Common Property: May 2010

slope erosion

sinking buildings

underground pipes broke - pavement patched

trees standing after building envelope repairs

bushes and ground cover growing back

until roots of bushes and ground cover torn out

This most pest infested one was preserved in front of Unit 409

It grew back

In 2005 trees in front of Unit 409 were preserved during building envelope repairs

In 2006 Al MacLeod cut them down - without a vote
after the building envelope was completed

Hydro kiosk left filthy black for years
not clad to match building - as it originally did

2 years to wash it - 3 years to paint it

5 years with nowhere else to put the cladding

2007 - height of birch root suckers after 1

year

Stump left at 409's front entrance
for about 3 years

Removed in September 2008

After the surrounding landscaping was destroyed

by certain owners and their families

leaving years of barren land

late in 2008 clover (or chickweed) cropped up

Front entrance of Unit 409 in 2008

2008 - birch tree suckers cut down

rocks became ground cover

Without the trees Unit 409 sunk again, after nearly 20 years of stability. 409's new patio door was sticking, the threshhold was scarred, and the warranty was voided as a result of structural movement.

150-250 trees cut down - red dot from laser on floor

sinking building - sinking retaining wall

2008 - beams added to shore up building

Hole (46x46x66 inches) open from May to Nov/08

Earth eroded - caves developed

wooden support added - but below the level of cracked concrete

trees - restrictive covenants - shim in garage

suddenly cracking pavement

patched in more than a dozen places

underground pipes broke all over complex

Some say the roots of 1 living birch tree can absorb 10 bathtubs full of water in 1 spring day

Falling Rains - Rushing Drains
(volume must be up to hear these videos, click triangle pointer to play)
This is what rain sounds like - after removal of about 150 trees

http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/MagRack/SF/Summer%2090%20M.htm
Copyright © 1990 REAP Canada. Henry Kock resident horticulturalist at the Arboretum at the University of Guelph wrote in part:
... Now is the time to look back at what happens to the earth when trees are removed over large areas, trees that are the sheltering skin of this earth, that prevent the wind from drying the soil and blowing it away. ...When the wind removes soil moisture the land loses its heat holding capacity...rainfall runs off (with soil) into the ditches instead of gently soaking into the soil to replenish dropping water tables ... The evidence of a dropping water table can be seen in dead tree tops, trees that have not yet reached half their life expectancy...When a tree is stressed by drought all of the water that it can take up is needed for transpiration - to keep the plant cool. Consequently, there is little water available for photosynthesis. Without energy conversion from sunlight the tree can not feed itself well enough and the root system suffers directly, in turn leading to a downward spiral of reduced health and strength for the whole tree. This is true for any plant...

No police report. No liability insurance report.
November 17, 2008, Province report:

"Owners of two BC condo complexes have lost substantial amounts from their reserve funds after making risky investments... In the Okanagan case, the owners lost nearly $100,000... Tony Gioventu of the Condominium Homeowners Association warns that condo owners hurt by bad investments can sue their strata council or they may have to absorb the loss... Gioventu said strata councils may try to recoup some of the money by making an insurance claim under the "errors and admissions (sic) insurance of the strata corporations."

Decisions in history - not in minutes

panoramic views for some

roof tops, heat, grime, and noise for others

surrounded with soul crushing views

illegally added extra decks for some
lost greenery (landscape architect's) for others

0-16 hrs/month for 5.5 acres is not maintenance

Roots crushed by heavy weight - trees killed

chemical weed removal - ground cover destroyed

roots overheating - trees dying - pavement breaking

trees unable to stand alone - blown down by wind

unprotected roots - damaged water table - dead trees

root bound in pots - abandoned for a decade

1 vine maple, 6 birch trees, and 1 pine tree
were cut down around this strata lot

April 2006 - 6 or so trees marked as high risk

after our trees had been cut down

trellis on deck - replaces maple tree in ground

after 20 years "cracks" were suddenly in the minutes repeatedly - alleging that "settling cracks" are "owner responsibility"

putting up a fence at the bottom of the slope
didn't replace the trees

or hide the stark loss

and crushing costs

It was built after Mr Mac removed the screening trees and bushes and destroyed our beautiful street of dreams landscaping. The fence is an attempt to restore some lost privacy, but it does not remedy the loss. It added costs owners could not afford to bear and sticks another unfunded long term maintenance burden onto the permanent owners. What is actually needed is to reinstate the trees and bushes on this high profile corner and charge all of the associated costs back to Mr Mac.

Property Disclosure Statement - Strata Title Properties:
What is the monthly maintenance fee per month?
Does this include: Gardening?

2010 - first day of spring