Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc.

STRENGTH & UNITY add up to power in the politics of city government and services.

Northwood Hills is fortunate to be represented by City Councilmember Linda Koop. She is experienced in city government. She is dedicated to improving city services. But we must speak up about our urgent neighborhood goals and needs if we are to achieve them. A well-informed membership speaking with a single, powerful voice is the best way to be heard.

In the years ahead, NHHA leaders will focus on street and alley repair, code enforcement and compliance, maintenance of medians and parks, and litter control. You may want to point the way toward other important issues. Be assured that your voice will be heard within NHHA, just as our collective voice will be heard in the halls of city government.

You get all these benefits -- and more -- when you belong to the Northwood Hills Homeowners Association. Begun in 1980, NHHA is dedicated to serving the 1,155 homes of our area by enhancing the value of our property and improving the quality of life in our neighborhood.

FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS are the bricks and mortar of a neighborhood and the foundation of NHHA.

By improving communications among members, we help build closer relations, begin new friendships, welcome new families, introduce them to their neighbors, and keep everyone informed on what is happening in the neighborhood. The principal means are newsletters, meetings, Internet (www.northwoodhills.org), committee participation, and volunteer work on special events and projects.

Several "micro-neighborhoods" exist within Northwood Hills. The Association encourages them to develop their own sense of community. Anything that brings us closer together is good for all!

We also encourage neighborhood support and involvement in our elementary schools and our excellent branch library at Fretz Park.

BEAUTY & BETTERMENT qualities no neighborhood can get enough of, making this one of our most popular benefits.

You can see the results of NHHA's beautification program in the landscaped medians on Meandering Way (between Cliffbrook and Belt Line) and Meadowcreek Drive (on both sides of Hillcrest). Much, however, remains to be done. New members with new ideas are sure to keep beautification a top priority.

It takes more than landscaped medians to make Northwood Hills a better neighborhood. Future plans include new initiatives in litter control, "clean-up, paint-up, fix-up," and home landscaping and gardening activities.

There will always be a need for member involvement in preserving and improving the beauty of our neighborhood. We invite your ideas and your efforts.

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES are an expanding category in NHHA's basket of benefits.

In just 12 short years, our 4th of July Neighborhood Parade has become a magnet for kids of all ages - junior and senior citizens alike! "Back to School" and "Friends of the Library" activities could support our neighborhood institutions. "Get acquainted" gatherings could welcome new neighbors and cement relations among all. Fund-raiser events could help pay for special projects. There's no end to the possibilities.

After all, what's a neighborhood if it isn't social?

SAFETY & SECURITY are a major concern of every homeowner, and a major benefit of membership in NHHA.

The centerpiece of the Association's program is the NHHA Security Patrol, staffed by employees of Southwest Group Protective Services. These are fully trained (and armed!) officers in uniform, driving a marked patrol car complete with police scanners. They patrol Northwood Hills exclusively. While on duty, the NHHA Security patrol normally is seldom more than two (2) minutes from any NHHA member's residence, compared with 30 minutes (or more?) for the average Dallas Police response.

NHHA Members will be added to an "NHHA Alert" email distribution, so that you can keep up with any crime issues in our neighborhood.

Inside the patrol car, the officer carries a cellular phone provided by NHHA with a number known only to NHHA members. This cellular phone is equipped with voice mail, caller ID, and call waiting. NHHA members have easier access to the on-duty officer and are able to call 24 hours a day and leave a voice message for the next officer coming on duty.

In addition, NHHA Security services include a thorough inspection of your property's exterior when you are out of town, meeting you (on request) when you are returning home late at night, and conducting surveillance of any suspicious persons, cars, or other activities that you report.

In 1999, the NHHA provided 200 hours per month of security service for NHHA members. In 2005, this increased to 345 hours per month. It is the Board of Directors' hope to increase our membership so that the number of patrol hours per month can be increased to 24x7.

As an NHHA member you are also entitled to the following Extra Patrol Benefits:

When you are out of town, the officer on duty will inspect the exterior of your property every day. Simply call the patrol a few days prior to your departure and an officer will come by your home and record your information. Be prepared to give them the license plate information for anyone who is permitted access to your property (cleaning crews, pool service, relatives, etc.). If you are coming home late at night, call NHHA Security and the officer will meet you at your home and make certain you get inside safely.

If you have a baby sitter or house sitter, leave instructions for them, in an emergency, to -- CALL 911 FIRST, THEN CALL THE PATROL NUMBER. Why? If the patrol is not on duty, your emergency is already recorded with the Dallas Police Department. When the patrol is on duty, their response time is UNDER TWO MINUTES. This is compared with up to 30 minutes or more from 911 calls. This is another reason we want to increase our patrol coverage.