Remember this post? The one where my family met up with friends while we were at Disney World? In some of those shots, you saw a sweet little 3-year-old boy. That’s Cooper. Full of energy and love.
By now, I’m sure you’ve also heard about Cooper’s House on the local and national news. If you haven’t already checked out his Facebook page, it’s a great place to go to become informed about what’s been happening and get involved.
We love this family. They’re as down-to-earth and warm as you can imagine. I was over there tonight getting a shot of Cooper’s house all decked out in holiday lights. We talked about how things were going, and the family is optimistic that the Andover Forest Neighborhood Association will reconsider its stance on removing Cooper’s therapy playhouse from the property. There’s an overwhelming amount of public support for Cooper, but ultimately, the homeowners in that subdivision will need to make a big decision on what kind of a neighborhood they want to create.
Yep, that’s right. Create. Neighborhoods aren’t maintained. They’re not protected. A neighborhood’s value isn’t in the soil, bricks and mortar any more than a church is a building. A neighborhood is created daily by the choices its residents make in associating with one another. In helping each other. That’s what makes houses homes.
Let’s encourage the Andover Forest homeowners to take on this responsibility and be an example to all neighborhoods.
Here’s that shot from earlier tonight.
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:37 pm
This story saddens me that the HOA do not have the compassion or heart to allow this wonderful little boy to keep his “therapy” house. I am hoping that with all the support the family has received that the HOA will make the right decision. I am wondering how they can enforce the code when it clearly goes against the Americans with Disability Act. This is not just a toy—–it is a structure that is being used for medical and occupational therapy. I am a social work major at Asbury University working on my Master’s and I am so proud to be one of the one’s that support this little boy and his family. I have re-posted the story and shared with as many friends and family members that I can.
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:48 pm
I think that he should keep his house. Aren’t we suppose to make the quality of life better for our children. That includes anything that makes their lives sustainable. From my understanding, his health has improved with the therapy that he has through the use of his house. If his therapists are getting good improvements from him, why should anyone question his method of improvement. This method is something that he understands and enjoys. It doesn’t take away from the value of his home or property around him. It isn’t an eye sore for the other neighbors. I would hate to answer to God as to why I couldn’t help a child with improving his health. Since it is a neighborhood association, let the neighbors vote on it.
December 2nd, 2011 at 11:24 pm
Well said Shaun!
December 3rd, 2011 at 2:13 pm
The Homeowners Board is probably ‘legally bound’ to do what they are doing. Most HOA neighborhoods have higher than average property values (pretty important in today’s day and time) and ARE well-maintained. That doesn’t mean they ‘aren’t neighborhoods. You need to get the facts. From what I can gather that Board ‘CAN’T’ change the Covenants. The Homeowners can. But, the standard HOA Covenants in KY require a ‘Quorum’ (ie: majority) and most people are generally apathetic when it comes to meetings etc. At least in my experience that has been the case. I heard the media didn’t ‘read and/or print’ the entire statement from that HOA on the newscast the other night. Probably wasn’t ’sensational’ enough.
PB
December 3rd, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I sent e-mails to the home owners association stating I think Cooper should get to keep His house. It is not an eye sore.I said there were photos all over the internet showing other houses with in their neighborhood with tree forts, elaborate swing sets with forts, Cooper can’t climb into/onto those. If He needs to lose His all the forts, tree forts, swing sets and sheds should go to. I re posted the e-mails on many of the photos of Cooper’s house. someone else posted their phone numbers and address’ BE POLITE, intelligent and insightfull so they can hear You with their hearts.
December 4th, 2011 at 10:02 am
I am completely outraged over this situation. I do not understand how the HOA can be so cruel. Maybe you should tell the HOA to break the news to this little precious boy where they will have to look into his beautiful little face and tell him he can’t have his play house. Have any of the neighbors spoken out? What do their neighbors think about all this. If they make the Veloudis family move his house then they need to clear every yard in the neighborhood of their swingsets and forts. There should be a national campaign to save this baby’s playhouse. If there is anything I can do to help please contact me at cmsmith1973@gmail.com. I will do anything to help this litlle boy. God Bless the family and hang in there. You all have a lot of support.