Condo Guru

01/08/2025

Every lawyer has a "dream client", or a "dream case". For me, in the context of my development law practice, that dream has been to work with owners of commercial and industrial properties -- strip malls, medical office buildings, warehouse parks, and the like -- to help them explore how to maximize the uses and value of their lands through to condominium.

*Not*, mind you, converting the use of those properties from commercial/industrial to residential use. Let's take off those blinders right away: A condominium does *not* have to be a residential development.

There are benefits of conversion to condominium that have nothing to do with changing the way the property is used. That's what this first article (of 3) is about.

Learn the pros and cons of converting an existing commercial and industrial property into a commercial or industrial condominium.

12/14/2024

Aw, fudge.

* * *

Fudge. It's a great, sweet treat. Nice to share at Christmas or Hanukkah. But not so great to do.

We often deal with condominium boards (and some managers) who prefer to fudge things than to fix them.

Once, a stalwart senior condominium legal counsel (the inimitable Gerry Hyman) suggested that there was nothing a condominium couldn't accomplish with a majority of owners on board. Well, that's almost true; but he didn't mean they should accomplish it without also following the rules.

Case in point: One condominium recently passed a resolution that no by-laws could be approved except at a meeting that has a quorum of 75% of the owners. Nice try, but the Act doesn't allow that.

What they want to achieve, though, is doable - but only in the right way. It's just not doable by resolution of the owners. Nor is it doable by seeking to change quorum to a number that the Act doesn't allow.

There is a way to do it, but that ain't it.

Boards, managers - don't fudge things. Talk to experienced legal counsel about whatever it is you want to do, and we can help you do it (absent, of course, what's actually wrong).

04/06/2022

The annual CCI-GRC event is one that members look forward to all year. There’s something for everyone, as patrons will be able to choose which educational stream they will attend. Carefully curated sessions for newer directors or more advanced sessions for experienced directors and managers. May 6...

05/29/2018

Our latest edition: A couple pro tips on making rules that work.

http://www.cklegal.ca/condoguru.html

05/11/2018

Something new about the new proxy form.

Posted: May 11, 2018

05/08/2018

For Ontario , maintenance and repair just ain't what they used to be -- or soon won't be quite the same, anyway. There's still time to get ready. Read more here:

http://www.cklegal.ca/cg_arch_201805071.html

05/08/2018

charging stations are things of the future that are here today. New regulations help smooth the way for boards to authoritze their installation.

Check out two new entries of :

http://www.cklegal.ca/cg_arch_201805072.html

http://www.cklegal.ca/cg_arch_201805073.html

04/23/2018

Well, we are finally getting this page started. Our first formal entry? A comment on our webpage about "Election Time Access" and the recent notice from Elections Ontario.

http://www.cklegal.ca/condoguru.html