Hi Neighbors.
You should have received an invoice a few weeks ago asking for $40 annual dues. We’ve received some questions about the dues increase and would like to explain.
Our neighborhood is at a crossroads. With garage doors, gutters and driveways starting to deteriorate, and retail popping up around us, our home values are set to decline very quickly. On the other hand, with our proximity to the higher-value homes off Cherrybottom Road, we can take this as an opportunity to INCREASE our home values. Gahanna will continue to be an attractive suburb as Columbus grows and expands, and we want our neighborhood to be an attractive, desirable part of that growth.
The first impression our neighborhood receives is in viewing any one of the FIVE entrances into The Villages of Gahanna. While residents themselves are supposed to maintain the landscaping around the entrances, the neighborhood association members voted to upgrade the appearance with the help of professional landscape services. Our annual dues of $20 barely cover the maintenance costs. (We have an annual contract with Winnscapes, but if you have other recommendations for next year, please let us know.)
But landscaping isn’t enough. Currently, we have only one sign branding our neighborhood, and that one is barely standing. Without neighborhood signs, we are just a bunch of houses with limited resale value. The association members agreed that designing and installing new signs is a neighborhood priority, and the dues increase is the first step in funding the $7000-$10,000 price. Remember, we have FIVE entrances to the neighborhood, and each sign is $1500-$2000, depending on design.
The board is looking at designs and ways to save money, but it hasn’t been easy. We want the signs to be permanent, low/no maintenance, and beautiful. If any of our members have suggestions for additional fundraising activities, please let us know. Additionally, if you or someone you know are masons, sign-makers, welders, landscapers, installers etc., we would welcome input (and a hefty discount on services) for the signs.
In the meantime, please help maintain our neighborhood by sending in your membership dues ($40) using the secure PayPal button to the right, or by sending a check made payable to Villages of Gahanna Homeowners Association to our treasurer:
Donna Simmons
1341 Haybrook
Gahanna, OH 43230
Thank you!