HOA asks family to take down inflatable Santa, and this small Colorado town is furious
Dora Flores and her husband, who reside in the town of Severance, Colorado, purchased a massive inflatable Santa Claus as Christmas approached.
Homeowners' Associations (HOAs) can be a nuisance, often causing trouble rather than improving the community. When a family in Colorado decided to keep an inflatable Santa Claus, they received an email from the HOA, which demanded the inflatable be removed immediately. However, what the neighborhood did next made the HOA instantly regret its decision, as reported by 9News on December 16.
Dora Flores and her husband, who reside in the town of Severance, Colorado, purchased a massive inflatable Santa Claus as Christmas approached. Although they saved up money to purchase the Christmas decoration, the inflatable had a huge impact on their lives. "My daughter has autism. The first thing out of her mouth was 'Wow!' and happy hands," Flores said. As the family geared up to embrace the holiday spirit, they received an unexpected email from Romm & Company LLC, which oversees homeowners' associations in Severance, demanding that the huge inflatable be removed immediately.
According to the Daily Mail, the email read, "The Santa in your backyard is excessive in height and not permitted. Please remove immediately." It also stated that failure to remove the decoration would result in consequences including more notices, fines, collection costs, and possible attorney fees. Needless to say, the family was disappointed to have received the email. "We were very bummed and sad to know that we were going to have to bring him down, and I decided to advocate for Santa," she said. However, when word spread around the neighborhood, everyone joined in to show their support for the family. According to Denver7, one neighbor named Cody Bowden put up his own inflatable snowman. "Definitely now, I won't take it down. I don't see that this is anything offensive or anything wrong." Following Bowden, many other neighbors also began putting up their own decorations, showcasing a sense of unity.
After the massive backlash, Flores received a call from the HOA with an apology and a statement saying that they had made a mistake, on behalf of the firm, she said. A 2015 study by the Journal of Public Health noted how neighborhood conditions affect psychological distress. The researchers surveyed data from over 18,000 people aged 16 and above to measure distress levels. The findings revealed that social unity between neighbors was the strongest factor linked to lower distress. If it were not for the support Flores and her family received from the neighbors, she would not have been able to tackle the HOA's complaints. It is important to stand beside each other this holiday season — and always — so no number of forces can use their weight to dim our cheery lights.
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