the anti - water barrel legislation.

I'm going to start with the little HOA in my neighborhood. I'm not a member and no one is required to join it, but if they are willing to listen to the idea, prehaps it will spread.