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GCAA
News Click
Here for the Latest Legislative News
June 2008 New AANC Lease The Apartment Association of North Carolina has selected Brownlee Law Firm to perform 2008 revisions to its outstanding publications, the AANC Lease Agreement and the AANC Legal Handbook. AANC has solicited suggestions from apartment operators across the state for making these fine products better, more up to date, and useful. The new publications are scheduled to be available in early autumn of this year.
June 2008 Housing Bonds for Apartments According to Charlotte City Hall and affordable housing insiders, it appears the City Housing Trust Fund shall be allocated $19.4M, subject to November referendum voter approval. $2.5M is already earmarked for a particular project, so if passed, that leaves $16.9 housing dollars for two years going forward. City Council will provide direction on the allocation of these funds amongst the various housing categories; it is believed that the allocation will include money for private sector rehab for the first time. One estimate is that $3.5M will go to this category. Landlords will have to match 50% to qualify. At least two City Council members see the private sector rehab approach as an important tool in helping stem neighborhood decline.
The City's Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee will begin to host forums later this summer.
June 2008 Sprinkler Rules Modified In a change of local Charlotte Fire Department Policy that will be welcomed by some Charlotte-Mecklenburg apartment owners, local fire officials this week announced that "off-site monitored" properties built under the 2002 North Carolina Building Code can now submit permits and plans to retrofit to the 2006 Code (by sprinklering decks, patios, breezeways and storage rooms) to relieve monitoring requirements at that property going forward. Our members had previously inquired about relief from monitoring requirements in existing apartments and were told by fire officials that relieving this duty was not possible. In making this announcement, Charlotte Fire Marshal Rob Kinniburgh reiterated that the 2006 N.C. Building Code does not require off-site monitoring of R-2 buildings less than 4 stories and the 2006 N.C. Fire Code does not require electronic monitoring of the NFPA 13R compliant sprinkler system, so long as the system meets the exceptions provided in the code.
Kinniburgh additionally related that he will check to learn if this is also a state position that will cover other local jurisdictions in N.C.
May 2008 GCAA Officer Honored by NAA GCAA was extremely pleased to learn that the Association's 2009 Treasurer, Tami Fossum, was selected to receive the National Apartment Association's annual Paragon Award for Professional Designate of the Year. Tami, who is a Regional Asset Manager with Blue Ridge Property Management, is an 18-year veteran of the multifamily industry. She holds her CAPS (Certified Apartment Property Supervisor) Designation from NAA as well as her Housing Credit Certified Professional Designation, ARM designation, and both Real Estate and Notary Public licenses. Tami has been an active GCAA member since 1993, has served on the Association's Board of Directors since 2004, and currently chairs the Programs Committee. The GCAA awarded Tami the Volunteer of the Year award in 2005 and the Instructor of the Year Award in 2007. Tami will receive her Paragon Award for Professional Designate of the Year at the NAA Education Conference in Orlando, Florida in June. Sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to Tami from all of us at GCAA!
April 2008 GCAA Director Receives Award The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee held a gala event on April 25th to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act in the United States. At the gala, the CRC presented four "Fair Housing Hero" awards. Among the recipients were GCAA Executive Director Ken Szymanski and GCAA member firm CWS Apartment Homes.
Ken was named a Fair Housing Hero for his role in advocating equal opportunity housing to community groups, real estate organizations, public officials, and the general public during his 21-years at the GCAA. The CRC also acknowledged the fact that Ken has taught a Fair Housing course to over 1,000 GCAA members throughout his tenure at the Association.
CWS Apartment Homes, which owns and manages over 13,000 residential apartment homes in five states, was acknowledged as another Fair Housing Hero for its exceptional commitment to fair housing.
April 2008 New Water Use Restrictions in Charlotte Charlotte Oks One-Day-Per-Week Lawn Watering
Following the latest drought update and continued reports of improving water supplies along the Catawba River, water use restrictions in Charlotte-Mecklenburg were amended to allow lawn watering, residential car washing, and filling pools/fountains one day per week, effective April 19th. The amended restrictions for all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities customers are as follows:
Lawn watering (including the operation of a sprinkler system), residential car washing, and filling swimming pools and fountains are permitted 1 day per week.
Customers with odd-numbered addresses may water lawns on Saturdays.
Customers with even-numbered addresses may water lawns on Sundays.
REMEMBER: Your watering day ends at midnight Mandatory details and conservation tips are available at www.cmutilities.com and www.saveyourwater.org. Customers may also contact the City-County customer service center by dialing 311 or 704.336.7600.
March 2008 NC Accessibility Rules Finalized Following nearly a year of Ad Hoc Accessibility Code meetings, a public hearing, and emotional fanfare from around the state, a pivotal meeting to digest proposed accessibility changes was held in Raleigh on February 27th. Interests of the apartment industry were capably represented by developer/AANC President-Elect John Porter, architect Bernice Cutler, and GCAA/AANC Executive Director Ken Szymanski.
At the meeting, Dominic Marinelli of United Spinal (a national accessibility advocacy leader) made a thorough and compelling case that going to the ICC Chapter 11 with N.C. amendments makes the most sense for a variety of reasons, including ANSI A117.1 compliance, ADA compliance, Fair Housing compliance, and most especially because going to Chapter 11 was the best deal for disabled individuals. The AIA-NC (architecture association) leaders were there, and concurred. About six N.C. advocates were there, and were skeptical that leaving current North Carolina's Volume 1-C and its gains would be a mistake. A number of key advocates, including ARC of NC and the NC Housing Coalition, were not present.
The bottom line is that the move to Chapter 11 w/NC amendments made by last yearÂ’s Ad Hoc Committee was presented for a vote to the 17-member NCBCC on March 11th. The group voted unanimously to pass the amendments, including those pertaining to accessibility. Effective date will be January 1, 2009, although it is likely that several jurisdictions will adopt the new code up to six months prior to that date.
March 2008 '08 Trade Show WINNERS GCAA realized record attendance by both exhibitors and apartment industry guests at its annual Trade Show on March 13, 2008. This year the event moved uptown to a new and improved venue, Charlotte Convention Center, where everyone had a wonderful time. Thanks to all of our exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, booth judges, and guests! Recipients of the 2008 Exhibitor Awards were as follows:
Best of Show - Diversified Flooring
Best Product Display - Apartment Finder
Most Original - ForRent.com
Rookie of the Year - Lumbee Grading & Paving
Cash Prize Winners were:
$200 - Alyson McClure, Cheswyk at Ballantyne
$300 - Carla Presson, Hunt Club
$500 - Robert Bailey, Legacy at Manchester Village
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January 2008 CMU Drought Update Mandatory restrictions remain in effect for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities customers, despite welcome rainfall that has boosted lake storage levels. Duke Energy's revised projection states further water use restrictions may not be necessary before August. This is encouraging news for everyone in the Catawba River basin; however, it does not indicate long-term drought relief. Mecklenburg County continues to be designated in "exceptional drought," the most severe level.
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November 2007 2007 Accolade Award Winners At the GCAA's annual Accolade Awards Event on November 8th, the following association members received special recognition for their outstanding contributions to the multifamily industry:
The Lex Marsh Award - Jamie McLawhorn, Marsh Properties
Manager of the Year - Melody Reddick, Ashford Place (Blue Rige Property Mgmt.)
Support Team Member of the Year - Krissy Britton, Legends (Riverstone Residential)
Service Team Member of the Year - Ken Carey, Colonial Village @ S. Tryon (Colonial Properties Trust)
Associate of the Year - Diane Crum, Aaron's Corporate Furnishings
Volunteers of the Year - Kim Fallon, Charter Properties and Peter Dineen, First Restoration Services
Instructor of the Year - Tami Fossum, Blue Ridge Property Management
Congratulations to all!
November 2007 GCAA Names 2008 Officers The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association has named the following Board of Directors Officers for 2008:
President - Marcie Williams, Camden Property Trust
Vice President - Adam Ford, Crosland, LLC
Treasurer - Tami Fossum, Blue Ridge Property Management
Secretary - Peter Dineen, First Restoration Services
Tim Hose of First LandMark will serve as Immediate Past President.
September 2007 GCAA Receives Award On September 18th of this year, the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association received an honor from its long-time partner, Crisis Assistance Ministry. Crisis is a local agency which provides emergency funds for rent and utilities, clothing and household goods, and counseling services to needy families in Charlotte. GCAA members have volunteered at Crisis for at least a dozen years, and often funds raised at GCAA events such as Golf and Bowling Tournaments are donated to the organization. In the past six years alone, GCAA members have helped to raise over $20,000.00 for Crisis Assistance Ministry. At the Crisis annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner in September, GCAA was awarded a Community Partnership Award to honor and recognize our association's exemplary collaboration with Crisis Assistance Ministry. GCAA Products & Services Council President Peter Dineen of First Restoration Services and GCAA Communications Manager Irene Gammon accepted the award on behalf of the association.
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