Portside Condominium HOA Newsletter
January 2025
Latest Portside News
Welcome to 2025!
With a mix of sadness and good wishes, we’re bidding farewell to a couple who have been part of the Portside community for many wonderful years. Bob and Sandy Hepp have moved on to new horizons (and in their place, Todd and Sandy have moved in - and no, being named Sandy isn’t a requirement for residency, but it sure seems to help!). We’ll miss their warmth, friendship, and familiar faces around the neighborhood. Know that you’ll always have a home in our hearts here at Portside. Don’t be strangers - stop by for a visit if your travels ever bring you back our way! Safe travels and happy adventures!
Photo of the Month
A Bird’s-eye perspective! This majestic hawk keeps watch over Portside’s pristine beauty.
Photo by Sandy Short-Steiss.
HOA Board Highlights
HOA Board
Scott Girard has resigned from the Portside HOA Board. If you are interested in volunteering, send an email to our property manager Ann Marie by Jan 31, 2025 for consideration. The term will be about 18 months (until the summer of 2026). Ideally, you should be willing to devote a reasonable amount of time to assisting with our Special Assessment projects in addition to the regular oversight (such as beach issues, complaints (and occasional praise) about neighbors, coyotes, raccoons, bats, dumpsters, leaking water pipes, insurance, HOA dues, legal issues that arise, etc.). And yes, the pay was recently doubled - but don’t get too excited; it’s still zero."
Special Assessment On-Site Manager
Frank Cervo (former Portside resident with 40+ years of construction experience) has been hired as our on-site manager for the Special Assessment projects. See below in our spotlight for a little more information about Frank.
Special Assessment Vote
Two Portside Owners met with our property manager in January to independently verify the vote count and tabulation for the recent Special Assessment. Thank you for your attention to detail.
Special Assessment Progress
The cold weather has slowed things down a little. As a general rule, it's unwise to apply caulk or mix stucco when temperatures drop below 50 degrees, so most of that won't begin until the end of February. And when the wind blows off the lake when it's below 30 degrees, it's a miserable and freezing experience. The weather has warmed a bit, so this week we'll continue work on Building Seven inspecting and repairing trim around windows.
When this work is being done, we sometimes need to open a window, and it would be very helpful if the windows were unlocked, screens removed, and ensure they are not "painted shut". When this happens, we'll knock on the door and if someone is home, we can usually continue. When we can't we'll note that one as "unfinished" and come back later.
Our property manager has most of the keys/codes now for all units, and we thank you for assisting with this effort (but we have a few more to collect). In February, we'll be testing all of this. It's come in handy, for example, just last week, we prevented major damage by quickly addressing a leak in an unoccupied unit.
Windows
Our goal with new windows is to get the final "orders" in by the end of February for installation during April (since lead times can be as long as six weeks). If you know you want new windows, just send an email to our property manager or create a work order and we'll get you on the list. In some cases, after the inspections, we might recommend that you install new windows because the current ones are possibly allowing leaks into the framing or stucco.
There is nothing to stop an Owner from purchasing and installing their own windows at any time - its just the cost might be lower if we do them in bulk.
Stair Landing Railings Installation
You'll begin to see some repairs on our wooden stair railings and/or fascia boards (embedded in the stucco) and that repair process will continue for a few months. In cases where we find framing rot or stucco repairs needed, as we said above, most of that will take place once the weather warms up from March forward.
Financial Summary
Owners pre-paid about $300,000 of the Special Assessment funds as of Jan 27, 2024, so we have enough funds to proceed. Don't forget to at least pay 1/6 of the total amount due by the end of January. We'll highlight funding, expenses, and progress in more detail in the future as work continues (not much to update here given the cold weather).
Upcoming Work in February
We will continue window and trim inspections and repair. Once Building Seven is completed, work will start on Building Six, proceeding in descending order from there. We will also begin inspecting attic spaces - ideally during an active rainstorm. The HVAC condenser roof wells will be inspected and cleaned of leaf or other debris as needed. Your cooperation will be needed for attic access during inspections (and sometimes for the windows as noted above).
Unit Renovations
If you are planning new renovations for your Unit, please make sure to submit an ARC (Architectural Review Form) before you begin work. You will be expected to follow county and HOA rules.
Portside Committees
With the holidays and cold weather, not much to report. But I do want to shout out to Todd Steiss who is looking into the water drainage issue on the main beach, met with some experts, and has some (cost effective) ideas to pursue that we hope will minimize the "rivers" that often form after a big rain - i.e., french drains or re-digging the trench which no longer drains well. Given the weather, we'll likely wait until Spring to pursue further.
| Committee Name | Members | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Internet Fiber | Mark R. Click here if you want to help. |
Find a low-cost, higher-speed Internet option for Portside. |
| 2. Larger Mailboxes | Ken J. Click here if you want to help. |
Obtain larger USPS mailboxes. |
| 3. Electric (EV) Car Chargers | Corey C and Barry M. Click here if you want to help. |
Investigate EV Chargers for the Portside community. |
| 4. Common Areas Permanent fixtures | Lynn C, Rick K. Click here if you want to help. |
Office/Storage, Gates, Perimeter Fences |
| 5. Portside Rules and Regulations | Click here if you want to volunteer to join. |
Update our Rules and Regulations prior to the annual meeting. |
| 6. Beach Improvements | Todd S. Click here if you want to help. |
Focus initially is on the water drainage issue. |
| 7. Architectural Review Committee | Melanie P, Michael S, Alan D, and Barry M. |
Oversees Portside's Common Areas and Unit renovation requests. |
Portside Members Spotlight: Frank Cervo
Frank and Wilma Cervo along with a recent picture of Frank in case you see him working on the buildings. Don't forget to say hi!
Meet Frank Cervo: Portside’s Special Assessment Ace
This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Frank Cervo, a man with an incredible knack for turning problems into solutions, a lifetime of construction expertise, and a deep commitment to making Portside a better place to live. Frank isn’t just a friendly face in the Davidson community – he’s also been hired by Portside to help manage our Special Assessment projects. With his extensive experience, he’ll be advising, troubleshooting, and (hopefully) saving us money over the next year.
Frank: Builder, Problem-Solver, and All-Around Pro
Frank hails from the mountains of West Virginia, near Morgantown. He started working in construction at the age of 16 and launched his own building business by 1968. Over the next 40 years, Frank developed more than 500 homes and seven subdivisions, including two that earned state awards. He’s also been honored as "Builder of the Year" in West Virginia, a title he humbly credits to his hardworking crews and family. Frank’s expertise runs deep. From clearing land to installing utilities, building homes, and managing subdivisions, he’s done it all. His mantra is simple but effective: “Fix the cause, not just the problem.” That philosophy has guided him through decades of success and is already making an impact here at Portside.
Wilma: The Unsung Hero
Frank is quick to credit his wife, Wilma, as an essential part of his success. The two met in their early 20s at a box factory in West Virginia, and they’ve been a team ever since. Wilma has been Frank’s steadfast partner in life and work, helping to manage their thriving real estate and construction business and supporting him through every challenge. They moved to North Carolina in 2008, following their son Scott, a real estate broker and bought Unit 647. Their family quickly became part of the Portside community for almost ten years, living in and renovating several units over that time. He was the unofficial handyman during that ime, probably done helpful repairs in about half the Portside units. Frank’s deep understanding of construction and his hands-on experience with Portside’s buildings make him uniquely qualified to oversee our Special Assessment project.
In this role, Frank will be managing the repairs and contractors and ensuring every dollar is spent wisely. His goal? To tackle the root causes of issues, not just patch over the symptoms. Frank is committed to keeping Portside beautiful, functional, and well-maintained for years to come.
Fun Facts About Frank
- Favorite Food: Italian. (But he’ll tell you the best pasta is back in West Virginia!)
- Favorite Spot for Lunch: Fresh Chef in Cornelius. (Simple and good)
- Sports Fan? While he once followed the West Virginia Mountaineers. (Frank admits his life has always revolved around work)
A Legacy of Trust and Excellence
Frank’s dedication to quality and his passion for community make him the perfect fit to guide Portside through this important project. He’s been clear from the start: gaining residents’ trust and delivering lasting results are his top priorities. “When people know you’re working in their best interest,” he says, “that’s when you can really make progress.” As we embark on the Special Assessment, we couldn’t be in better hands. Thanks to Frank’s leadership and know-how, we're hoping that Portside is set to shine brighter than ever. Let’s give him a warm thank-you for helping us navigate this important chapter!
Other Information
| Property Manager Details | Previous Portside Newsletters | HOA Governing Documents |
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Property Management Company: Main Street Management, 18115 W Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031 |
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Portside's dedicated Property Manager: Ann Marie Creavin |
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Ann Marie's Work Phone Number: (704) 255-1266 |
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Ann Marie's Work Email: annmarie@mainstreetmanagers.com |
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The Portside Document Website and Work Order / Repair Requests: Click here |
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Portside's Original Plans and Sales documents(circa 1987):
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