The commercial units
In some condos, the commercial units are part of the same condo
corporation and in others, they are a separate condo corporation that
has shared-facilities with the residential units. It is important to
read the declaration and see which applies to your condo.
If the commercial units belong to your corporation, then the
declaration will state how many commercial units exist. The owners of
the commercial units have a vote just like the residential units.
Some
commercial units are owned by a single landlord, or company, who leases
individual units out or the units may be owned by the persons who own
the small businesses.
Tensions between
the two groups
The residents and the commercial units often bicker over parking
problems. Residents and their guests park in the commercial parking
spaces and the retail customers park in the residents' parking spaces,
in the fire routes, the residential visitors parking spots and
double-park in the driveways.
There can also be feuds over litter, annoying oders and noise and there
may be issues with the retail customers wandering into the residential
common elements with attending vandalism and security issues.
On the other hand, commercial units freak out when the residents' dogs
pee in their doorways and on their planters.
Contacting them
Just
walk in, introduce yourself and tell them that you are a candidate for
the board of directors. You can also get an owners' list from the
property manager. If the manager will not give you a list, go to the
municipal
office and look up the names from the
municipal tax records.
Getting
their
support
The
small businessmen just want to run their shops and usually have no
interest in condo politics. The incumbents almost always recieve the
proxies for all the commercial
units. Being on the board, they have the regular contact with the
commercial units and do them small favours.
If the residential units are battling with the business owners, then
you may find the commercial proxies hard to get. You may have success
in getting
support if you promise to work together
with retail owners to find solutions to the parking and other issues.
Any appeals for them to raise the condo fees now to boost the reserve
funds may fall on deaf ears.
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