Portside Condominium HOA Newsletter

Latest News

Party Time!
Corey and Annette's (Units 623 & 624) annual Octoberfest party is on for the evening of Saturday, October 5th. Bring your favorite German or fall food, beer, or wine to share with your Portside neighbors at the Portside Green (by the pool). You are very welcome to dress the part too!

Pool
Oh no ... it's about that time of year again when we have to close the pool for the winter. The last day will be Sunday, October 13. If you want to take one last dip, come meet at the pool that night, bring your favorite beverage (in plastic cups of course), and enjoy the warm water (ok, it's getting a little bit colder). After seventeen years, we finally have to replace the pool cover too. Barry and Sheri (Unit 617) offered us a reasonable sum of money (ok it was a large amount, but not quite an obscene amount) if we would emblaze a fifteen-foot The Ohio State University logo on the pool cover, but we had to politely decline.

Fire
The fire extinguishers have been installed in each stairwell. Our insurance company and the Fire Marshall are much happier now. If you happen to see a fire, remember this acronym:
PASS

(P) PULL the pin out of the fire extinguisher’s handle.
(A) AIM the nozzle at the base of the flames.
(S) SQUEEZE or press the handles together to activate the extinguisher.
(S) SWEEP or move the nozzle side to side at the base of the flames.

We're getting some new next-door neighbors
The proposed six unit development next door, squeezed onto a little less than one acre between Portside and Windjammer has been approved by the city and county. We expect development to begin in October. Want more information? Click here. Rumor has it they may be asking upwards of $2 million each.

Up, Up, and Away
Speaking of high priced real estate, I see at least one North Point unit, at a comparable size to some of the Portside units, being offered for more than $1.1 million. Oh, how I wish I could go back to 1986 and buy a few empty lots ...

Today is your Birthday (sung like only the Beatles can)
Could it be that Richard Harrison (Unit 620) is turning ninety in October? Happy Birthday Richard!

Photo of the Month

Paradise by the Portside Lights - photo by Al Mattia (Unit 611).

HOA Board Meeting Highlights

Friendly Reminder
Greetings, Portside Residents! Just a gentle nudge to remind everyone that our By-Laws and Rules & Regulations are like the glue that holds our wonderful community together. Think of them as the recipe for a happy neighborhood stew — when we all add a little kindness, respect, and cooperation, we create something truly special! Let’s all continue to do our part to follow the rules and keep our community a welcoming and friendly place to live. A little neighborly love goes a long way!

Survey Results
We are investigating a new Trex deck design with an under-deck drainage system. If it works as advertised (and we all approve the upcoming special assessment - see below), this will eliminate the possibility of water pooling or draining into the interior, the ceilings of the decks' underneath will look better, and excess rain will drain into our gutter systems.

Also, thanks for identifying flashing that needed repair and some rotting railings.

If you are planning to install new windows, please let our property manager Ann Marie know, since we plan to be repairing and/or adding new window trim soon across the entire complex. Although you can install your own windows at any time, this winter would be a very good time to do so, if new windows are in your maintenance/improvement plans for next year. In addition, we started installing screens over the attic vents to stop the bats from roosting in the vents. Those roosting in building two have not returned.

Given the recent foul weather, if you saw clear signs of active water leaks, please forward that information promptly to Ann Marie (our property manager) at the email below.

Special Assessment - Coming Soon
We've almost completed the collection and collating of data. As a reminder, we are evaluating the condition of and the repair or replacement work needed for the Roofs, Trim/Windows, Stucco, Decks, Painting, and possibly the parking lot too. We will be presenting a new Special Assessment plan by early November, after which we will hold some FAQ meetings to provide further details. We intend to ask you all to vote by the end of November. Assuming the vote is in the affirmative, funds will be collected in December and/or January, which will allow us to begin work in January 2025. Stay tuned.

Parking Stickers
Every Unit gets two new parking stickers. If you have not received yours, check your front doors, or please contact our property manager Ann Marie. Remember, if you have more than one car, please be kind to your neighbors so that all can have at least one car parked close to their unit.

Propane, Stairwells, and Important Reminders
Just a friendly reminder that all propane grills should be removed from the 2nd and 3rd floor decks. For those on the first floor, please ensure that grills, when used, are at least ten feet away from the building for safety. Additionally, let’s keep our stairwells tidy, as we anticipate a follow-up inspection from the Fire Marshal soon.
If you’re planning any major renovations, please inform the board, especially if your changes will affect the exterior appearance or involve common fixtures like load-bearing walls, plumbing, or electrical systems. Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and beautiful community. Thank you!

Sidewalks
Some sections of our sidewalks have been deemed unsafe and you will see some repair work happening during the next month.

Trucks
Some very large trucks continue to think they are small enough to enter the Portside parking area and make the turns. The last one happened a few weeks back about 3AM but we caught it on our security cameras, and are now working with the truck's owner, the insurance company, and the police for a remedy. In addition, we posted a few extra warning signs.

Portside Member(s) Spotlight: Kimm and Ray Jolly

If you’re looking for a couple who truly embodies the spirit of our community, look no further than Kimm and Ray Jolly, who have lived in Building Seven, Unit 661 for nearly forty years. Yes, you read that right – they’re original owners! From their first days here, Ray and Kimm dove headfirst into life by the lake, creating memories and friendships that have stood the test of time.

Back in the day, they were both avid tennis players. You could find them, rackets in hand, joining the tennis group at the gazebo. If you were lucky enough to be part of that crowd, you might remember that after a few friendly (but competitive!) sets, everyone would head out for dinner, always in good company and full of laughs. These days, they’ve traded in tennis rackets for bridge cards, but that competitive spirit hasn’t gone anywhere!

When they’re not spending time here, you’ll find them just down the road in South Mecklenburg County, enjoying time near the South Carolina border. But the lake still has their heart — Ray swears that just looking at the water drops his blood pressure. Their building seven "private beach” might not be for sunbathers — it’s mostly used by a family of four to six ducks — but that natural flow of sand and serene setting is all part of the charm.

Ray and Kimm raised three children, and one even called Portside home for many years. Family is clearly important to them, as are the friendships they’ve formed over the years. Back when they were regulars out on the lake, they and their friends would all gather with pontoon boats in what Ray fondly calls their own little "armada." Those were the days — when you could dock on undeveloped land, have a party, and watch the sun set well into the evening.

But what about now? Well, they still take walks, enjoying the beautiful views they fell in love with decades ago. No longer playing tennis or golf, they appreciate the slower pace of life. And while they don’t have a favorite restaurant in Davidson, they’re big fans (ok, maybe just Ray is) of the Carolina Creamery. His favorite ice cream flavor ... care to take a guess?

(a) Black Cherry
(b) Cookies and Cream
(c) Salted Caramel
(d) Rocky Road

Born in South Carolina, Ray graduated from Concord High School before attending UNC for both his undergraduate studies and law school. Next came the air force, private practice in Charlotte, and ultimately working at Duke Power, where he played a key role in the early development of our beautiful lake. From The Peninsula to The Point, Ray was part of the team responsible for much of the growth around the lake that we all enjoy today.

Kimm, on the other hand, has a master’s degree in teaching from Duke and has had a remarkable career in fundraising and development (editor's note: I sense the possibility of a UNC v Duke rivalry). Kimm's favorite job? Being the executive director at the International House in Charlotte, where she helped newcomers to the U.S. learn languages and integrate into our culture. Talk about making a difference!

And here’s a fun fact: Ray and Kimm have been married since 1960 — that’s 64 years of laughter, love, and adventure. From Canada to Argentina, Indonesia to Nevada’s Nuclear Test Site (yes, Ray has stood on the edge of a crater left by a bomb test!), their travels have taken them across the globe. But despite all the places they’ve been, there’s no place like home.

Ray and Kimm, thank you for sharing your story — and for making our community a little brighter with your presence!

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Last Month's Spotlight
Still curious about last month's quiz answer about Sue's favorite dessert? Well ... it's Pecan Pie. You can listen to her tell you herself if you click below (or try this link):

New Contact Information

Portside Document Website and Work Order / Repair Requests: Click here

Portside Property Manager: Ann Marie Creavin

Phone: (704) 255-1266 - Email: annmarie@mainstreetmanagers.com

Our former manager Dawn left so welcome Ann Marie. Ann Marie also works for our property management company, Main Street Management, and helps oversee our many needs at Portside. Not only does she track and follow up on all requests, but she can also route the requests to the right person to help.

Previous Newsletters

August 2024