Ocala, Florida HOA Bans Hurricane Evacuees

[lynn271]

http://www.nbc6.net/news/4951969/detail.html (http://www.nbc6.net/news/4951969/detail.html)

OCALA, Fla. -- Subdivision rules are keeping some Ocala residents from temporarily housing Hurricane Katrina evacuees, and angry homeowners said it might make them move.

"They're talking about their feelings, not using common sense," [Homeowners' Association Bob] Watson told the paper. (Speaking of residents who want to take in victims.)

"These are single-family residences, and that's what they were intended for," Audrey Andrews, vice president of the homeowners association, said Monday.

The director of a Florida community coalition said similar restrictions are routinely upheld in court, but boards can decide to not enforce them.

[mcc]

Homeowners' associations are scary.

[lynn271]

The irony is blinding. HOA's supposedly exist to maintain high property values. (I think they exist mostly so little tinpot wanna-be dictators, like Watson and Andrews, can harass their neighbors, but that's another story.) So when this news gets around, who the heck is going to want to live there among such people? What's going to happen to their property values then?

[Danustouch]

Guh..I take reservations for a Hotel in Ocala. I'm saddened to hear this. :(

[Gwenhwyfar]

thats crap, so many people are trying to help...but to get caught up in the red tape...its total BS.

[Gareth]

Gotta love the HOA's in this country.
I've had my share of headaches with the one we deal with.