cinnamon woods home association, inc. - athomenet woods homes association 3 the spice rap is the...

February 2007Volume 32 Number 1

C

cinnaMon Woods renovation Project - sPring 2007“Fall in love With your hoMe again”

innamon Woods is joining the 21st century with a complete “makeover” and modernization of the

whole community, and the creation of energy-efficient homes.

The rumors stop here! The much talked-about, on-and-off renovation project for Cinnamon Woods Homeowners is finally about to become a reality. After a tremendous amount of work by the Renovation Committee over a three-year period, it has now all come together.

During the past year, a Request for Bid was sent to several contractors. Then, based upon both its pricing and the ability to fulfill the statement of work, Total Exteriors was selected by the Board to be the contractor to perform the renovation of Cinnamon Woods. In short, the board considered all offers and decided that Total Exteriors offered the best product for the best price.

In this letter we want to outline the project to you, and to show what this renovation will mean to your homes and to your neighborhood. First, look around the neighborhood and see how time and, in some cases, neglect have left much of it looking old, shabby, and outdated. Then compare the neighborhood with newer, more modern and newly renovated neighborhoods in

the area. Note, too, the differences in home values. Cinnamon Woods is approximately 20%-30% behind in average sales prices compared with similar local neighborhoods. This is despite its beautiful location and larger-than-average green areas. The worn and outdated look of our buildings is pulling us down.

Through years of moisture build-up and old paint, the wooden exteriors and aluminum siding just don’t cut it anymore! It is simply not possible to make any 30-plus year-old home look as good as it did decades ago with a mere coat of paint. So what is the alternative? The alternative is breathable vinyl siding and composite, maintenance-free material that looks like real wood. Replacing ALL exterior siding and ALL exposed wood can give our homes a fresh, new look AND save on energy and maintenance costs!

Three years ago, CWHA decided that something drastic had to be done to update the neighborhood and to modernize the homes; hence the Renovation Project was born. And now, we have an additional goal of reducing energy costs, which over the past year have risen by as much as 45% and are approaching a critical point. We now need to get you, the homeowner and benefactor of this renovation, to help in the final implementation.

continued on page 4

by Jenny Norris

SpiceRapCinnamon Woods Home Association, Inc.Cinnamon Woods Home Association, Inc.

Cinnamon Woods Homes assoCiation2

Bill Davis, [email protected]

Ron Komara, Vice [email protected]

Phil Pfaff, [email protected]

Marilynn Richards, [email protected]

Susan Lerner, General [email protected]

Sharhonda Dove, General [email protected]

Ben Nerud, General [email protected]

2007-2008 board oF directors

association staFF Community Property Manager

Linda Shein, CMCA, AMS, [email protected]

Administrative AssistantNatalie Granzow

[email protected]

SuperintendantJohn O’Meara

Maintenance StaffJuan Carlos Martinez

Cinnamon Woods Home Association, Inc18400 Cinnamon Drive

Germantown, MD 20874 (301) 972-1850 Phone

(301) 972-0763 Fax www.cinnamonwoods.org

Notary Available at the Management Office

The January issue of the Spice Rap included a survey on the new parking procedures we put into effect during 2006. It was designed to give your BOD an idea as to how these procedures were working throughout our community. During the past month about 18% of the total homes in this association participated. I would have liked to see 100% participation, but we were able to get a good idea that our basic plan was sound and fair. The number of courts that participated was very high - 15 out of 17. The two courts that did not let their voices be heard were Sesame Seed and Pumpkin Seed Courts.

At the last annual meeting the question about assigned spots was brought up as a security concern. More specifically having the numbers correspond to your individual house numbers. The survey showed by a 2 to 1 vote that this was a concern. The BOD has noted this and will phase in a new number policy as we do asphalt repaving in all courts over the next couple of years. The enforcement question results came out split down the middle. An almost equal number wanted stricter enforcement as wanted more lenient enforcement.

The BOD will continue to monitor, but for the immediate future, our current enforcement policy will remain in effect. By a large majority the question concerning parking congestion told us we needed to address getting more parking spots throughout the community. This will be our major goal as we move through the repaving of our courts.

The comment area of the survey gave some of the best information we received. The many ideas and suggestions were greatly appreciated. Many of these ideas will be implemented as we continue to refine our parking policy.

Thank you to all those that participated and while the survey time is over we continue want to hear input as to how we can make the parking policy better.

a note FroM the President

View and download pictures and renderings of the new Renovation and Modernization project. The printed quality of these images would be too poor to include in the Spice Rap. View them online by selecting Renovation Project from the About CW menu, or use the direct link listed below:http://www.cinnamonwoods.org/about/renovation/

renovation iMages

Cinnamon Woods Homes assoCiation 3

the sPice raP is the oFFicial neWsletter oF the cinnaMon Woods hoMes association, and through Policy enacted by the board oF directors, individuals May subMit articles oF general interest to the cinnaMon Woods coMMunity. the sPice raP Provides a Means by Which the board oF directors May coMMunicate With the coMMunity and also Provides a ForuM by Which the coMMunity May exPress ideas and oPinions. stateMents, ideas, and oPinions exPressed are not necessarily those oF the association or the board oF directors nor does the sPice raP esPouse any Political belieF or endorse any Products or services. articles subMitted For Publication are subject to revieW by the board oF directors, Must be signed and May not be libelous. by accePting articles For Publication, the board oF directors does not take any resPonsibility For the accuracy oF the content oF such articles. articles May be Published as sPace PerMits and May be edited For length and content.

In the Germantown Park subdivision, Cinnamon Woods, there were 5 homes that went to settlement from December 1, 2006 and January 13, 2007. The following information was obtained from Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, INC. (MRIS). This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Address Closed Amount Style Levels Days18605 Tarragon Way 12/21/06 $309,000 3 BR 2 ½ BA 3 87

12873 Sage Terrace 12/06/06 $257,300 3 BR 2 ½ BA 2 146

18750 Curry Powder Ln 12/20/06 $265,000 3 BR 1 ½ BA 2 61



Only 1 home has been rented and none have been listed for rent during this period. There are currently 21 homes for sale in Cinnamon Woods. One listing has expired without a sale. The listing to sale ratio is 23%, which is fairly active considering it was the Holiday season. The Cinnamon Woods listed inventory is still moving steadily within our community.

However, the correct pricing is the key to selling your home. Pricing your home to strategically position it in this competitive market is an analytical process. I am always available to explain this process in detail. See my contact information below.

Active Listings in Montgomery County:4,330 Homes for sale in total, 1356 Listed at $300,000 and below. 1,850 Homes listed between $300,001 - $600,000, 686 Listed between $600,001 - $1,000,000, and 438 Homes for sale $1,000,000 plus.

During the Dec 1, 2006 - Jan 13, 2007 there were 1128 homes sold in Montgomery County. There will be more listings coming on the market as spring approaches. If your considering selling your home, you may want to list it before the inventory increases.

This information has been provided by the courtesy of;Coldwell BankerResidential Brokerage115 Market Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

the real estate corner


While outlining the project schedule, the scope of work, the cost, and the financing options, the board will be holding weekly meetings for each court, so that you, the resident, may ask questions and completely understand the total renovation project.

What will the renovation mean for you, the homeowner?

• An estimated 15% increase in the value of your home.• As much as 30% saving in energy costs. Since CW homes are all-electric, the cost of energy and increased supply demand is rising all the time. • Total modernization of the neighborhood and added pride in your home.• No more painting! This renovation will mean the exterior walls of our homes will be maintenance free. This will save the community millions in the coming years.

But the most important thing we need is your vote to finalize this project.

The scope of work is as follows:

• SidingAll siding will be removed and replaced with a vinyl siding system. This will improve the impact resistance by more than 300%. It looks and feels more like wood but is maintenance-free. It will reduce noise transmission to provide a quieter home. It will reduce energy use and is treated for allergies and mold.There should be no more termites! “Breathe ability” allows water vapor to escape. It will enhance appearance and promote pride in your home and neighborhood. The siding is available in fresh, modern colors.

• Insulating wrap underneath the sidingAlso breathable – lets moisture escape. Doesn’t allow water in; a good air infiltration barrier.

• Fascia boardingAll fascia boarding and soffit under the overhang/

porches and roofs are to be removed and replaced with new maintenance-free composite material. All panels under the windows are to be replaced with vinyl siding that is similar to the actual siding.

• Exposed Wood

All exposed wood on the exterior, including around doors and windows, will be removed and replaced with a maintenance-free composite product. No maintenance or painting. Ever.

• GutteringAll existing guttering and downspouts to be removed and replaced. Each home is to have two downspouts installed. A gutter guard to be added to the guttering. No more blocked gutters.

• Existing overhang and columnsAll porches/overhangs to be rebuilt and new shingles installed on the three (3)-bedroom models. Homeowner may be able to chose from a maintenance-free composite or pressure-treated wood for columns or porches.

On the four (4)-bedroom models and the two (2)-bedroom ramblers, the pillars/columns to be removed unless they are weight bearing.

OptionsThe contractor is offering CWHA options of new windows and doors, which will be entirely at the homeowner’s expense. The windows and doors are being offered at a huge discount, and those options will be decided between the contractor and the homeowner and will not be incorporated within the total renovation. MeetingsYou will be notified about scheduled meetings for your court. If you are unable to attend a meeting scheduled for your court, you are welcome to attend another scheduled meeting. Meetings will be scheduled for evening hours, as well as on Saturday.

Please visit the CWHA office to view the drawings of the planned renovation.

renovation Projectcontinued from page 1

Now that you know what you’re going to get in the renovation, you want to know what it’s going to cost. Because Cinnamon Woods never funded a reserve for upgrading our homes, we had to come up with some very clever and non traditional financing schemes (at least, that is what the banks called them). So we came up with a two-tiered loan structure. On one hand, everybody will be invited to finance the renovation for themselves. The advantage is four fold, 1) you can write off the interest for your loan on your taxes, 2) you can take advantage of certain energy saving tax cred-its for installing that R4 insulated siding, 3) your interest rate will probably be somewhat lower and 4) your assessments associ-ated with this project will be lower than if you use the alternative financing scheme, HOA financing.

With HOA financing, the community borrows the money from the bank to pay for the upgrade and pays off that borrowed money with the proceeds at settlement when you sell your home (or whenever the title transfers). You may pay off the HOA loan at anytime with your own funds but in any event, the loan is sched-uled to be paid off by the end of year 10. HOA loans can not and will not be open ended. After the loan is closed out at 10 years, if you owe the assess-ment and transfer title, the payoff to the assessment will be taken out of the settlement proceeds and go directly back into the community reserves. Of course, you now ask yourself the question, “Where does the money come from to pay off this loan at the end of 10 years if I haven’t sold my home? This is the tricky part. There will be a “back end” to this loan at 10 years (those HOA financed units which have not been sold) and it must be dealt with at or before the 10 year mark. The money comes from the special assessments that are earmarked for this

project. The $11 dollar increase in our monthly assessment for 2007 is the first such assessment (about $1.8 million over ten years). It is planned that those homeowners who take HOA financing will incur another 10% increase in 2008 (which is another good reason to try to finance yourself). It is also paid off with our reserves and with the money we anticipate we will save by never having to paint our homes ever again.

Finally, the really tricky part! We have assess-ments, reserves and col-lateral that dictate what a bank thinks would be the size of the loan that our cash flow can service. Right now, the amount of that credit line is $2.75 million and the renovation will cost $6.5 million. The difference either has to be made up in self financing or the assessments will have to increase more than we had hoped in order to increase our cash flow and

thus increase our credit line. In order to finalize this loan structure and provide you with detailed infor-mation so that you can make an informed choice, we must have an accurate tally of how many people can and will self finance.

Soon you will receive a mailing asking you the fol-lowing, 1) whether you are in favor of the reno-vation (approximately $9600 per unit) or want to pass and 2) will you self finance or want HOA financing. With this information, we can finalize the numbers with the bank and send out a mailing with the formal ballot for your final up or down approval. Please return your form promptly. We must get almost 100% response in order to make this thing work.

The answer to whether or not to do this renova-tion is not really even debatable. Our homes are

renovation Financingby Phil Pfaff, Treasurer and Renovation Director


continued on page 8


autoMatic debit still an oPtionby Linda Shein, CMCA, AMS

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Cinnamon Woods would like all members to know about a service we’ve arranged for you. If you choose, you can now pay your monthly assessments by automatic debit from your bank account. Using this automatic payment system will eliminate late charges and the need to write and send monthly checks through the mail. What could be easier?

Here’s how it works: OBA Banks pre-authorized assessment-payment service uses the Federal Reserve System’s Automated Clearing House to make electronic transfers from your checking account to pay your monthly assessment. The best part is that funds are automatically transferred on the 1st day of each month, and the debit appears on your account statement-you don’t have to lift a finger.

You don’t even have to do your banking at OBA Bank to take advantage of this new service. And if you try out the service and change your mind, it’s easy to cancel it and revert to your original method of paying monthly assessments. (Note that if you ever sell your home, you’ll have to notify OBA Bank in writing to prevent future payments.)

If you would like to sign up for this convenient new service –or if you would just like to know more about it-contact us at (301) 972-1850.


Cinnamon Woods is a family-oriented community with many activities that are celebrated with gatherings from time to time. Our 684 homes are shared with at least two other homes separated by a common wall. However, this common wall cannot stop the sound waves from loud music or construction noise from penetrating into your neighbors domain. Although you don’t mean to be a disturbance or annoyance, this sometimes happens. So, please be considerate and mindful of your neighbors right to quiet enjoyment.

Also, Montgomery County, Department of Environmental Protection has a Noise Control Ordinance. This has been in effect since 1975 and revised in 1996 (Chapter 31B Montgomery County Code). Detailed information can be obtained by calling the Noise Program Manager at 240 777-7755 or e-mail [email protected].

The quiet hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 PM until 7:00 AM, Weekends and Holidays from 9:00 PM until 9:00 AM. So, please be considerate of your neighbors and the community. You may be fined up to $500.00 for the first offense and $750.00 for subsequent offenses.

noise and neighborsby Ron Komara, Vice President

AUTHORIZATION FOR AUTOMATIC DEBIT

Cinnamon Woods Home Association, Inc. 18400 Cinnamon Drive

Germantown, MD 20874 (301) 972-1850

This debit will take place on the first day of each month. If the first falls on a weekend, it will be processed on the following Monday. Authorization remains in affect until written notification to cancel by the owner.

Owner Name________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________

Bank Name_________________________________________________________

Checking Account Number____________________________________________

Routing Number_____________________________________________________

Amount of Transfer__________________________________________________

Signature__________________________Date_____________________________

Telephone Number (day time) _________________________________________

Attach Check in this space

The following owners were cited for covenant enforcement infractions:

notice oF residential violations

Disclaimer: The previous lists are owners who have been cited for violations ONLY. Many owners have made the necessary repairs and replacements to their homes, refrained from illegal dumping, removed unsightly objects, complied with county ordinances, etc. If you believe your address was listed erroneously, please contact the Management Office as soon as possible. Cinnamon Woods can not be held liable for printing errors.

12801 SAGE TERRACE 12813 SAGE TERRACE


undervalued because they look old (they are old, they just shouldn’t look that way). For every dollar you invest in this upgrade, you are going to realize a $2 to $3 increase in the equity of your home. This is FREE money...why would anybody vote to walk away from it? You are going to save $400 to $600 per year on your PEPCO bill. After 10 years, many of you will have saved enough to have paid for almost half of your renovation costs. In the long run, we will save money (estimate over 10 years, about $2.4 million) on monthly assessments because we will have maintenance free materials and won’t have to fund reserves to paint them. We don’t even have the paint reserve fully funded at this point and we would have to borrow money

anyway if we decided to paint instead of up grade. That is throwing good money after bad!

And the biggest reason why this is no brainer deci-sion…you are going to come home to a home that looks almost new. I remember when I bought my home in Cinnamon Woods over 30 years ago. I watched it being built and it was beautiful when completed. I’d like to feel the same way about my home again and I’ll bet you feel the same way. Look for your mailing and respond. Now is the time to think about what you want Cinnamon Woods to be, just a place to hang your hat or something you can take pride in once again!

renovation Financingcontinued from page 5

“Look at all that trash; someone ought to pick it up. Not me, but somebody.” Have you ever said those words? There has been a lot of trash all over the community of late. We have to work a little harder on keeping our community clean Cinnamon Woods is the only community with this much green space. It is a beautiful place to live.

There have been a lot of new families moving in the community so here are the rules and regulations for trash removal and recycling.

• Trash removal days are Tuesday and Thursday• Trash should be placed outside your fence by 7:00 am• All trash must be tied in bags, and placed in trash cans with lids ( this keeps animals out)• Recycle days are Tuesday ONLY• Place your recycle items in the blue bins supplied by the county• Cardboard boxes must be broken down and tied with a string• Newspapers may be placed in a separate blue bin, tied up with a string, or placed in a card board box• Plastic bag will not be taken away. Do not put recycle in plastic bags.

A great number of you have been very courteous to the trash company by bringing your trash down to the curb. While this is thoughtful of you it also causes problems. Stray animals get into the trash creating a mess that no one wants to clean up. It is not fair to our grounds crew to have to clean up the mess. Let’s work together to keep our community a beautiful place to live.

trash, trash, and More trash


Protect our Parklands and coMMunityLovely woods that many of us are unable to access surround us. Imagine, buying a house that adjoins the woods or community grounds and not being able to walk off your property for fear of the doggie mine fields surrounding your land. Some of your neighbors may think its O.K. if they leave their dog’s poop on the parklands that adjoins Cinnamon Woods. This could not be further from the truth! The fines for failing to clean up after your dog(s) are hefty, and you can be arrested for this practice. In addition, Montgomery County can issue $100.00 fine for not disposing of your dog’s waste properly.

If the law and threat of fines is not enough to get you to clean up after your dog, just think about the impact on the people and environment around you. First, your neighbors know who you are. They may not want to complain on the record, but you are being rude. Second, children are forced to play in dangerous areas, such as the parking lots, for fear of stepping in a poop pile.

Finally, YOU ARE KILLING OUR FISH IN THE LOCAL STREAMS. That is right; the number of fish species living in our local stream has decreased by nearly 50%. This decline is substantially attributed to fecal runoff. In short, you leave your dog poop on the ground; it is diluted with rainwater that runs into the stream. Fish become exposed to infections because of the fecal matter and die. It is that simple.

To summarize: CLEAN UP YOUR DOG’S POOP, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT LANDS (Cinnamon Woods or State Park Lands). It is your responsibility as a dog owner, neighbor, and human to protect your neighbors, the environment and the water from exposure to your dog’s waste.

saFety at your Front doorWhile home may be where the heart is, it may also be where those who may mean you harm can try and enter. No matter where you live, some common sense and preparedness can make a world of difference.

SOME SIMPLE TIPS TO START WITHNever automatically open your front door without checking out the situation first. Make sure you know who is at your door before opening it.

If the person at your door is a stranger, ask for identification to be passed under the door. If he (or she!) is unable to do this, do not admit them.

It is advisable to have a wide angle viewer (peep-hole) in the door so that you can check a person’s identity without unlocking your door.

Home Safety

• All doors in your home leading to the outside should have dead-bolt locks. • When away at night, leave a light burning. • Do not leave a key over a door or under a mat. • Mark your valuables and keep an accurate record of all your most valuable possessions.• When leaving on a trip: A. Stop all deliveries. B. Connect a light to a timer. C. Notify the police and have a neighbor check your home periodically. • Be a concerned neighbor. If you see a suspicious person, car or situation, contact the police.


snoW storM alert

snoW reMoval PolicyWith the winter season upon us, the Cinnamon Woods Management Office would like to remind you of the snow removal responsibilities for this community. As a homeowner or renter you are also responsible for community snow removal. It is Montgomery County law that you must clear the sidewalks bordering your lot, whether or not the sidewalks are on common ground and whether or not the sidewalks are used by other residents in your area. It is up to you to keep those portions of sidewalk clear of snow and ice. In addition, your help is requested in keeping the sidewalks and courts clear of snow. When you clean off your vehicle and shovel the snow from around your vehicle, it is requested that you carry the snow out of the court and throw it on to a nearby lawn or court island. Please do not throw the snow into the plowed court or onto a sidewalk. Thank you for your assistance. Together we can relieve some of the stress associated with the winter’s weather.

guai de reMover la nieve

Para ProPietarios y residentes de cinnaMon Woods

Con la llegada del invierno, y como Manager de la oficina de Cinnamon Woods, me gustaria recordarles a ustedes cuales son las resposabilidades de esta comunidad, en cuanto a remover la nieve. Como propietario or arrendador usted tambien es reponsable por remover la nieve de la comunidad. La ley de Montogomery County establece que usted debe limpiar todos los caminos que bordean su lote, sean o no campos communes, como tambien aquellos caminos que deben ser usados por otros residentes de su area como por ejemplo los de enfrente de su casa. Es de su responsabilidad mantener esos pasages o caminos limpios de nieve e hielo. En conclusion , su ayuda es requerida para mantener los caminos y calles limpios de nieve. Cuando usted remueve y palea toda la nieve acumulada sobre y alrededor de su carro , es un requerimiento que usted mueva la nieve de la calle y del pasage y la tire cerca a un terreno desocupado. Por favor no la vuelva a tirar sobre la calle o camino que ya se han limpiado con anterioridad. Le agradecemos su colaboracion. Juntos podemos aliviar todo este estres generado por el invierno.

The winter season is just underway, and with winter comes winter snow storms. This year we are prepared to make the snow removal process efficient and effective. During a snow storm, we will be reserving a maximum of four parking spaces in each court for snow removal efforts. Please be mindful of the orange cones that will be set out to designate a reserved parking space. We are aware of the inconvenience this may cause, but we need the cooperation of all residents for our snow removal efforts to be successful. If

we work together we can ensure that our community’s streets and sidewalks remain safe during a snow storm.

If you have a condition or other compelling reason that prevents you from shoveling your individual walk ways, please contact the Management Office so that proper arrangements can be made to help you this winter. Please contact us as soon as possible. We appreciate your cooperation.

Si usted padece de alguna enfermedad u otra razón apremiante que le impida remover la nieve de las aceras de su hogar, le recomendamos que se ponga en contacto con la Oficina de Administración para hacer los arreglos apropiados para que le ayudemos durante este invierno. Póngase en contacto con nosotros cuanto antes. Apreciamos su cooperación.

Cinnamon Woods Resident

Fully renovated home at

12923 Poppy Seed Lane

Windows, doors, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms,

hardwood and stainless steel appliances.

Why redo - Buy new! Move up without moving

away from the community, and avoid all the mess.

Must see to appreciate. Call Rick at (301) 865-8538.

Save on commission, buy direct from the owner -

$325,000

C W H A 18400 Cinnamon Drive Germantown, MD 20874 (301) 972-1850 Phone(301) 972-0763 Fax www.cinnamonwoods.org

BULK RATEU.S. Postage

PAIDGermantown,

MDPermit No. 17

February 19th - Office Closed – President’s Day

March 5th - ARC Meeting

March 8th - Board Meeting

March 10th - Dumpster Day

March 22nd - 7pm at the Police Satellite Facility, at Clopper and Mateny.

THIS WILL BE A SPECIAL MEETING ON CRIME AND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE.

February/March 2007 calendar oF events

cinnamon woods home association, inc. - athomenet woods homes association 3 the spice rap is the...

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