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Talltree South would like to thank the following winners of the Holiday Cheer patio, window, and balcony decorating contest. Prizes are being distributed.

1st Place:  Bin Dinh, 4909-108.
The 1st place winner has a gorgeous Christmas tree on the patio, also stars and a wreath. The judges felt that this was the most artistic and beautiful display of holiday cheer.

2nd Place:  Joel Velasquez and Kim Montes, 4923-107.   The 2nd place winner has decorated their balcony with three lighted trees, lights that change colors, and a penguin. The judges felt that the changing colors and the way the lights framed the unit were very beautiful.

 3rd Place:  Marie and John Sibenik, 4913-T7.   The 3rd place winner decorated their furnace room door and their windows with lights, stars, and nativity figures, and featured a snow man on the door. The judges felt that this decoration beautified the Talltree South structural elements.

Honorable Mention (no prizes, just appreciation):
Marco and AnaLiz Ravina, 4901-102:  Stars, train, and snowman
Eduardo & Ena Tuazon, 4923-205: Palm tree, raindeer, duck, Mickey Mouse, and nativity.
Sheron Metevia, 4923-T6:    Huge wreath and little lighted trees

Thank you also to the judges:  Brittany Boone (4929-210), Domenick Gargani (4909-107), Mindy Culver (4911-201), Dorothy Firsching (4905-111). Particular thanks to Mindy for taking the photos and bringing chocolate for the judges!

My article was just published in the July 2011 issue of Quorum Magazine, of the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (WMCCAI), under the title Hard Work — Rewarded.

This article detailed the accomplishments that landed us the “Most Improved” condo association through application of CAI guidelines. I don’t think I can repeat it here but I will provide a link if I can find it online.

The cycles are amazing – history has already repeated itself more than once. So much is at stake, dependent upon a mix of volunteer efforts, overworked managers,misguided agendas, ignorance and apathy. People buy condos so that they don’t have to mow the lawn, but if they don’t pay attention, the condominium concept puts their investment and home at risk. How well does it work? Stay tuned. I’ve submitted another article and have a history of Talltree South in progress.

I am thrilled to report that I’ve found numerous people who remember Talltree South in the early days, and actually have uncovered a stash of records in the shed. None too soon — the bottom boxes were damp and falling apart, the rubber bands brittle and stuck to the pages, many of which were yellow and fading.

I have talked with Chele Brown, Hugo Brandts, Bob Hennessee, and others. In so many cases, a single person determines the path of the condo for everyone in the association, because a five person board may vote 3 to 2 to make momentous decisions. I have found that Talltree South has had THREE rocky periods, and at least THREE periods of great management. History has already repeated itself.

This has convinced me that the STORIES need to be told. I believe that owners will enjoy and learn from stories even more than from admonishments to get involved. Today, the few determine the nature of the environment where the rest reside. Will those few make it a better place, allow it to deteriorate, or make truly awful, uninformed decisions (even if well-intentioned)? Will they fade away, be missing in action, or get sued? Will be boards be autocratic or humane?

As a really nice note, one Talltree South board from the past had an older woman put spray snow on her windows rather than the obligatory curtains. The board members talked with her and realized that she did it because she could not afford much. They took up a collection from the owners attending the board meeting and used it to buy her the curtains. I can tell you that today’s boards would be more likely to enforce the covenants with due process: notices, a hearing, and perhaps a fine.

How did this play out in the real estate crisis? A bank, in its infinite wisdom, “secured” a Talltree South condo unit by turning off its heat, which caused the pipes to freeze and destroyed the unit and damaged neighboring units with a huge flood — not even realizing that the heat was included in the condo fees, which had to be paid anyway, so they were not saving themselves any money anyway. They even had changed the locks, so the condo management had to break a window to get in, to deal with the flood.

The stories are so compelling! The history of Talltree South from the early days to the present becomes a case study with lessons for all condo owners and managers (not to mention being a fantastic read for those of us who live or lived there). I need your memories, records, and old photos, though! And, does anyone know how to reach Tom Kennedy, Bernard Manning, or the Seven D’s?

I will continue to post progress. Call me and I’ll fill your ear…

By the way, we are still urgently looking for a new site manager to start next month!!

I have decided that, having been associated with Talltree South, Maplewood Village, and what is now known as the MapleTree Pool in some way for so many years, it is now time to record some of its history and stories. I have begun writing our stories and reaching out to other people.

The stories we have are so rich and interesting, from buying a fledgling condo from developers, through changing demographics and various boards and management companies, through the real estate crisis, and beyond.

There are original owners of Talltree South who may be contacted, and others who came in the 1980s, the 1990s and pre-real-estate-crisis, those that bought in the price run-up, and those who came in more recently and picked up the pieces. It looks as if about half of those who bought at the top are now gone.These figures are not entirely complete but they begin to illustrate some of the trends we have been seeing.

I’ve started writing and calling people. I’ve also begun to reach out beyond Talltree South to the other Fairfax Heritage developments. We might also want to pull together the various communities to share stories and best practices, sometime along the way. If you can help, please let me know. Talltree South is Fairfax Heritage X Condominium. Maplewood is IX. They all were built in the 1961 – 1964 timeframe and converted to condos in the late 1970s. What are they like today?

The South Fairfax Heritage Recreation Association B pool now has a name:  the MapleTree Pool.

We have gotten it a sign, as well.  Now it has its own identity!