Ritzy neighborhood at war over dam repair as locals turn on richer lakefront homeowners over staggering cost

An upscale lakeside neighborhood in Georgia is at war over plans to repair a dam that will cost millions. Many residents believe the check should not be paid.

Lake Dow in Henry County needs dam repairs that will cost as much as $10 million, leaving residents with a $30,000 bill each.

But a bitter dispute has broken out between residents living on the waterfront and those living further away. The latter group states that they should pay less because the lake has less influence on the value of their properties.

Lake Dow Estates has 300 lots around the lake, 30 percent of which are on prime lakefront property.

During a homeowners association meeting on Tuesday, residents were allowed to vote on whether they wanted to proceed with plans to repair the dam. Instead, however, they attempted to dethrone the current HOA board, which then voluntarily resigned.

“The homeowners who live on the lake are going to value their homes much higher than someone who lives on the lake. So in a way, it’s not fair that everyone pays the same amount when our homes are valued differently,” said Travis Green, who recently moved to the neighborhood. Atlanta News First.

Green said they were shocked by the unexpected price tag that came with a move, adding, “When we moved here, we got a ‘welcome to the neighborhood, and by the way, you can [need] to pay between $15,000 and $30,000 in dam repairs.”

In 2008, the state rerated the lake as Category 1, meaning it had to be maintained at a lower water level. The residents chose to release two meters of water instead of spending millions on improving the dam.

“The reason they classified it as category one is because they considered it a potential if the dam were to fail. It would cause loss of property and possible loss of life downstream,” resident Mark Rawlings told Atlanta News First.

He said there have been plans to repair the dam over the years, and the price tag continues to increase.

Both Green and Rawlings have said that a proposed payment plan will be offered if they continue with the plan, which would be $250 per month over 18 years with interest charges.

Resident Travis Green recently moved into the neighborhood and was shocked by the high bill he was greeted with. He said: ‘In a way it’s not fair for everyone to pay the same amount when our homes are valued differently’

Rawlings also recalled a plan that was on the table at the end of 2022 and was stopped by the HOA board at the time. He said the last plan they came up with cost about $5 million.

‘We want to adhere to the law. “If I was off the lake I would be very concerned about the costs, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” he added.

Both Green and Rawlings have said they will be offered a proposed payment plan if they continue with the plan, which would be $250 per month over 18 years, with interest charges.

Green said after waiting so long, the situation has only gotten much worse and the costs much higher.

“To have it now grow to almost a $10 million project, when 16 years ago it was probably half that, and you’re expecting someone over 70 or someone on a fixed income or someone who doesn’t even know. what’s going on, who just got here and are trying to start a new chapter in their lives, to just say, ‘Hey, welcome to the neighborhood. Pay this,’ I think that’s kind of wrong,” Green said .

Resident Becky Kennedy said, “They knew it was coming for so long that if you didn’t like it and didn’t want to fix the lake, why didn’t you sell and get out of this neighborhood.”

Community members echoed the concerns of both Green and Rawlings and shared how the fight has affected the community.

Homeowner Asya Richardson Green shared WSBTV: ‘Many tears were shed. Many tears have been shed in recent weeks, months and days. You know people are afraid. People are afraid they will lose their homes.’

Another resident, Kristine Bobo, reiterated that many community members “don’t know how to pay for it.”

‘The majority of us have thought so ever since [lakefront homeowners] If they were to reap the benefits of this lake, they would have to cover more of the costs,” said resident Pkale Robinson.

Another said those who couldn’t afford to pay for it should have planned accordingly, Becky Kennedy told the outlet: “They knew it was coming for so long, that if you didn’t like it and it didn’t want to fix it anymore, why didn’t you sell and leave this neighborhood.’

Once the new HOA board takes over, they will decide whether the community will proceed with the plans.