Volume 7 Issue 1

December 2003/January 2004

President’s Message
Grant E. Nelson, III

In October I spent 7 fun filled days on our PROA cruise. Four of those days at sea were learning the secrets of successful real estate investing from 3 national speakers. I sincerely hope you will consider joining PROA along with our national organization NREIA on the next cruise scheduled for February and July 2004. There will be 12 national speakers discussing landlording, 1031 exchanges, foreclosures, rehabbing and much more. PROA is joining with NREIA to provide more exposure to more speakers. “A Vacation with an Education!” And it’s tax deductible too! Please contact our office for more information.
On a more serious note, I would like to report on some state legislative matters discussed at our PROA State Board Meeting. 1st, Wage Attachment Act 215 is law but is in need of state wide procedural rules for the courts to administer the process. PROA is working to expedite this process. 2nd , the Eviction process amendment is being held up by the Governor. The amendment would expedite the eviction time frame by 10 days. PROA is involved in the process of trying to get this amendment enacted. 3rd, legislation has been proposed to increase constable fees significantly (SB735). PROA is not convinced this proposal is fair or reasonable and is working to modify same. 4th, Lead Based Paint AB1854 is proposing to require property owners to abate lead from buildings. In its current form, it would be an unfunded mandate on landlords. PROA in a proactive effort is suggesting a fund be created to enable landlords to abate lead problems. This would be funded by a $.50 per gallon tax on paint & $.001 per gallon tax on gas. 1/2 of the tax proceeds would go to property owners and 1/2 would go to childcare. PROA supports helping both the landlords and children impacted by lead problems caused by paint and gas companies.
Our State organization plans to run a State Educational Conference in September 2004. The conference will most likely be held at a convention center in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, State College-to be announced.

Lastly, I will be asking our Board of Directors to develop a 5 year strategic plan in an effort to provide a road map to take the Association into the future! I continue to ask all members to participate and please complete and return the enclosed survey.
I wish everyone a Safe and Healthy Holiday Season! May 2004 be a prosperous year for you, your families and our association.

Members Making a Difference By Bob Kappe

One of our members, Boyd Davis Jr., purchased the 127 E. Chestnut Street Property. The building was a longtime residence that he has converted to an office building.
The detail is spectacular with such features as a marble entrance foyer, brass chandeliers, oriental stair runners and a large hand painted mural painted on the foyer wall.
The property is available for lease and each of the three floors is approximately 1700 square feet and includes parking.
We congratulate him for maintaining the historical integrity of this grand building.
If you know of anyone who is looking for prestigious office accommodations, please call:
610-436-0883

Let’s Talk Trash by Jason Griggs

Recently, in a West Chester Borough Council work session, council members discussed the often controversial topic of trash. Councilwoman Barbara McIlvaine Smith suggested the formation of an ad hoc committee consisting of various civic groups and concerned citizens for the purpose of developing a program that will meet the needs of all the residents for the Borough of West Chester. On behalf of the residents of West Chester that reside with us, the WCAHA supports Ms. Smith’s call for the formation of this committee by pledging our attendance and energy.
In the past the apartment association and borough council have been at odds over various issues. It is a pleasure to be on the same side of an issue for a change. The apartment association brings to the table the daily concerns of most residents of the borough: efficient and cost effective trash collection.
Some time ago, the trash in West Chester was collected by an outside firm after years of collection by the borough. The borough fleet of trash trucks was mothballed in lieu of private collection. After service problems and escalating costs for the service, the contract was canceled and the borough trash trucks were brought out of retirement and that’s where we are today.
As you know, trash and recyclables are collected once a week in the borough by members of the Public Works Department. Over the past several years there has been a national trend indicating an increase in the amount of waste material produced by an individual each day, to nearly four 1/2 lbs. That’s the trouble borough council is faced with: amounting disposal bill from the landfill each month and dwindling value for recyclable materials. In addition, the borough’s own data indicates recyclable materials are accounting for a lower percentage of the total waste stream than in previous years. Certainly one of the goals of the committee should be to increase the education and awareness of the benefits of recycling.
It should also be a stated goal of Ms. Smith’s committee to investigate and report on the feasibility of reinitiating private collection for the borough. It should be a simple process to dust off the bid package used for the previous RFP, bring the statistical information up to date and make it available to those private trash companies who wish to provide the committee with a non binding quotation for service. That bid package would also be made available to the Public Works Department so they can bid on the work as well.
The committee should also seek out the help of experts in the trash and recycling industries as well as employing the help of the county’s recycling coordinator and the Division of Solid Waste.
We applaud Ms. McIlvaine Smith’s approach to this issue. The apartment association. is anxious to help tackle this problem and we hope that every issue relating trash collection in the borough is on the table for discussion. Working outside the confines of borough council meetings allows for the free exchange of ideas among the affected parties. Too often in the past, decisions made in haste or grand standing by one side or another on a particular issue led to a widening rift in the community.
If you are interested in being a part of Ms. Smith’s committee, please call:
610-429-3132.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

Recycling in West Chester follows the same schedule as trash collection. There is a “commingled” curbside collection program, meaning that all recyclables may be mixed together in your blue 20 gallon recycling container (except bundled mixed paper, and place at curbside for collection on your regular trash day. If you do not have a container, you may pick one up at the Public Works Department at 205 Lacey Street. Remember to print your address on the container in the space provided.
Which items must be recycled by residents w/ boro trash collection?
1. Aluminum beverage cans: rinse, clean and flatten.
2. Steel food and beverage cans: rinse clean and flatten.
3. Glass bottles and jars (clear, green and brown only): rinse clean and remove lids.
4. Plastic bottles and jugs: rinse clean and flatten.
5. Mixed paper: Pack tightly in paper bags. Place bundles next to your recycling container.
6. Leaves: must also be recycled. Visit the borough website for more information.
Which items must be recycled by residents w/ private trash collection?
1. Aluminum beverage cans.
2. Clear, green and brown glass.
Help keep West Chester beautiful by recycling and using recycled materials

WCAHA’s Round Table Forum
by Karen Grim

November
Hi Everyone! Round Table Discussion group reporting in! What’s new? Are you collecting monies from security to cover broken leases? Are you continuing to collect the rent due you monthly after your tenant breaks the lease? Are you able to get wage attachments, either in or out of state to collect monies due and owing you? If you do not know the answers to these questions-and many more-you could if you came to the November Round Table Discussion Group.
The Round Table Group meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Courtyard Inn in the Parkway Shopping Center on High Street just outside of West Chester. Gathering time is 6:45; our guest speaker begins at 7:00. The meetings last approx. 2 hours. Light refreshments are served. (Donations are excepted to cover refreshments and gratuity.)
We, once again by general consensus, had a successful learning night. Our group was established to educate members on issues that concern people in our business. The sixteen attendees were fortunate to be educated on lease applications, consumer notices, move-in and move-out inspection forms, pricing the property for rent, discriminatory practices and legal procedures for collecting rent monies.
Our guest speaker was the esteemed Trish Kotsay of Seven Oaks Apartments.. Seven Oaks is a 350 unit complex. Trish has been there for more then 7 years and her experience shows! The evening ended with much applause by her grateful audience. We all left with useful forms and knowledge. Our thanks to Trish and all who attended.

Public Meeting “Trash” by Bob Kappe

On October 22nd there was a Public Meeting held at West Chester Borough Hall. The meeting was held to discuss a pilot program to be possibly put in place that could cut in half the amount of trash to be picked up by the Borough at any property currently utilizing Borough pick up..
The idea would be to issue one (95) Gallon tote per property (for trash only) which would be picked up one time per week. If you exceed this capacity you would be required to hire a private hauler to pick up your waste.
The problem that spurred this on was that residents are not recycling at all or in limited amounts which is escalating the cost of trash disposal in the Borough. Also, there is a large amount of yard waste being commingled with Municipal Waste.
The meeting was attended by approximately 100 people of which about 20 were members of WCAHA.
There were many excellent comments and ideas offered for further discussion. Our Association recommended a committee be formed to explore all avenues to help solve the recycling issue, which by the way is similar in most municipalities, of less material being recycled by the residents. We volunteered to be a part of this group.
Subsequently there was discussion at a later Borough meeting and Barbara McIlvaine Smith (one of the council persons) volunteered to spear head a group to discuss all the issues. Many people signed up for this meeting, hopefully it will materialize soon.
The WCAHA would like to do everything it can to help make more tenants/residents aware of recycling mandates which is good stewardship of the environment.
Please inform your tenants regarding the procedures for recycling. Make sure there is a blue recycling container at your property and police your trash for problems.. We have included a handout as a guideline to issue to your tenants about what can be recycled. See invoice package insert.

Support our Sponsors

Are you aware that a large part of our income comes from our sponsors? Currently we have 25 sponsors that support our organization. These sponsors have business card sized ads in each of our newsletters and an ad on our website with links to their website and email address.

Please use our sponsors! They support us, we need to support them. And make sure that when you call one of the businesses that sponsor us, let them know that you heard about them through WCAHA so that they will continue their support.
So save your sponsor insert and refer to it.

Town Gown-Fall 2003 Highlights by Dave Marshall

Town Gown Council is a forum where students, West Chester Borough residents and other interested parties meet to discuss hot topics and to update one another on events, issues and activities surrounding West Chester University and the Borough of West Chester.

One of the major topics this fall was all the construction either planned or already taking place around the university and in the Borough, including: Performing Arts Center/Music Building on High Street (Fall 2005); 432-space parking garage on the Bull Center parking lot (Fall 2005); 428-space parking garage on the corner of Sharpless and Church Streets (now open); 7-story residence hall next to the Lawrence Dining Center that will house 265 students (Fall 2004); and finally the dining Center expansion adding 512 West Chester Commons project on Rosedale Ave. (Fall 2004).

The University will launch a new night-time shuttle bus in the spring semester. The bus will operate from 10:00 PM to 2:30 AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and will stop at strategic location in the Borough and around campus. Access is limited to those with student IDs and pass.

If anyone is interested in attending future meetings, or to find out more on this fall’s topics, please get in touch with one of the WCAHA board members or directors.
Meetings are held at 7:00 PM at the Sykes Building.

Round Table Update by Karen Grim

Karen Grim reporting in from the December 10th Round Table Discussion Group. The weather was cold, but the topic was Hot, Hot, Hot! We were fortunate to have Realtor Tom Kerrigan from Century 21 of West Chester.
Tom provided all 16 attendees with an information packet stuffed full of property marketing strategies. We attendees not only have a page full of marketing preparation ideas, but also the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement, Agreement of Sale and the last year's selling comparables in the Borough.
Tom raised interesting points of interest such as looking several months to a year out before marketing your property.
Have you ever considered how your tenant's actions will impact the sale of a property? Have heavy smokers? You couldn't possibly be renting to slobs, could you?
Well, you get the picture. Now ask yourself: how about getting into action? Why not consider attending our January 14th meeting at The Courtyard Inn? Who knows, maybe Mike Perrone will speak about the building codes!

Disclaimer:
The enclosed information does not represent a legal position by the Association. Please consult your professional for legal advice.