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Lockdown!

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By Avi Frier - FJN Publisher

Orthodox residents of Hollywood Oaks development cry foul as Oaks Homeowners Association enacts some unfriendly new rules

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One of the factors that motivated Monica and David Genet to move to the exclusive Hollywood Oaks community was its proximity to Young Israel of Hollywood, and the fact that there are no busy streets between their home and the synagogue.

"The beauty of Hollywood Oaks is that my kids can walk to shul by themselves without the fear of getting hit by a car," said David Genet, a periodontist and 15-year Hollywood resident.

But access to the gate that once enabled Genet’s four children, who range in age from 10 to 17, to walk safely to their synagogue, is now threatened by recent actions taken by the neighborhood’s homeowners association.

According to a March 17 memo distributed to residents via email, the gate will now be locked on both sides, so a key is needed to enter or exit the community. The association is also distributing only two keys per household; families who want more can submit a written request, but the new rules say that even if their request is approved they can still only get two additional keys. The memo, issued by the association’s board of directors states that these actions are "the result of many complaints and repeated violations."

To the Genets and other families living in Hollywood Oaks, the board’s actions are unacceptable. The new policies will prevent all but 2-4 members of each household from walking to synagogue. The measures also make it difficult for residents to entertain Shabbat guests from other neighborhoods, and prevent guests from returning home without a personal escort to the gate.

"Not enough effort has been made by the property manager and the board to address both sides of the issue," said Oaks resident and Young Israel member Noah Lewinger. "They’ve addressed the security concerns raised by a few residents who complained but never took into account the needs of the people who use the gate week in and week out."

Lewinger was also suspicious of the complaints the homeowners association claims to have received. "Very little information has been provided to the homeowners as to how many people are actually complaining," he said.

Hollywood Oaks Property Manager David Clattenburg declined to comment, stating that the matter was "in litigation." Clattenburg referred questions to Lee Katzman of the law firm of Katzman & Korr, who represents the association. Katzman did not return phone calls, and the Florida Jewish News has been unsuccessful in finding anyone with knowledge of any litigation, pending or otherwise, pertaining to this case.

In an email to the Florida Jewish News from association president Rick Reilly, Reilly claims that only three families disagree with "the enhanced security measures."

The number in attendance at a meeting earlier this week, however, disputes Reilly’s claim. According to homeowners, representatives of fifteen Hollywood Oaks families got together to discuss their displeasure with the board’s actions. An additional ten families reportedly expressed regret that they could not attend the meeting, but stated that they too oppose the board’s decision.

And not all of the disgruntled residents are from the Orthodox community. Oaks resident Carl Lender is not Orthodox and does not attend Young Israel. But he told the Florida Jewish News that he believes there is a tremendous benefit in having Orthodox families in the neighborhood.

"I’m all for accommodating them in any way I can, provided the security needs of the community are being met," Lender said.

Lender says that he has appealed to the association to enforce strict guidelines on the gate for six days, "and on the seventh day to give it a rest."

He says he has also urged the board to consult with Rabbi Edward Davis of the Young Israel synagogue to better understand what the needs of his congregants are. But so far, Rabbi Davis has not been contacted.

"When they were still drawing up plans to build Hollywood Oaks, Gordon Deckelbaum [the developer] did call," Rabbi Davis said. "He wanted to make sure that whatever locking mechanism they used in the gate would be permissible for Shabbat use. But no one has contacted me [on this matter] recently."

Of the three pedestrian gates built into the Hollywood Oaks perimeter wall, the one providing access to Young Israel is the only one affected by the new policies.

"This borders on anti-Semitism," said one resident who wished to remain anonymous. "They could find other ways to address the security problems, but they don’t want to work with us. For some reason it seems to bother them to see Orthodox Jews walking around the neighborhood."

In his email to the Florida Jewish News, Reilly disputes the contention that the association is acting on any motives other than in direct response to actual security breaches affecting the community. Reilly’s email refers to one association newsletter that recounts some of the breaches.

In one case, Clattenburg, acting under orders from the association board, hid in the front yard of a home adjacent to Hollywood Oaks in order to catch residents in the act of breaking rules relating to the gate. He did indeed witness one Oaks resident attempting to open the gate without a key as she returned home from synagogue. As a result, the resident’s household lost gate privileges for ten days.

Asked whether he had permission to be on the property from which he conducted his stakeout, Clattenburg became irate and hung up the phone.

The property owner told the Florida Jewish News that Clattenburg had not requested nor was he given permission to be on the property, but that no charges of trespassing would be filed.

"Clattenburg should really take up a hobby," one Oaks resident joked. "Maybe knitting."

But other residents don’t see the humor in the Hollywood Oaks lockdown.

"I’m disappointed with the homeowners association and my neighbors," Genet said. "And I find it ponderous why they would go to such great lengths to make things so difficult for those of us who have been and continue to be great neighbors who have helped build this community."


Posted by Avi Frier - FJN Publisher on 03/22 at 11:47 AM • Hits: 1493



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