Arts & Crafts Room Community Vote Coming in November
Updated: 1 day ago
MountainBrook Village residents will be asked to vote this November on a proposed
project to convert an existing storage area in the Ocotillo Building into additional space
for arts and crafts activities.
The proposed project combines remodeling work with the installation of insulation and
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) for sound control. The project includes:
AZ Spruce Up: $63,035.87
My Installation Guy – sound insulation and MLV: $6,580.00
20% contingency: $13,923.17
Total project cost not to exceed: $83,539.04
The project would be funded 100% from Future Development Funds.
Because the project requires the use of Future Development Funds, MountainBrook
Village residents will be asked to approve the project through a community vote.
Voting Dates:
Voting begins: November 3, 2026
Voting ends: November 17, 2026
Residents will have several opportunities to learn about the proposed project before
voting begins. Additional information will be provided through Town Halls, newsletter
articles, eblasts, and the MBV website, including details about the proposed
improvements, how the space would be used, and answers to resident questions.
Watch for more information as we get closer to the November vote.
What’s Being Proposed?
DID YOU KNOW?
MBV residents will vote in November on a proposal to convert existing storage space in the Ocotillo Building into a dedicated Arts & Crafts Room.
The proposed 396-square-foot space would provide flexible workspace, storage, a sink and counter, heating and cooling, improved lighting, sound mitigation and other improvements to support arts and crafts activities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is additional activity space being considered?
Arts and crafts activities currently compete for available space and often require room for supplies, setup and cleanup. A dedicated room would provide functional workspace and storage designed specifically for these types of activities while helping ease scheduling demands on other community spaces.
Who would be able to use the Art Room?
The Art Room would be an MBV community amenity available for resident activities and programming, rather than space belonging to an individual club or group.
Why use the Ocotillo storage area?
The project team explored several possibilities for additional activity space. Other locations were determined to be unavailable or unsuitable, and the existing Ocotillo storage area emerged as a space that could potentially be converted from storage to active resident use.
How large would the room be?
The proposed room is approximately 396 square feet, measuring about 14½ by 27¼ feet. The room is designed as flexible activity space, with movable tables and furnishings allowing it to accommodate different types of programming.
Why Is the Space Needed?
DID YOU KNOW?
The proposed Art Room would turn existing storage space into functional activity space for MBV residents.
The dedicated room is intended to provide a central location for arts and crafts activities, help ease scheduling challenges, and provide workspace and storage designed for these activities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why invest community funds in an amenity that not every resident will use?
No resident uses every MBV amenity or participates in every activity. Together, however, the community's facilities, activities, clubs and programs provide a range of opportunities for different interests and help create the active, well-rounded community MBV strives to maintain.
The Art Room proposal asks residents to consider whether converting currently underutilized storage space into functional activity space is an appropriate investment in that broader mix of community amenities.
What will happen to the equipment and supplies currently stored in the space?
The need to relocate equipment and supplies supporting current MBV activities has been identified as part of the project planning. While the specific storage arrangements have not yet been finalized, plans will be put in place if the Art Room project is approved so these items remain accessible to residents who participate in those activities.
How Did We Get Here?
DID YOU KNOW?
The current Art Room proposal is the result of more than a year of exploring options for additional arts and crafts space at MBV.
Different locations and approaches were considered before the Ocotillo storage area was identified and the current project scope developed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long has this proposal been under consideration?
Work on the need for additional arts and crafts space began in 2025. Over the following months, possible locations, room requirements, designs and costs were explored before the current proposal was developed.
Were other locations considered?
Yes. Several possibilities were explored, including space in the Activity Center and other locations on campus. Those alternatives ultimately proved unavailable or unsuitable, leading the project team to further evaluate the Ocotillo storage area.
Why has the process taken so long?
Converting an existing space requires more than identifying an available room. The process included evaluating possible locations, determining how the room would need to function, developing designs, obtaining pricing and revising the project when earlier options proved too costly or impractical.
That work resulted in the proposal residents are being asked to consider today.
Who has been involved in developing the proposal?
The project has involved resident volunteers, appropriate MBV committees, management, the Board and outside contractors as the proposal moved from identifying a need to evaluating a specific project.
Has the project already been approved?
The Board has approved moving the proposal forward through the planning process, but use of Future Development Funds for this project requires resident approval. The final decision on whether to proceed therefore belongs to MBV residents through the November vote.
How Would It Be Funded?
DID YOU KNOW?
The proposed Art Room would be funded through MBV’s Future Development Fund, which is supported by funds collected through home sales within the community.
The project would not increase HOA dues.
Because use of these funds for the project requires resident approval, MBV households will have the opportunity to vote November 3–17.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What would the Art Room cost?
The total project cost is not to exceed $83,539.04.
The current project budget includes:
Remodeling: $63,035.87
Sound insulation: $6,580
20% contingency: $13,923.17
The contingency provides an allowance for unexpected costs that can arise when remodeling an existing building. It does not mean those funds will necessarily be spent.
How would the project be funded?
The project would be funded through MBV's Future Development Fund rather than through an increase in HOA dues.
The Future Development Fund is money set aside for new facilities or amenities. It is funded solely by a special assessment on new home and fluctuates each year, depending on the number of MBV home sales.
Based on our governing documents, Future Development Funds can only be used for the design and or construction of new recreational facilities and amenities situated on the common area campus. These monies cannot be used for repairs or maintenance of existing assets.
Will this project increase my HOA dues?
The proposed project would be paid from the Future Development Fund and would not result in an increase in HOA dues to fund the Art Room project.
What about other projects MBV may need to fund?
Considering the Art Room does not eliminate the need to evaluate and prioritize other community projects.
The Future Development Fund does not grow quickly, but dollars spent do get replenished steadily through home sales. The expenditure on this Arts Room project will not significantly impact the balance of the Future Development Fund as it will continue to be replenished by home sales.
Why does this require a resident vote?
Use of Future Development Funds for this project requires resident approval.
According to MBV bylaws, the Board is limited to spending a maximum of $26,445 on capital expenditures without requiring a homeowner vote. This number increases each year by the Cost of Living. Expenditures exceeding this amount must be approved through a homeowner vote, which requires 10% of eligible voters to participate and 2/3 of the total ballots cast must be in favor.
When will residents vote?
Voting will take place November 3–17, 2026. Information about how to vote, including options for residents who are away from MBV, will be provided before voting begins.
Where can I learn more before deciding?