Homeowners paying $771 apiece for sidewalk suit

Article Courtesy of The St. Petersburg Times

By DONG-PHUONG NGUYEN

Published November 12, 2007

CROSS CREEK - When the Magnolia Trace Homeowners Association sued a homeowner over his painted sidewalk, and lost, it told his 87 neighbors they'd have to pay the legal fees.

The association, which took out a $60,000 loan to pay it off, is now collecting.

The association gave homeowners the option of paying off their share in one lump sum or over five years.

So far, 41 homeowners paid off their share of $771. The rest are chiseling away at the debt, said property manager Jo-Ann Pilawski.

Two residents have not made any payments, so their names have been given to the attorney and they face possible liens, Pilawski said.

The sidewalk issue consumed this neighborhood for years. The Magnolia Trace association sued Rajendra and Meera Bhat after the Bhats painted the driveway and sidewalk in front of their home on San Travaso Drive.

The homeowners board argued that the paint job was prohibited by the community's deed restrictions, which say homeowners can maintain but not modify their property.

The Bhats argued that the light blue paint job was simply part of home maintenance. A judge agreed last year.

Magnolia Trace feeling blue about sidewalk