| Copyright © 2006 San Tomas West Neighborhood Association - All Rights Reserved |
Question: What is a Neighborhood Association?
The STWNA is a Neighborhood Association, read below to learn
more about what that means to our community.
more about what that means to our community.
What we are: The STWNA is a Neighborhood Association. Neighborhood
Associations are public organizations run by volunteers. The Association elects it’
s own officers, determines it’s own priorities, and decides for themselves how
they will meet their agreed upon goals. Typical NA activities may include
monitoring and expressing neighborhood views on city issues, establishing
neighborhood programs such as Neighborhood Watch, and organizing social
functions such as picnics or pot-lucks, clean-ups, beautification, traffic safety
projects, etc. NA’s provide a means for reviewing issues directly affecting their
neighborhood and the community as a whole. They serve as a voice for
neighborhood interests and concerns. They improve communication between the
city and its residents. They promote neighborhood identity. The city supports
neighborhood associations, which are recognized by the City Council, and are
looked to for advice and recommendations regarding neighborhood issues,
particularly safety and quality of life concerns.
Associations are public organizations run by volunteers. The Association elects it’
s own officers, determines it’s own priorities, and decides for themselves how
they will meet their agreed upon goals. Typical NA activities may include
monitoring and expressing neighborhood views on city issues, establishing
neighborhood programs such as Neighborhood Watch, and organizing social
functions such as picnics or pot-lucks, clean-ups, beautification, traffic safety
projects, etc. NA’s provide a means for reviewing issues directly affecting their
neighborhood and the community as a whole. They serve as a voice for
neighborhood interests and concerns. They improve communication between the
city and its residents. They promote neighborhood identity. The city supports
neighborhood associations, which are recognized by the City Council, and are
looked to for advice and recommendations regarding neighborhood issues,
particularly safety and quality of life concerns.
What we are NOT: We are NOT a Homeowners Association (HOA). HOA’s are
private entities most often created by the real estate developer when a
residential subdivision is first developed or sold. HOA’s are considered private
corporations and as a condition of purchasing a home in the subdivision with an
HOA, buyers are required to become members. HOA’s assess monthly or
annual dues or fees which can be hundreds of dollars, and require the
homeowners to abide by the HOA’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions
(CC&R’s). Some CC&R’s are very simple and meant to protect a neighborhood
from damage, i.e. cutting down trees. Others are more extensive and dictate
what a homeowner can and can not do with their property, i.e. paint color,
number of cars, etc. When a CC&R violation occurs, a homeowner may face a
sometimes hefty fine.
private entities most often created by the real estate developer when a
residential subdivision is first developed or sold. HOA’s are considered private
corporations and as a condition of purchasing a home in the subdivision with an
HOA, buyers are required to become members. HOA’s assess monthly or
annual dues or fees which can be hundreds of dollars, and require the
homeowners to abide by the HOA’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions
(CC&R’s). Some CC&R’s are very simple and meant to protect a neighborhood
from damage, i.e. cutting down trees. Others are more extensive and dictate
what a homeowner can and can not do with their property, i.e. paint color,
number of cars, etc. When a CC&R violation occurs, a homeowner may face a
sometimes hefty fine.
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| Some Key Differences Between Neighborhood Associations and Homeowners Associations: 1. Membership in an HOA is tied to the purchase of a home, while membership in a Neighborhood Association, such as ours, is voluntary. 2. HOA’s can dictate what it’s members can and cannot do, Neighborhood Associations, such as ours, CANNOT. 3. HOA’s focus is generally on property value and appearances, while a Neighborhood Association, such as ours, is that of social exchanges and quality of life concerns. |
| "We are simply a group of concerned community members working to organize and unite our neighborhood with the desire to be active participants in shaping a stronger neighborhood." |
| SAN TOMAS WEST |
Neighborhood Association
| SAN TOMAS WEST |
Neighborhood Association