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Capital Improvements
Beginning in 1995, the
trustees of the High Point Homeowners Association began a long-range
development plan for the association. Designated as HP2000, the trustees
proposed five major projects as components of the plan. These were approved by
members of the association and subsequently amended in early 1996 to allow for
an increased cost of the replacement pool. All of the funds were provided from
normal dues collections and current budget dollars. Throughout the term of
HP2000, the trustees guaranteed that dues would remain at $270 per year, as
they had been since 1982.
Beyond the HP 2000 plan, the trustees moved
forward with additional work that is described below. In 2004 the dues were
raised to $330 per year to allow for continued maintenance and improvement of
the association properties. These capital investment projects will continue to
maintain the facilities in a manner that will add value to our homes and
preserve these amenities for use by our residents. Association trustees
maintain a rolling multi-year budget plan that projects our expenses and
planned improvements and renovation work. This means that your dues are
invested in the association to protect your value in years to come. Our most
current projects are listed at the end of this information. Be sure to review
all the work that has been done in the past to appreciate the overall
investment of your dues.
In total, since 1995, the
association has invested over $955,449 in capital improvements, enhancements
and replacements to our facilities. These projects will preserve the amenities
and value of the homes in the development and continue to position High Point
as one of the most desirable communities in Greater Cleveland.
Project 1 - Purchase common area - $50,000 (1996)
Association purchased two additional sublots from the developer. These are now common
area, but were buildable lots. Each lot was sold below market price at $25,000.
Project 2 - Entrance Signs - $35,017 (1997)
A total of five new masonry signs were constructed as replacements for the original
wood development signs. Two each were placed at the High Point Club and Saratoga
Trail entrances off Drake Road and one stands in front of the club house and
swimming pool. New lighting was installed for these units.
Project 3 - Replacement Swimming Pool - $276,363 (1997)
A great deal of work went into the analysis of
the original pool before a decision was made to completely remove and replace
the old facility. Our new pool contains 192,000 gallons of water in three
distinct areas. There is a zero-entry area which has water bubblers in the
floor. This provides for walking into the pool and serves as the baby pool
area. A main rectangle with a 25 meter length runs from three foot to five foot
in depth. There are six competitive swim lanes in the area for our swim team.
Running off the five foot area of the rectangle is a 30x30 foot diving well
that goes to 10 feet deep. This allows diving from the deck. A
three-flume waterslide was installed.
Project 4 - Replace Tennis Courts and Basketball Courts - $81,000 (1999)
Surfaces from the original tennis and basketball courts had deteriorated over the
years and needed repair. It was determined that only complete replacement of the
surfaces would restore the courts to professional standards. As part of the project
the fence fabric was replaced and lights were rebuilt.
Project 5 - Club House Renovation and Expansion - $230,000 (2000 & 2004)
Restrooms in the clubhouse were gutted and
rebuilt in early 2000 at a cost of $43,000. Not only was the stall capacity
doubled, but the restrooms were also made accessible to handicapped persons and
fully compliant with the requirements of ADA. Beginning in the fall of 2003, an
expansion of the clubhouse was undertaken to add 2,000 square feet of program
area. This addition of new space increased the room size available to residents
to have parties and events at the clubhouse. Renovation of the existing party
room included new lighting, carpets, wall coverings and tables. A total of over
$180,000 was invested in this project.
In all, the High Point 2000 capital development
project invested over $665,000 in capital improvements and replacements over a
nine-year period. All of this was accomplished with dues being held at $270
since 1982. Dues were raised for the 2004 calendar year and going forward to
$330 per year. Even with continued improvements and ongoing maintenance, the
current ten-year budget projection by trustees is based on dues being held at
$330 at least through the year 2014.
Project 2006A – Clubhouse Lobby and Kitchen Renovation - $71,494
This has brought the lobby and kitchen up to the
quality of the restrooms and the main party room. New wall covering and carpet
were installed in the lobby. Our kitchen received new wall covering, new
appliances, new cabinets, new flooring, new lighting, new countertops and a
serving bar. In addition, all the painted woodwork and white doors in the
lobby, kitchen and old party room were replaced with stained wood.
Project 2006B – Interior Pool Surface Replacement - $ 61,418
Although it seems like the pool was just
replaced, 2005 was the ninth summer using the “new” pool. In the Northern
climates, pools are subjected to many destructive forces in the winter. Our
plastered finish on the pool was expected to last between 10 and 15 years. We
experienced surface deterioration and tiles coming loose over the past two
years and the trustees felt it was time to carry out repair work. A new
DiamondBrite finish was installed and all lane markers, end targets and
waterline tiles were replaced. This new material has been fully researched and
site visits done to determine the benefits. DiamondBrite lasts much longer and
can go as long as 20 years before replacement. This new surface should last for
many years. Although the pool opened a week late due to construction problems
and weather delays, residents found the new surface to be smooth and very
clean. A new main pump was installed for the pool that is a new composite
material and will not rust.
Project 2007-08 – Replace Playground Equipment - $75,207
Over the winter of 2007-08,
association trustees engineered the replacement of a playground installed in
1993. At that time, a state-of-the-art PlayWorld System gave children in the
development a great place to play. Playground equipment, like every other
asset, requires periodic maintenance and eventual replacement. Although
projected for 2008, the playground replacement project got a little push into
2007 when the trustees found that they could secure a matching grant to pay for
half of the cost of the equipment from a number of manufacturers for orders
placed and paid for in the last two months of the year. Requirements were
prepared and companies were requested to submit bids for systems. A decision
was made to go with Snider & Associates, a local firm from North Royalton
that represents Play & Park. Trustees paid $40,000 for $80,000 worth of
playground equipment. (Resulting in a playground area valued at $120,000 for
only $75,000.) Installation took place in early 2008, with work finished in
late March. Snider & Associates did a great job installing two sets of
equipment. One apparatus is designed for ages 2-5 and the other for ages 5-12.
This way, younger children have a place of their own in the same area as the
older children. Our new playground can be viewed on this website, with photos
in the amenities section. Rave reviews have been given by youngsters who love
to play on these new units. Snider & Associates will be contracted for
ongoing maintenance to keep the equipment in great shape for many years to
come.
Project 2009 – Replace Pool Porch Roof - $32,000
In the spring of 2009, trustees evaluated
deteriorating conditions of the porch roof at the pool and solicited
recommendations on required repairs or replacement. After a thorough review of
the situation and anticipated costs, the decision was made to replace the
fiberglass porch roof and supports with a new, permanent roof. Due to
structural damage from years of leaking problems related to the pitch and
gutter placement of the fiberglass cover, repair was not a practical or
responsible option. A permanent roof replacement was the most practical and
cost-efficient choice for the long term. Accomplished to blend in with the
existing building, most residents probably never even noticed the improvement.
In addition to the new porch, the roof over the restrooms and pump room was
also completely redone to correct leaks in the skylights, vent stacks and roof
as this area had not been done with the addition in 2004. With the new roof
another benefit is that our new deck chairs will be much better protected
during winter storage and should last longer.
Project 2009 – Replace Tennis Court Surface - $36,950
In 1999, a tennis court replacement project
was completed that involved replacing the subsurface foundation material and
the asphalt surface. Association trustees were disappointed, but not surprised,
to get only ten years before deterioration made repairs necessary. Research
concluded that among a number of options (replacing the base and putting in a
new asphalt surface or putting a synthetic court surface over the existing
repaired asphalt), the best alternative for repair was the installation of a
synthetic surface. Months of discussions and investigation led to the decision
to choose a synthetic surface. Not only do the trustees expect this alternative
to last longer, but the cost was less to provide courts that would be more
forgiving and prevent athletic injuries.
Among the providers of synthetic surfaces,
there were a number of firms that provide products and that secondary decision
process took several months. Visits were done to sites with the synthetic
surface and countless references were checked with other homeowner associations
before the choice of VersaCourt was finalized. Our evaluation of the different
products showed VersaCourt to be superior in a number of ways. Surface repairs
were completed two days before Thanksgiving and the new surface was laid before
the holiday. Timing became an issue, as the trustees observed that the tennis
court surface had significantly deteriorated this year and might suffer additional
structural damage this winter. Leveling the court and filling the cracks under
the new surface became a priority. This project, for repair, installation and
materials, was under $37,000.
Tennis players will find the new surface to be more resilient and the US and International Tennis
federations have determined the synthetic courts to be moderately fast compared
to asphalt. A notable advantage is that the courts will be dry much faster and
be playable much quicker after rain or snow. You will also see we have changed
the color to a burgundy court surface with the surrounding area light gray.
Of special note is that with the project we installed two “rebounders” on either end of the West
court. These will allow for tennis training or practice. Similar to backboards,
these nets give a much more realistic playback bounce and no noise like boards.
Individuals can come to the courts to practice alone and find the workout very
genuine.
While we are the first homeowner association in Cleveland to have such a surface, High Point has
been a leader in the past with pool design and playground equipment design and
we fully expect to be the new standard in premier tennis court surfaces. Our
evaluation and analysis of the VersaCourt product restores this facility to
pinnacle performance status.
Project 2009 – Replace Playground Swing Base - $6,000
With the replacement of the Playground
equipment in 2007, trustees recognized the superior characteristics and safety
of engineered wood chips as a landing base material, rather than sand that had
been used previously. A decision was made to replace the sand swings base with
engineered wood chips. This was completed at the end of the year.
No other homeowner
association in Greater Cleveland can match this improvement record that
maintains and enhances the value of the homes in the development. High Point continues
to invest in the future through sound management and careful planning.
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