Great-grandmother battles homeowners' association over color of garage door

KTRK logo
Friday, October 2, 2015
Grandmother battles HOA over garage door
A grandmother is battling her homeowners' association over the color of her newly painted garage door.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An 89-year-old grandmother is facing off with her homeowners' association in the Glencairn subdivision in northwest Harris County over the color of her garage door

Marilyn Davis, 89, has lived in her house in the Glencairn subdivision for almost 40 years. She loves her home and takes good care of it. She's been happy here until recently.

"It's aggravating," she said.

Davis is referring to an ongoing feud she's having with her homeowners' association over a recent paint job.

"She said she wanted to paint the house and the trim," homeowners' association board president Orlando Mendieta explained. "The garage doors are totally different animal, so that was never mentioned."

Davis' newly-painted garage door is not almond brown or white.

"That particular color that you painted is not in harmony with the neighborhood," Mendieta said.

"No sense in having to struggle with all these people," Davis said. "At my age I feel like I should have a little peace."

Davis said she tried to follow the rules when she painted her garage. But the color she chose is a violation -- approved for trim only. This great-grandmother says she's fed up and not budging.

Davis said, "You bought the home. You paid for it, they didn't. You paid $40,000 or $50,000 in the house, you feel like you have a right to say, to pick your colors."

Mendieta says he hasn't seen any communication from Davis. Meanwhile, she simply says, "I don't want something they pick. Things like that, just little petty things, they make such a big deal out of it."