Protecting Your Community’s Integrity: Architectural Changes and CC&Rs

In a scenic condominium development on Catalina Island, a pair of homeowners owned two stacked one-bedroom units. They proposed a bold renovation plan to:

• Combine their two condos into a single unit;

• Install an exterior elevator on the building;

• Add an interior elevator between floors;

• Cut through shared walls to build a hallway connecting the units;

• And make other changes that involved converting rooms and modifying plumbing.

The HOA’s architectural committee reviewed the request and said no to almost everything.

Why the HOA Denied It

The HOA rejected the proposals for several key reasons:

• The exterior elevator would have altered the uniform look of the building and created a visual disruption.

• The hallway and utility space were located in common areas — spaces shared by all owners — and could not be granted to just one household without a vote of all members.

• The structural integrity of the building could be compromised by: