HOA are just such a strange concept because they could be such a useful force that has been corrupted into an engine of uniformity and roadblocks.
You would think a local organized organization would be quick and nimble to meet the needs of it’s small group of citizens who know each other. But they got bogged down in petty arguments and minor aesthetic changes. Local municipal governments got stuck in the same trap. Too much regulation of minor aesthetic issues.
I don’t know the solution but interesting
HOAs had a significant role in prohibiting black people from owning homes which, along with redlining (prohibiting mortgages by banks) carved out entire areas which only allowed whites. HOAs don’t have a great history.
Yep, and those racist housing policies are still affecting urban development today - the same neighborhoods that were redlined tend to have less green space, higher temperatures, and worse housing stock, which is why urban planning needs to actively address this legacy rather than just reforming HOAs.