[2banana]

I ams sure that issue really is if they ignore this exception - in no time they will be over run with kids...

[Wormwood]

The child's grandparents, Judie and Jimmy Stottler, admit Kimberly's been living there in violation of homeowners' association rules for three years.

And since they are in the *wrong*, the Stottlers decided to run to the press hoping to sway public opinion with a naked appeal to emotion.

Sorry folks.

[Bean Counter]

After admitting to violating the Homeowner’s Association rules for three years, now they have the gall to call the HA “mean”.

I’m siding with the Homeowners on this one. It’s clear what the Community’s rules are, it’s obviously for adults only for a reason, and there is nothing “mean” about requiring residents to abide by the rules; especially if they agreed to the rules when they bought their house in the first place.

[muir_redwoods]

They haven't been able to sell their place for 3 years? They just dropped the price 6 months ago? Something tells me they were trying to keep the kid in violation of the rules of the place they bought into when they moved in.

All their neighbors moved there in part, because of the age restriction. It's unfair to take that advantage away from them.

[elli1]

So far, there have been no takers to buy their house, even after they lowered the $189,000 asking price by $10,000 six months ago.

Could be that prospective buyers go sour because of the neighborhood?

[Suzy Quzy]

People in these associations have NO discernemnt!!! The child NEEDS to be with the grandparents...what do they want to put her in a foster home? Yes...that IS what they want.

[Always Right]

It sounds like the neighborhood had been surprisingly understanding for waiting three years before taking action. The Florida real estate market is tough right now, so it is really just an unfortunate situation.

[M203M4]

They voluntarily went out of their way to move into an area that was expressly devoid of children, voluntarily signed a contract with this HOA that they supported the policy, and are now surprised that they are getting the boot for violating their oath?

Their good deed does not nullify the hypocrisy, and the HOA has a contractual obligation to honor its agreements with the other residents. Don't like it? Pass legislation that "adult-only" communities are illegal.

[StuLongIsland]

It is noble of the grandparents to take care of their grandchild, when they are probably at the age when they want to retire from raising kids, but they make the sacrifice in their lives BUT People move to these communities as their own personal choice and their own personal investment, with the contracted obligation of the community to make it an adult only community for many reasons. Reasons that we are familiar with in the general society. People pay for what they perceive is extra peace and quiet. No teenagers running around making havoc, screaming kids running down your driveway with their skateboards, etc. The chance is the over 50s crowd is not going out mugging people and smoking crack behind the dumpster. Of cause they could be smoking pot, drinking, etc but that's not so obvious on the street, that's kept in the house or yard.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I hate HOA’s and will never join one. These people did so willingly, and now must abide by the rules. Sorry, folks, I have to side with the HOA on this one.

[Savage Beast]

What a nasty bunch of grumps.

I've aways refused these "restrictive covenant" places. I want no restrictions on my property. It's payed off too. I've made zillions in real estate.

There are places in Florida where the neighbors can tell you what color you can paint the inside of your house. "Well if it's an ugly color, it could affect the price of MY house."

I had a business partner who moved to town, and he and his wife led the charge against a gay guy in the neighborhood who wanted to paint his house purple. Actually, I thought it looked kinda good.

And another man told me that someone was building a house in his neighborhood, and there are "restrictive covenants" governing how long you can take to build it, and "I'm gonna go over there and tell him he's gotta get it finished!" (This man's a Democrat.) I couldn't understand why he wouldn't want the man to take his time and get it right--not to mention not want to harrass someone who might be having some kind of difficulty.

As a Mexican immigrant said to me: "If other people can tell me what I can and can't do with my own property, then I don't own it." I'd gladly swap every gringo Leftist in the U.S.A. for a Mexican--no screening necessary.

[HamiltonJay]

HOA.... socialism at work. Anyone who willingly signs away their rights to live in a particular community is a fool IMHO.

[Frapster]

Circumstances change - good for the Gparents. They may get screwed in the end but they’re doing the right thing. It’s a hard life.

[JamesP81]

I want to make something clear, just so we can prevent the mincing of words. Most here are advocating removing a child from her family and placing her in foster care, for the sake of money. I want everyone to remember that clearly.

Especially considering that the grandparents have lowered their selling price. Seems to me that the National Socialist running the HOA is running all the buyers off.

[windcliff]

ping

[BritExPatInFla]

The family should simply lower the asking price of their home to the absolute minimum they can afford to accept, and thereby drive down the avg. price on their block.

[DesScorp]

I hate homeowner's associations. This is America, and what I do in my house, or who lives in my house, is my business, not the business of neighborhood busybodies. These HA's are like a weird kind of communism...even though you own the properties, the "commune" gets to dictate your actions.

And for you Libertarians that are going to run your mouths about "freedom of contract", the highest contract in the land is the Constitution, and it trumps these little cults.

[yuta250]

I despise HOA’s and would never buy into such a community myself, but these folks agreed to the restrictions when they moved there so tough luck. Having trouble selling the house? Then lower the price, and quit whining about how ‘unfair’ it all is and accept responsibility for your decisions.

[ryan71]

I live in Sarasota. Some of the retired people here can be ruthless.

They want everything exactly the way they want it, when they want it. And they want it for free.

Some of them.

[VaBthang4]

All due respect but why would anyone want to read or post this article? it is overwhelmingly adolescent in it’s approach. The writer does an overwhelmingly poor job of reporting what is going on.

It is a poorly written, purely emotional piece that leaves the reader not knowing what exactly is going on.

Oivey.