Neighborly Networking: Web Sites Foster Friendship Among Condo Owners

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HOMEOWNERS, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE the value of being in the virtual loop. That's the lesson learned this summer by residents of the Rhapsody, a 162-unit condo building at Vermont and Florida avenues NW.

When a small fire suddenly sparked in one wing of the high-rise, it set off the sprinkler system, which, in turn, caused damage in many units. Unlucky residents in that part of the building might not normally have had much interaction with their neighbors at that point, but the community's Yahoo listserv came to the rescue.

Almost instantly, messages of good tidings flooded the listserv as neighbors offered help — and their homes — to those in need.

"It really helped create a sense of community, and it has sort of drawn us together," says the listserv's moderator Mike Dembski, 54, an information technology professional.

Since Dembski founded the Rhapsody's listserv in April 2007, it has grown to include more than 150 members, with monthly message counts ranging from a couple dozen to well more than 100. Dembski describes the online group as a no-frills way for neighbors to communicate — one in which the usefulness of the medium indubitably ebbs and flows over time. But if the fire incident taught the condo owners anything, it's that when emergency strikes, having an online network in place is essential.

In some condo communities these days, neighbors are just as likely to rub shoulders virtually as in the hallway. Chalk it up to long workdays and increasingly mobile and plugged-in residents.

"We're a large building — 419 units — and a lot of owners don't live on-site," explains Melissa Rothe, general manager of Clarendon 1021 in Arlington. "So, even though we do the typical elevator fliers about things, the Web helps keep our owners who don't necessarily live here — or people who are traveling — informed about what's going on. Everyone here has a BlackBerry or iPhone."

Clarendon 1021 features a password-protected Web site for residents that showcases upcoming events and security alerts, an official listserv — and an unofficial Yahoo group discussion board — and a Facebook group for publicizing social gatherings.

Though Rothe and the condo board coordinate much of the online community, resident and Realtor Frank Borges LLosa (Franklyrealty.com) says the primary way Clarendon 1021 owners connect is via a private Yahoo group, which he estimates counts around 50 percent of the building as members.

"Half of it is stuff they could answer with a quick question to the management office, but they'd rather ask their neighbors," says LLosa, 35. "Instead of being this sole person who pops his head into the management office, [each resident is] building relationships."

That critical mass can act as an enhancement or a detriment to condo life, depending on the topic and tone of the discussion. Like in any neighborhood, squabbles can — and will — happen.

Matthew Humphrey, founder of the homeowner association management Web site HOAleader.com, says online chatter can make a condo association twist from civil to ugly as quickly as you can click the send button. "Conflict happens between neighbors, online or offline," he says. "But everything happens faster and more publicly online."

Dembski can vouch for that notion. In the first several months of the Rhapsody's listserv, members remained anonymous. But before long, a couple cranky listserv trolls "took it upon themselves to lambaste people," Dembski says. Eventually, he decided to hit refresh. Now the listserv allows only residents to join using an owner ID, a move that put a halt to the negative tone.

On the flip side, discussing a policy issue online can be a more thoughtful way to hash out the many sides to a debate. About a year ago, the condo board at Clarendon 1021 considered adding more speed bumps to the parking lot, a topic that led to much heated debate on the listserv. Opinionated online debaters eventually became formal members of a real, live committee to determine the building's policy.

"The board listens to the message board unofficially," LLosa explains. "It allows people to feel like things aren't being crammed down their throats."

Just as listserv topics occasionally edge onto board meeting agendas, some condo owners take the initiative to use online tools to enhance their community. A few years ago, Lee Hernly, 45, a resident of Alexandria's Carlyle Towers, transformed his post as a community affairs committee member — which involved writing a monthly article for the newsletter — into that of resident blogger.

The fast-evolving neighborhood of Carlyle, a pocket of booming construction just west of Old Town Alexandria, warranted more than a single article once a month, Hernly says. So, the professional computer programmer launched Carlyle Community News (Carlylecommunity.org), a blog for residents of Carlyle Towers and the neighboring condo and apartment buildings. Readership has swelled to about 15,000 page views per month, with blog posts zooming in on hyper-local topics such as street closures, overnight flooding and new businesses.

Carlyle Towers also has a Facebook group where happy hours are planned, an effort spearheaded by resident Shelu Patel, 30, who works in project management. She set up the online group in hopes of meeting more of her neighbors from the sprawling complex.

"I have friends who never had Facebook profiles but got on Facebook just because we had this page," Patel says.

So, what's the catch? Most online interaction includes just a self-selected subset of the condo community who have chosen to connect virtually.

"You think everyone is participating, and you get this wonderful warm feeling about the inclusiveness of it all — but often it's an illusion," Humphrey says. "Let's face it: Most large condos and communities will have groups within them that will be underrepresented or underserved by a social network. Once you get lulled into believing the social network is a ... full representation of the entire community, you've developed a blind spot."

Written by Express contributor Katie Knorovsky
Photos by Kevin Dietsch