The Fairways, a seniors only community in Lakewood with more than 1100 homes is one of the largest such communities in our region. Now, Fairways Homeowners Association appears to be acting in a way that could be intended to discourage Orthodox Jewish seniors from moving in.
Documentation of the proposed changes shows a new prohibition on converting any part of a basement into a sleeping area, even if that conversion meets all fire and life safety codes. A further restriction limits how many people can sleep in any bedroom to just two.
These restrictions are unusual for this sort of community, and one may question what the motivation behind them is, and why now, after so many years? Could they possibly be intended to limit children and grandchildren from visiting for Shabbos or Yom Tov?
A restriction on the conversion of a garage to a usable living space has also been proposed. Frum residents in the nearby Enclave have used garages for minyanim. Is this the Fairways motivation, or is there another reason why a community cares so much about what its members do in the internal privacy of their own homes?
Also troubling, is the proposed change to increase the voting threshold to reverse the amendments to as high as 80% of the homeowners. Why would the Homeowners Association want to restrict the will of future residents on specifically these changes? These changes raises serious questions about the motives of the Homeowner Association’s Board. Is there an deliberate effort by Fairways Homeowner Association’s Board to keep Orthodox Jews out?
Prices in the Fairways appear to be much lower than the neighboring comparable Enclave community, which has seen an influx of Orthodox. Is the Fairways board so unseemly worried about Orthodox that they are willing to hurt the long term economic interests of their own residents?
These planned restrictions come on the heel of previous policy changes requiring all pedestrians entering the development, even homeowners, to present a photo ID. That is a serious problem for Shabbos observing residents and their guests, and makes it likely that Fairways is going to get sued, just as similar restrictions at Enclave and in Jackson were overturned by the courts as discriminatory.
Several months ago, an antisemitic incident at the Fairways pool required armed guards to be hired, and a lawyer representing the Fairways was brought into a homeowner’s meeting to explain the risks to the community for legal action for discrimination.
UPDATES TO COVENANTSHOA july 1st minutes
While there may or may not be anti-Semitic motivators at play here,this article fails to address some quality of life issues. These communities were built for seniors who want to maintain quiet and privacy. Some are well into their years and no longer want to deal with the noise that younger folks put up with.
Most of the existing bylaws are in place to help maintain their desired lifestyle.
We can agree that the average heimishe grandparent of today maintains a much busier life which is in part due the size and cohesiveness of our families. As such, inorder for these residents to maintain there status quo they may want to rewrite their bylaws.
Additionally, why does the writer assume that many of the frum retirees who will eventually settle there feel any different than the current residence?
Dear Falafel,
Your points are excellent. What they seem to miss is that any law targeting one religious group violate Federal Fair Housing Laws.
It is illegal in this country to write rules that target a religious group or any minority and Fairways appears to be a repeat offender. The photo ID requirement is a huge issue – licenses may be Muktzeh מוקצה מחמת חסרון כיס would likely apply here.
People in the US are best off adapting to each other instead of targeting each other. Fairways leadership, by targeting Orthodox again, is opening itself us to yet more costly litigation, borne by the seniors who live there and many of whom likely don’t mind having Orthodox neighbors – grandchildren and all.
Does this mean that the grandkids can’t stay the weekend unless there’s a bedroom for every 2 kids, or is it just talking about someone moving in long term?
This is definitely something to consider when buying a house in the fairways if this is a key factor for moving to Lakewood to be near your children, you may want to look into other neighborhoods.
Wow. I was considering buying here. Deal is off for me.
Totally agree with falafel. I’m sure they’ll be happy to have quiet Jewish neighbors.
Get ready for all those taxes to go up!! More people mean your town is going away from volunteers and more gearing towards the paid services. OH Boy!! Welcome to the City of Lakewood