May 2024 President's Letter

Dear VI Property Owner:

Every week our Community Policing Officer, James Fuchs, sends me a report detailing reported criminal activity in VI over the prior week.  We had been doing really well for several months until I received the following report of two vehicle burglaries in the 2000 block of Michigan Ave. between 10 pm and11:30 am on April 21:

One victim reported a firearm was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle.
The second victim reported cash was stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

This is the second firearm reported stolen from a car in VI in the last 2 years. I implore VI residents to remove valuables from your cars and lock car doors when parked in the driveway. These thefts are crimes of opportunity, mostly committed by youths coming into our neighborhood to see what they can find.  I have yet to hear of a “smash and grab” from a locked vehicle in VI so let’s not make it so easy for them!!!

As I’ve noted in prior Presidents’ Letters, there are 532 homes located in Venetian Isles on relatively small pieces of real estate.  Literally, we are living almost on “top of each other” with on average 15 feet between houses. In addition to assuring some uniformity and maintaining / increasing property values, the goal of the Deed Restrictions (“DRs”) is to ensure that homeowners don’t negatively impact their neighbors by blocking views, failing to maintain their yards, not cleaning/repairing their seawall, etc.

The Deed Restriction Committee (“DRC”), made up of residents of VI, recently completed a waterside review of all the homes in VI.   The team identified a total of 75 DR violations, mostly for items such as a dirty roof, dead or weed infested lawns which are relatively easy to fix.  To be certain, they also noted more serious violations such as general disrepair of homes, docks and seawalls.  Upon receipt of a DR violation letter most property owners respond something to the effect that “I know my seawall needs repair but I can’t get on the contractor’s schedule for a couple more months,” or “I didn’t realize my roof was dirty but I’ll get working on a solution.”  Generally, that is all the DRC members need to hear and the issues are addressed by homeowners in a reasonable time frame. 

There are only a small number of properties in VI that are in  “perpetual disrepair” or blatant disregard for the DRs. I frequently hear from property owners who are frustrated that their neighbors’ houses are in a state of neglect, sometimes for years.  The VIHA has two options for dealing with property owners who refuse to comply with the DRs despite repeated notices: 

• We can take legal action against the property owner.  While this is typically a protracted and costly process, we have taken this approach in the past and will continue to do so in the future, where it makes sense. The VIHA currently has 3 lawsuits that are pending; or,

• We can request assistance from the City’s Code Enforcement Department, which will then take over attempting to correct the situation.  Currently, Code Enforcement is currently engaged with one property in VI.

Unfortunately, both of these approaches take time to reach a resolution. The DRs do NOT give the VIHA the ability to fine or levy judgements upon non-compliant property owners.  Please know that the VIHA is aware of the houses that are in disrepair and is working towards a solution.   

The members of the VIHA and all the committees are doing their best to maintain the safety and  high-quality of life in VI that we’ve all come to appreciate.  Let’s see if we can remember that all 532 properties of VI are in this together and show a little kindness and appreciation of our neighbors. 

Anne Barrins, who was heading the Hospitality Committee is turning over her duties to Sue Cooper as Anne and her husband, Ken Slaby, are moving to North Carolina.  We want to thank Anne for her contributions to VI.  If you are interested in volunteering on the Hospitality Committee, or any of the other committees that make VI A special place to live, please contact me.

Stay well and let’s enjoy the good fortune we have of living in VI!!!


Rich Scanlon
VIHA President
[email protected]