MPP hopes to spark formation of local condo association

Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo is looking to help kick-start condo owners in setting up an association of their own.

"There are more condos going up in our riding and just about all of them have had some issue come up that they have had to deal with on their own," said DiNovo, who has been meeting with individual condo boards throughout the riding. "This would give them a voice.

"In some sense, condo owners have less rights than tenants do. It's surprising, there are all sorts of horror stories from board irregularities to problems with the developers. An association just gives some clout to the owners."

There's a Condo Owners Association of Ontario, so the structure is already in place and DiNovo is just getting the ball rolling on forming a local chapter in Parkdale-High Park.

"It is handy because all sorts of things owners share in common they should be negotiating in common," DiNovo said. "I use the example to them of business improvement (areas): there is a classic case of like-minded people getting together and because of BIAs across Ontario, they have negotiated all sorts of favourable terms with governments, both municipal and provincial, even federal."

DiNovo has, so far, been receiving a positive response.

"We are just trying to make our rounds to them all and then we will go ahead with what we have by the end of January and start an association in Parkdale-High Park," she said.

DiNovo said she gleaned the idea from Rosario Marchese, the MPP for Trinity-Spadina, and the association he assisted in setting up there.

"It takes a bit of work because it's all volunteers," Marchese said.

When they have problems with developers, property managers they don't know who to turn to, which is how Marchese said he started getting calls which led to the association in his riding.

"It gives them a voice and a structure to go to so grievances can be aired and solved," Marchese said.

The founding meeting of the Trinity-Spadina Condo Owners Association, held more than a year ago, was attended by more than 100 people in attendance and 40 condominiums represented.

The group has since elected a board and is independent of Marchese, which DiNovo said would be the case if a Parkdale-High Park association were to get off the ground.

"They meet monthly to discuss issues that affect the condo community," Marchese said.

DiNovo said she plans to hold a meeting to launch the Parkdale-High Park Condo Owners Association towards the end of January.