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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