After Before Community Spotlight:
Ambaum Square Condominiums Madelyn Lopetich
Location: Burien, Washington Year Incorporated: February 1981 Number of Units: 56 Community composition: Condo Resident composition: Primary Home Professionally or self-managed: Professionally managed Number of board members: Seven
What makes your community a great place to live? Located in a woodsy setting atop a hillside in south Burien, Ambaum Square is close to shopping, bus lines, Sea-Tac airport, and only a stone’s throw away from major highways.
Ambaum Square is a peaceful community of proud homeowners, some of whom are original owners since 1981. Ambaum Square offers a sports court, a pea patch, lawn area, ample parking, and is children and pet-friendly.
What is special about your community? It is a well-run association with dedicated Board members, and a highly professional management company, who is “hands on.” A “one-to-one” approach in handling compliance with House Rules is encouraged. Neighbors helping neighbors is a very positive aspect of living at Ambaum Square.
What challenges do you face now? Catching up on deferred maintenance has been a strong focus for the community. Our approach to replacing old siding and windows on all three (3) buildings was broken into manageable parts. A special assessment was initiated. Going forward, roof replacement will be necessary in the next five years, so adequate Reserve Funding is critical to accomplishing these goals.
What is your community’s greatest success? We have completed replacement of siding and windows on 10 out of 12 sides of our three buildings over the past eight (8) years, and plan to finish this project within 2-3 years.
8 Community Associations Journal | July/August 2017
We replaced our mail house with state of the art steel boxes for security and theft prevention. Our current project is the installation of a sophisticated security camera system, sweeping the entire campus, to act as a deterrent to crime on the property. The Board is pleased with these accomplishments that contribute to property preservation and increased value.
What methods does your community use to communicate with owners? Monthly Board Minutes are sent to all homeowners, on and off-site. Reader Boards in each stairwell host notices of Board meetings, announcements of projects, and upcoming events. A quarterly Homeowners Report is published by the Board of Directors and mailed to all homeowners. Our Annual Homeowners Meeting is scheduled in the first quarter of each year. The Board of Directors strives to be a strong presence in the community by being accessible to the owners.
How does your community foster resident participation? Ambaum Square’s Board of Directors encourages and promotes “on the ground” participation with residents. Residents are encouraged to “do their part” in maintaining clean and clutter-free semi-common and common areas for the enjoyment of all community members. We are always on the “look-out” for volunteers who enjoy, and are willing to help with grounds work, i.e., shoveling snow to provide safe walkways; laying wood chips, picking up litter, or have a special skill such as speaking a second language to assist our neighbors who may have a language barrier.
Does your community hold any social events? If so, what are they? A yearly summer barbecue is held for all residents. Local fire station, recycling and police personnel are invited to join in and share safety and environmentally friendly tips with our residents. Ambaum Square is proactively addressing Disaster Preparedness with local resources as an added measure of readiness and peace of mind.
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