19 Aug 2007 9:56 PM:
With regard to the issue of extending ground floor terraces I am in
complete agreement that this must not be done without proper
permission. I also declare a specific interest as an owner of a ground
floor, but would like to make the following points in favour of
allowing extension of ground floor terraces to incorporate the tiled
'common' area above the garages.
There are benefits for both the ground floor owners and the whole
community as follows:
1) As the area in question is 'common' or 'belongs to the community'
it should be 'sold' to the ground floor owners. If the price were,
say, €2,000 Euros per appartment (and assuming 200 ground floor
appartments) on the whole site this could potentially raise a very
large capital sum within the PM2 community which could be invested in
other priority areas for the benefit of the whole community. These
priorities might include:
a) making the site more secure with perimeter fencing and lockable
gates
b) the gardens
c) our own tennis courts
d) reducing the size of the pools so that they do not need a lifeguard
(I read that they are currently 240 sq meters and need to be less than
200 sq meters if lifefuards are to be dispensed with).
Of course the question arises whether to allow this on an individual
apartment basis, on a blcok by block basis or only if there is unanimous agreement of all
ground floor owners of the entire PM2 community (this would probably
be impossible to obtain and gives up the opportunity of the community
raising any capital for investment elsewhere). Of these options, doing
it block by block may be best.
2) Allowing the ground floor owners to extend their terraces will
overcome the issues that the area above the garages is not safe due to
the drop at the front and at the sides.
3) Security is enhanced at least a little by hindering burglars from
walking up and down to check which apartments are likely targets for
valuables. Obviously there is no benefit in preventing a break-in,
but the mere fact that burglars can not so easily walk up and down the
area is a least a small benefit. This is obviously a benefit to
ground floor owners, but the more crime can be deterred at all is a
benefit to the whole community.
4) The benefits to ground floor owners are obvious - a bigger terrace;
and this is a benefit which has a considerable 'value' either in
living in the apartment, letting it out long or short term, or as
incremental value when eventually selling. Hence, selling the area to
ground floor owners is a win-win situation: it allows ground floor
owners to obtain benefit and generates a capital sum for the community
as a whole to gain benefit. The price needs to be attractive so that
ground floor owners take up the opportunity and yet the price also
needs to be realistic to generate decent funds for the community.
I would be grateful if the Community Board of Directors would consider
this seriously.
Community thread:
'Entidad Urbanistica'
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