Snow: Condo issues

In recent years, the region has experienced a tremendous growth in condominium development, and the incredible winter of 2009-10 is presenting its share of challenges to condo livers.

Here is a report from the front from esteemed colleague Bonnie Cook:

For condo communities in the Philadelphia suburbs, Wednesday's shoulder-high snow mounds posed a unique problem, both logistically and financially.

At Roberts Hill Condominium in Bryn Mawr, 29 unit owners were literally captive in their homes until an eight-man crew appeared at mid-morning, equipped with shovels, snow blowers and a pickup truck with plow. First the men went around and removed the snow from each front door.

Then the crew, hired especially for the day by William P. Geraghty Landscaping, of Ardmore, which is under contract with the condo, dug out almost all the community's 50 cars. Owners came out and drove the cars out of their spots so the plow could move in, in what resembled an odd, wintertime dance.

For both workers and owners, the work was chilly and back breaking, but the mood was light.

"I won't have to go to the gym for a week," said Lisa DiMedio.

Condos in Radnor Township don't receive public plowing services from the township, though unit owners pay taxes, so the community is on its own to remove the snow and later, to finance the effort.

William Wermuth, president of the condo, said: "This is a special assessment waiting to happen."

A special assessment is a one-time charge to which every unit owner contributes which covers unexpected expenses. The condo hadn't levied one in several years.

But Wermuth was resolute about going ahead with the cleanup to guarantee the safety of the community, which  includes families with toddlers and  the elderly.

"We'll get this done now, and worry about the cost later," he said.