As many a resident (and real estate agent) will attest, there is a cachet to living “in the Gardens”. It isn’t often talked about, but everyone knows it is real. All you need to do is research prices of homes outside our borders and you will note a significant “appreciation in value” just by crossing the street and having one of our addresses. Have you ever stopped to consider why that is? 

Partially, if not fully, it can be argued that it is in fact due to the dedicated Gardens staff and many volunteer committee members working tirelessly to ensure our homes and open spaces are maintained in a manner befitting their historical nature. In fact, all you need to do is look to bordering homes — the “bones” are often there, and they may have even been built in the same era and in the same general design—but due to numerous inconsistent renovations over the decades - either by them or a bordering home - they don’t look like a Gardens home or neighborhood and consequently do not command the same price or appreciation. 

Whether or not you fully realized it when you signed at your closing, the Architectural Guidelines and Declaration No. 3 document and its regulations specifically unites you with your fellow neighbors in the common goal of protecting our homes and our neighborhood for generations to come. 

Collectively, we are all responsible for protecting the aesthetics and coveted details of our homes — not just because our historical neighborhood is revered by many but because our property values also depend on it. When the home next to you attempts to install cheaper pane-less windows or replace their wooden gates with a standard off-the shelf metal one, it chips away at the aesthetic that is “the Gardens.” 

Protecting each other’s investment and the Gardens aesthetic is every resident’s responsibility. When you see a neighbor altering a feature of a home, take a moment to call the Gardens office to make sure they are aware of the renovation and its approval has been obtained. Often times — since happily the lion’s share of our community fully understands and appreciates this common goal — a response is that they are aware and have approval - but thank you for your call! The Gardens office welcomes these calls! This small step assures everyone that appropriate work is being done; but also, it possibly avoids expensive homeowner errors. Consider the call to the office as the Gardens take on “if you see something, say something”….

While the vast majority understand and appreciate the gems we have been given to care for, there is always an outlier; and sadly, our Law Committee needs to get involved. Notices of violations or stop work orders have to be issued. If the Gardens can intervene in time to avoid these inappropriate errors, it is in the best interest of all. In this small way, everyone is pulling together to protect your neighbor and neighborhood.