Condo Media - January 2020 - 39

Association Spotlight

Westminster Woods
Condominium Association, Inc.

Winner of CAI-NE's Annual Community of the Year Award
During the 1980s, the conreserve from being underdominium industry boomed,
funded in the long term, all
dotting the New England
while raising fees only $92
landscape with pristine new
a month-an increase that
multi-family communities.
was all or partly offset for
Now, 30-plus years later,
some residents by a reducthose complexes are aging,
tion in their heating costs.
and many are in need of
Communication with the
extensive-and expensive-
residents was key throughrenovation and repair.
out the process, with regular
One of them was Westopen meetings held before
minster Woods, a 126-unit
and during the project. In
condominium community
addition, board members
in Gardner, a small city in
actively walked the propnorth central Massachusetts.
erty during construction,
According to Bob McBride,
soliciting feedback. As a
CEO of the association's propresult, there was very little
erty management firm, The
resistance from the unit
Westminster Woods Condominium accepts the CAI-NE
Dartmouth Group of Bedford,
owners-especially when
Community of the Year Award. From left: Larry Dignan,
Mass., the board noticed
they saw how the project
Gina DeFrancesco, Shawn Keane, Susan Fahey and Larry Riley.
over the years that there was
was improving the overall
hidden rot throughout the property, and architectural compolook of the association and spiking property values.
nents such as roofs, windows, and decks were deteriorating. It
In the end, the project was a huge success. "Aesthetically,
became apparent that a complete envelope restoration of the
the project has really allowed us to press the reset button in
association's 21 buildings was required: windows, doors, decks,
terms of getting control of some of our architectural stanand privacy fencing, as well as several of the roofs.
dards," says Keane, noting that paint colors and decks look
It was a daunting challenge, but Westminster Woods tackthe same, and the complex has similar styles of doors and
led it in such an intelligent, creative, and collaborative way,
windows. "We really took the time to develop consistency,
they were recognized with the Community of the Year Award which results in a more uniform appearance."
at CAI-NE's annual banquet in March.
An added bonus is an increase in owner occupation in
It all began with a plan. "The board ultimately decided
what previously had seen an increase in tenant-occupied
they wanted to take a holistic approach to the repairs
units. "It's remarkable," Keane says. "Owners are really startthat needed to be made and how best to fund them,"
ing to see the increase in value, and there's definitely greater
says McBride. Westminster Woods board president
pride of ownership."
Shawn Keane reveals that steps had already been taken
The city even pitched in by repaving the municipal road
over several years to build up the capital reserve, which
that runs through the property. "The curb appeal is amazthe board was able to leverage to structure a loan that
ing," says McBride. "This project literally brought the buildwould keep the rise in condominium fees reasonable
ings' exteriors almost to a brand-new state."
for the mostly working-class population.
To cap off the project, the board looked toward keeping
At the same time, a thorough, months-long investigation
costs down in the future by opting for an extended warranty
was undertaken to determine exactly what needed to be
from their contractor. By confronting this major project in
done. Together, The Dartmouth Group and the Westminster
a holistic, forward-thinking way, the board of Westminster
Woods board developed a long-range financial model that
Woods has ensured continued high quality for the associawould not only cover construction costs, but also protect the
tion for the next 30 years to come.
January 2020 CONDOMEDIA

39



Condo Media - January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - January 2020

Contents
Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover1
Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover2
Condo Media - January 2020 - Contents
Condo Media - January 2020 - 2
Condo Media - January 2020 - 3
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Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover3
Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover4
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