The Pointe of Saint Paul

A Private, Online Forum

This is a private, online forum site for unit owners & tenants at The Point of Saint Paul, a high-rise condominium community located in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA).

To register and participate in this forum, you must either be a unit owner or a tenant living in the building.  A registration link is provided below, but please read the ensuing introductory information first.

Why This Forum?

• HOA Issues

To foster online discussion among unit owners, without time constraints.  Our monthly board meetings along with follow-up Q&A sessions are helpful. But they can also be frustrating due to time limits.

Sometimes Q&A time is wasted by issues raised that have been asked and answered before, in previous meetings. But because Q&A sessions are not part of the official meeting records, there’s no documentation for folks who missed those initial discussions.

By raising and discussing topics here on this forum, issues and ideas can be discussed,  in-depth and without time constraints, before ever being brought before the board.  An added bonus is this forum software saves a written record of discussions.

• Neighborhood Info

Besides discussion of HOA issues, this forum can be a place to discuss issues and events in our surrounding neighborhood.  Social media platforms such as Facebook or Nextdoor can accomplish this.  But they each have their limitations and are not necessarily focused enough to serve our particular community.

• Tenants Too

By default, the majority of units in our building are owner occupied.  But there are some units which are rented out.  Although tenants cannot participate in official HOA business proceedings, they still represent a part of our overall community and can have a voice on this forum.

• Recommendations

Looking to do repairs or updates to your unit?  It might be helpful to ask who else in our building has done a similar project and find out what contractors or vendors they recommend.

Who Created This Forum?

Hi, I'm Mike Welch.  I'm a resident owner in unit 1009.  Although I long ago retired from the field of Information Techology, I still consider myself a compulsive problem solver!

After living here at The Pointe for a few years and attending many HOA meetings, I saw a need for better communication.  So I decided to cobble together this forum as an experiment.

Disclaimers

• This forum is not an official HOA communication channel.
• It is neither controlled by nor endorsed by the HOA board.
• It is not funded by HOA dues.
• Board members are welcome to participate here.. just like any other owner.

Basic Etiquette

• Play Nice!
• Be courteous.
• No personal attacks.
• No bullying.
• No board bashing!

If you have criticisms, please keep your comments focused on issues and potential solutions, not individuals.

Board members are owners who have volunteered to take on difficult duties. They don't get paid for their time. They don't get special rates on dues or exemptions  on assessments. Their job isn't easy. But for all their efforts, they often seem to fall victim to the adage "No good deed goes unpunished".

That's it for the intro.  Follow this link to registration