Sycamore Square Homeowners FORUM

10/11/2022

Who OWNS "Sycamore Square" ?
The current Market Value of all 54 Units is about $12 Million Dollars .

What is Sycamore Square's Land Worth ? :
Less than 1/2 Acre (.4) of land a block away at NW 5Th and Hudson costs nearly $5 Million Dollars .
It's currently a parking lot .

The 700 WEST Development next door to Sycamore Square cost over $52 Million Dollars to build . It has 302 Apartments and a 4 story parking garage on the same amount of land as Sycamore Square .

The Land Sycamore Square sits on may be worth more than the existing dwellings built on it .

Who owns the Land ?

An exciting new project is starting in downtown Oklahoma City.

10/11/2022

... in the Beginning .

As much as I’ve delved into the history of downtown, I’m still surprised by what I stumble upon while browsing through various archives. My latest discovery was the original plan for the Sycamore Squ…

08/17/2022

SSHOA : TREE MASSACRE - PART I

In October 2020 in the aftermath of a devastating regional Ice storm there was widespread tree and property damage in the Oklahoma City area. Sycamore Square was not spared this damage.

For the most part, surviving trees would return to their full vigor within a couple seasons. Most professionals advised cutting the damaged limbs only and allowing the trees to regrow.

Ignoring professional advice and protests from property owners and residents SSHOA Board unilaterally embarked on the removal of more than twenty mature trees. They destroyed tens of thousands of dollars worth of property in the process incalculably affecting Sycamore Square property value.

There were months of protests before the trees were eventually removed under the watch of armed guards. The decision was made without consulting any professional arborists or vetting Homeowners concerns.

08/17/2022

SSHOA : TREE MASSACRE - PART II

In recent years, SSHOA destroyed Tens of Thousands of Dollars worth of Landscaping Infrastructure by ill advised removal of Mature Trees and Shrubs. Most were planted on the Sycamore Square grounds over forty years ago.

In recent months, Ice Storm Damaged trees were forcibly cut down despite protests from Property Owners and Residents alike asking to instead trim and repair them.

SSHOA employed Armed Security and Oklahoma City Police to keep Sycamore Square Property Owners at bay as Tree Cutters ignored residents and destroyed the trees.

SSHOA hired unqualified tree cutters who were associated with SSHOA Board Members.

SSHOA did not consult a licensed arborist before these drastic decisions were undertaken.

SSHOA forcibly destroyed valuable property defying Homeowners concerns and protests.

This is the second time in a decade SSHOA Board has removed mature trees damaged by ice storms instead of amending them and allowing them to re-grow.

SSHOA Board has recklessly decimated a once enviable canopy of mature trees that nestled the buildings. The trees were planted over forty years ago by Sycamore Square's landscape Architects in the 1980's.

The trees provided shade for the walkways and courtyards and views for the upper floors. Many trees were cut down having no ice damage whatsoever .

In the past a decade SSHOA Board has done little to replace the nearly 40 healthy, mature trees that were removed by misinformed SSHOA Board "volunteers".

It's an established fact that trees can add considerable value to residential property. Especially in an urban or downtown setting like Sycamore Square.

It will cost tens of thousands of dollars and decades to recapture the landscape that was destroyed . Over the past ten years, the majority of trees planted in their place were ones donated by Residents .

05/07/2022

Meet your attorney .

Information and resources for Oklahoma condo and HOA associations, board members, homeowners, and real estate developers.

05/06/2022

: "Any group run by volunteers who handle finances is more susceptible to fraud, theft, and other illegal activities. HOA fraud within their boards are not immune to this fact. Access to funds without much supervision presents an impulse that some can’t resist.

Corrupt HOA board members can take advantage of the fact that most volunteers don’t know the details on how to manage an HOA’s funds. HOA board members also know that others in their group are busy with everyday life activities and may not have the time to pour over every transaction. Any board member with enough financial savvy can find ways to skim a little off the top over time, lining their pocketbooks without anyone knowing."

Common Types of HOA Fraud

There are many ways that members can commit HOA fraud against a board, all of which pose significant financial and legal consequences. They include:

- Embezzlement
- Violating Corporation Law
- Election Rigging

What to Do if Fraud is Suspected

Having an HOA Crime Management plan in place can help keep everything above board, literally. Knowing what to look for and who to contact can aid in optimizing the integrity of a board. HOA board members who suspect that fraud of some kind occurs can take many different steps to confirm it’s happening, what has taken place, who’s involved, and more.

Source : Kevin Davis Insurance Services

HOA fraud within their boards are not immune to this fact. Access to funds without much supervision presents an impulse that some can’t resist.

10/10/2021

After an Illegitimate and "unqualified " diagnosis by a tree removal outfit, Sycamore Square HOA Board decided to hire a qualified company after removing nearly 20 mature trees from the property after the 2020 ice storm.

They were advised to amend the damaged trees by multiple sources including homeowners.

The SSHOA ill informed removal of thousands of dollars worth of trees has disfigured the property and greatly affected property value5 and incurred thousands in additional costs for stump grinding and NEW trees.

INCOMPETENCE and FRAUD.

The HOA used police and armed security to intimidate homeowners while trees were removed.

07/08/2021

Men with Guns Forcibly Cut down Trees at Sycamore Square Condominiums.

Armed Security Guards and OKCPD Threatened to Arrest Homeowners who Protested Removal of Dozens of Mature Oaks, Pines, Sycamore and other Established Trees and Shrubs.

-No Arborists were consulted by the HOA.
-Multiple Homeowners Protested this Destruction of Property.
-SSHOA Board Claim Trees a "Danger" due to October 2020 Ice Storm !!

Rogue "board members" are recklessly Destroying our Property Values and using the Police and HOA Funded Armed Security to do so.

KOCO 5 News KWTV - NEWS 9 KFOR-TV OETA

07/08/2021

SSHOA HOA use Armed Guards and OKCPD to Intimidate Homeowners during Removal of Dozens of Mature Trees .

- Armed Guards and OKCPD Cut Down Trees that the Community at large has protested.

-HOA Claim Trees are a "Danger" from Ice Storm nearly a year ago!?

Intimidating Homeowners. Armed Tree Cutters !?

KOCO 5 News KWTV - NEWS 9 KFOR-TV OETA

07/07/2021

... what is prerequisite for SSHOA Board Membership ?
A Firearm ?

07/07/2021

... what's the
Personal Liability
of HOA Board Members who Destroy Property without
"informed consent"?