Part VIII of the Homeowner
Association (HOA) series focuses on Beachwalk, an oceanfront condominium
complex, which started to be developed around 1982. When it was under
development, Pine Knoll Association, PIKSCO, Reefstone, Pine Knoll Townes,
Coral Bay West, Beacon’s Reach and McGinnis Point were already on the map.
The following is a slightly altered
version of an article that appeared in The
Shoreline in 2010.
Beachwalk,
a 51-unit oceanfront condominium complex just east of the Iron Steamer beach
access, is appropriately named. Indeed, residents have a very short walk along
wooden walkways through maritime forest to the beach.
Designed by
Bartholomew Associates’ architectural firm from Raleigh, the original complex
was named Beachwalk Villa Condominiums. NORCON Builders, Inc., began
construction in 1982. Completed in 1984, the sprawling four-story coral-stucco
building of steel-framed concrete has 40 single-floor units as well as six
townhouses and five penthouses. The penthouses and townhouses each have four
bedrooms and four baths. Other units have three bedrooms and three baths.
Parking is
available in front of the building. First-floor residents can walk right into
their units. A glass-walled elevator, which provides an ocean view, goes to
upper floors. From those upper floors, one gets a good sound-side view of the
Roosevelt Natural Area and ocean-side view of the beach.
Beachwalk provides a large round pool and
grilling area for residents and their guests. The majority of the original property
owners were native North Carolinians though some were from Virginia and states
further north. For most, Pine Knoll Shores was a second home, though they spent
a good deal of time here. Occasionally, some units are rented.
Beachwalk Homeowner Association is responsible
for common areas. To describe the ownership structure of the condominium
complex, Bob Nielsen, former president of the association board, says: “If you
were to pick up and turn over a unit, all the contents that would fall out
belong to the property owner, and everything that remains belongs to the
homeowner association.” So, what residents own, they insure; what the
association owns, it insures.
The homeowner association has an active
five-person board, which meets onsite four times a year and works by conference
call as necessary. The board hires an outside management firm, such as Crystal
Coast Management, to handle dues’ collection and property maintenance. The
management firm, in turn, hires a full-time maintenance person, who cares for
the 51-unit complex and is responsible for upkeep of common areas, including
the pool. It also subcontracts landscaping responsibilities. The maintenance
person reports to the management firm and the management firm reports to the
association.
In addition to its other responsibilities, the
Beachwalk Homeowner Association Board manages its own wastewater treatment
plant, which they rebuilt in 2011. The original plant was in a steel box, which
over time corroded. Since an effort by a consortium of homeowner associations
with similar wastewater treatment issues had failed to interest the town in
taking over wastewater treatment, each homeowner association had to deal with
the issue on its own. This project represented a major capital investment and
major expenditure of time, but the Beachwalk Homeowner Association completed
the project and constructed an underground plant with underground discharge and
the ability to use effluent to irrigate vegetation.
The homeowner association annually sponsors
two social events—a Fourth of July parade and a Memorial Day picnic. On the
Fourth of July, everyone, wearing red, white and blue—residents and renters—actually
parade around the building, led by the association president, carrying a large
flag. Ages 2-87 participate. They raise
the flag in the pool area, have boom-box band music, say the Pledge of
Allegiance and sing the Star Spangled Banner. On Memorial Day, the association
puts up a tent and provides hot dogs and hamburgers. Then for Labor Day, condo
owners sponsor a Pig Pickin’. They invite their friends, and a large crowd
participates. It’s also not uncommon, for residents to gather informally for cocktail
parties on the sittum.
Post
Author: Phyllis Makuck
To contact the author or the History Committee