Legislative Pulse

The CAA Legislative Pulse is a monthly newsletter designed to keep Charleston Apartment Association members abreast of topical political news impacting the industry.  The CAA Legislative Pulse is released to members the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Charleston Chamber of Commerce Legislative Appreciation Reception   August 6  6 - 8pm  Founders Hall 1500 Old Towne Road Charleston, SC  29407  Cost: $50, Chamber members only      The 2013 Legislative Session has concluded and to thank the members of our state legislative delegation for their support of the business community's legislative agenda the Chamber is holding an appreciation reception.  One member of our delegation will be awarded with the Chamber's Glenn McConnell Elected Leadership Award as well as honoring several others for their tremendous work in the State House this year. This event is the chance to personally thank our legislative delegation for all of their hard work throughout the 2013 session.  For event information, please contact Jeremy Cauthen at 805-3075 or jcauthen@charlestonchamber.org. Postal Service Initiates Mail Delivery Changes As part of an effort to reduce delivery costs, some local postmasters have advised apartment owners and managers in some states that mail deliveries to new addresses, including apartment communities, will be made to outdoor "cluster box units" (CBUs) instead of traditional mailboxes inside the apartment building.  The notices indicate the postal service also plans to deliver packages to secure parcel lockers instead of locations such as leasing offices and concierge desks for residents to retrieve them. These notices indicate that the local postmasters have authority to initiate delivery changes through the United States Postal Service (USPS) Postal Operations Manual; however, USPS says it is not currently planning forced conversions to centralized delivery for properties with established service.  USPS says it will purchase and install CBUs without charge for apartment communities currently receiving regular delivery, if they voluntarily request centralized delivery service. NAA/NMHC have requested clarification from USPS on its delivery policies for apartment communities and the process to appeal delivery decisions.

Summer Newsletter

Sampling of the Summer 2013 CAA Newsletter

Click here for the entire newsletter

Springtime Success

The Charleston Apartment Association is pleased to report a busy and prosperous springtime.  A slew of events were held each with a record number of attendees and favorable feedback.  In April, the local industry was highlighted in the largest newspaper in the state, the Post & Courier on April 6, 2013:

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20130406/PC2110/130409515/1145/going-up-local-apartment-trade-benefiting-from-new-complexes-rising-rates-heightened-demand

 
 Diamond Awards

 The 2013 Charleston Apartment Association Diamond Awards celebration was held on March 22, 2013.  Individuals and properties within the industry were nominated and voted on in a number of categories from maintenance to management to beautification and more.  The Diamond Awards, a yearly celebration, is designed to spotlight excellence within the industry over the past year.  This year's ceremony was such a success that a member in attendance from SealMaster took it upon himself to highlight the entire event in the company's blog on March 27, 2013: 

http://sealmastercarolinas.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/night-of-celebration-for-charleston-apartment-association/

  

 Maintenance Mania

The Charleston Apartment Association recently held Maintenance Mania at BELFOR Property Restoration in North Charleston on April 11, 2013.  The celebration of local maintenance professionals extended the opportunity to compete for $1,300 in cash prizes and possible national recognition.  Especially thrilling this year was the all-time record of 33 registered maintenance professionals and approximately 100 Charleston Apartment Association members in attendance.  To add to the excitement, the event was pitched and picked-up by the Post & Courier on April 20, 2013:

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20130420/PC2110/130429999/1268/real-estate-news-x2014-carolina-one-adds-realtor-from-x201c-small-town-usa-x201d-green-experts-to-talk-in-kiawah&source=RSS

Trade Show

On May 7th, the Charleston Apartment Association hosted its annual trade show at the Omar Shrine Temple in Mt. Pleasant.  The successful event boasted a 50% uptick in attendance over last year with 160 attendees.  New this year was a pre-event VIP reception and $2,000 in cash and gift card giveaways.

    

Upcoming Opportunities

July 14th Family Fun Day

Join the CAA family on Sunday, July 14 for an afternoon of old fashioned family fun and games.  Think face painting, Twister, potato sack races, corn hole, croquet, BBQ buffet, etc.  Event attendance grants free access to the entire grounds of Charles Towne Landing as well. 

Sunday, July 14
Founder's Hall at Charles Towne Landing
1500 Old Towne Rd,  Charleston, SC  29407
2-5pm
$25/adult, $10/child (15 and under)
RSVP by July 10th via email to info@

CharlestonApartmentAssociation.com

Education Opportunities Taught by Will Brownlee, Esquire

 

William ("Will") K. Brownlee is the owner of Brownlee Law Firm, PLLC, a law firm with offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, and now Charleston, SC.   Will was born and raised in the Charleston area and is graduate of The Citadel and the N.C. Central School of Law.  He has practiced law in North Carolina for the past 14 years and in South Carolina since 2011.  Throughout his legal career, Will's primary focus has been in the area of landlord-tenant law, in which his firm represents landlords - and never tenants.  At present, Brownlee Law Firm and its attorneys represent landlord clients in thousands of eviction cases per year, as well as representing landlord and property manager clients in North Carolina and South Carolina via training seminars, day-to-day advice, fair housing disputes, regulatory compliance, lease and form drafting, and corporate and business litigation.  Will currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Apartment Association of North Carolina (AANC) and is the author of the AANC Lease and the AANC Legal Handbook.

NAA Lease

July 17th

9:00am - 3:00pm

$45/member, $50/non-member

BELFOR Property Restoration

7629 Southrail Road, N. Charleston, SC  29420

Click here to RSVP.

Deadline to RSVP:  Friday, July 12. 

Course attendance equates to 6 CECs.

SC Rental Laws

August 7th

9:00am - 1:00pm

$40/member, $45/non-member

BELFOR Property Restoration

7629 Southrail Road, N. Charleston, SC  29420

Click here to RSVP, including any hot button topics for discussion. 

Deadline to RSVP:  Friday, August 2.  

Course attendance equates to 4 CECs.

Fair Housing

October 16th

9:00am - 1:00pm OR 1:30 - 5:30pm

$40/member, $45/non-member

BELFOR Property Restoration

7629 Southrail Road, N. Charleston, SC  29420

Click here to RSVP.

Deadline to RSVP:  Friday, October 11. 

Course attendance equates to 4 CECs. 

Public Hearing

Industry Friends -

Charleston County is proposing a change in solid waste fees.  This would have an impact on the multifamily developments in Charleston County ($70/unit/year) and we're encouraging industry allies for representation at the hearing on June 11 at 6:30pm. Click here for complete details.

Sincerely,

Wendy Tucker

President

Charleston Apartment Association

July 14th Family Fun Day

July 14th Family Fun Day

Join the CAA family on Sunday, July 14 for an afternoon of old fashioned family fun and games.  Think face painting, Twister, potato sack races, corn hole, croquet, BBQ buffet, etc.  Event attendance grants free access to the entire grounds of Charles Towne Landing as well. 

Sunday, July 14
Founder's Hall at Charles Towne Landing
1500 Old Towne Rd,  Charleston, SC  29407
2-5pm
$25/adult, $10/child (15 and under)
RSVP by July 10th via email to info@CharlestonApartmentAssociation.com

National Apartment Association Scholarship Opportunity

National Apartment Association Scholarship Opportunity  

The 2013 Apartment Industry Government Affairs Roundtable will be held in Denver, Colorado from August 2-4.  NAA is offering scholarships of up to $1,000 to defray costs of participation for a small group of attendees.  There are a limited number of scholarships available.  If interested, please submit a completed application by Monday, June 17, 2013.  All applicants will be notified if they were selected for a scholarship by Friday, June 28th.  Please click here for the application.   

If you have any questions, contact Fred Tayco at fred@naahq.org.