Ownership
History
- During 1928, a real estate developer commenced construction of a rental apartment complex on five lots (#18 – 22) of the Henry Lodewyck Subdivision on the Detroit side of Rivard Boulevard, about midway between East Jefferson and Maumee Streets in the City of Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
- In 1958, the MacKay Development Corporation and the Borgman family ended the rental status of Rivard Park, and the homes were individually titled and sold.
Home Owners Association, homeowner responsibilities
A Home Owners Association (HOA) was formed; householders are members of the HOA by virtue of their ownership status. This was done before standardized laws for condominiums or cooperatives existed. Rivard Park is NEITHER of these, by generic description, legal status, or laws which would apply in case of disputes and interpretations.
Amendments to the original HOA By-Laws in 1973-74 created the RIVARD PARK ASSOCIATION, INC., a Michigan non-profit corporation, with officers empowered to establish rules of governance for the complex.
The homes in Rivard Park have been individually-owned for more than 60 years. The HOA guidelines have maintained continuity of exterior features—paint color, roofing, general landscaping, courtyard with lighting, etc. Individual homeowners have made many modifications to the systems and interiors of their homes, consistent with GP City Ordinances. These include wiring, plumbing, interior walls and layouts, fixtures and finishes, HVAC systems, flooring, and more. Some units have added generators in case of power outage.
The HOA is volunteer-led. There is no paid management or maintenance.
Individual homeowners are responsible for repairs and maintenance on their individual properties. Interior systems (plumbing, wiring, HVAC), renovation and decoration are the responsibility of homeowners, although these should not have major impact on the uniformity of the exterior of the buildings.
When there is an item of general relevance for repairs (example, roofing) or maintenance (examples, snow removal, landscaping of common areas) the HOA acts as manager, with the homeowners voting on the issue.
The By-Laws have been amended from time to time since the original incorporation.
A Monthly Assessment is levied on all owners, which may include normal maintenance services, such as snow removal, landscaping and watering, gutter cleaning, and similar. It also includes the pro-rated share of property taxes for the commonly-held areas, and the costs of insurance for the Association. A special fund may be created, collected, and administered by the HOA for major projects, such as roofing and gutters.