Building is reasonably nice, but has a number of construction/design issues (that are being worked out), minimal amenities and overpriced and disproportionate HOA fees.
The reason I give One (1) Star - Lots of past (maybe still) evidence of corruption with the management company (Merit Property Management that merged/joined FirstService Residential), the past HOA legal counsel (Glenn Youngling, esq.), the builder (Lennar, et al), and the board of directors.
Corruption in an association may be a minor issue compared to a lot of other things that go on in this world. But, that does not change the fact of it's past existence (and maybe in the present) within the 200 Brannan Owners Association.
Furthermore, some people that live here may say that they see (or saw) no evidence of corruption because they might not know what to look for or how to look at financial statements, records, reports, etc., or will not take the time to do so, or they might be afraid to say anything, or they just don't care. And, likely, they have better things to do.
Regardless, having been educated and employed as an auditor and forensic accountant earlier in my life, I know what to look for, I took the time to look, and I'm not afraid to say something about it.
Should you be wondering, I would much rather be spending my time on more enjoyable things. However, I am a member of the 200 Brannan Owners Association and eliminating (or at least minimizing) the corruption therein is important and meaningful to me. Especially when there appears to be no one else willing or able to do so.
Additionally, it is quite notable that the operational structure of the 200 Brannan Owners Association is extremely ill-advised (or would be by any honest business/financial type of consultant, such as myself).
The operational structure, as established by Lennar and Merit Property Management, is that everything is in the hands of the property managers. The property managers create the budget, they keep the books, they issue & sign the checks, they produce the financial statements, they possess all of the documentation, all digital media is done and kept on their computers which they backup to their servers, all association communications go through them, etc., etc. Very, very ill-advised. Understand?
One more thing, if and when I'm shown to be incorrect about anything I say, I will make the necessary corrections to my statement(s).
FYI, my name is Mr. Allison Barton Rice. I am the present and original owner (as of October 2004) of Unit 316 in the 200 Brannan building. read more