I posted this to Townsq last week, but it seems to have disappeared. I feel that these sort of questions should be honestly answered and not avoided.
Question: why can’t we replace our lollipop light?
The Master’s Association has replaced their lollipop lights with sleek, modern and efficient lighting. Why can’t Casas do the same?
The short answer is: we don’t have the money. The longer answer is that the lights have never been an item in our reserves. For 60 years, most of the lights have been the responsibility of Masters, as laid out by their Governing Documents. It’s only in the last few years that this has been questioned.
No matter who’s responsibility they are, replacement costs for the lights have never been included in our Reserves. Here’s how that works: we just painted the community for $500,000, because that money had been accumulated in our Reserves and labeled for that purpose. For over 10 years, a portion of our Reserve funding has gone to that line item. Now it will begin again, accumulating for 10 years or so, at whatever cost we project into the future.
But for the lights to be funded from reserves, they would have had to be added as a line item 10-20 years ago.
So…if we wanted to replace the lollipop lights, now or in the future, we would have to ascertain how much that would cost, and then choose one of three choices:
- Declare a Special Assessment for that amount, with the money earmarked for that purpose. This would probably need a vote of the homeowners.
- Take out a loan for that amount, while raising assessments to pay off the loan over 10-20 years.
- Add the lights to our Reserve study next October and increase our Reserve contributions. This may take 10 years or so.
The first two “choices” are there for completeness. The reality is that the last choice is probably the only one open to us.
Leave the L0llipot Lights – they give better lightening than the news ones of the Masters. Also let’s not spend = waste more money on so called improvements which really are not improvements. Above all:
NO increase in dues!
Leave the lights alone (they work) and provide a little nostalgia for the 1980’s
We should reserve money for maintenance and repair of the lights. I always see one or two broken or not working when I walk through the neighborhood. Keep the classic lights but treat them with care and kindness
I also cannot understand why the lights need to be replaced. They are old yes but so are our homes, the lights enhance the integrity of the architecture they are unique. They give off excellent nighttime light when one is out walking, they illuminate the street signs for drivers, they are interesting to look at and in general my opinion is, keep the lollipop lights as is then you won’t have to worry about the cost of new ones. One of the reasons we purchased our home here was because of the grounds (which have been modified drastically) and the unique design of the homes.
Vie Giordano – Lisbon Way
We agree! Vie, well stated.
Jacque Cooper
Via Magellan Dr.
I agree with the well stated comments above. The lollipop lights match our 80’s Houses!🏠
Jacque
I agree, leave lights as is. We might be able to make all the bulbs the same color and brightness as they need replacement for a little uniformity.
If there were extra $$ spend elsewhere, the lights are fine!
Greg