February 2024

A Timeline of the History of Common Interest Communities (CICs) By Andrew J. Podolski, Esq., Stark & Stark Attorneys at Law

C ommon Interest Communities (CIC), which involve private ownership of a singular dwelling unit within a larger structure or development where owners’ rights and usage are impacted by certain covenants and restrictions, have been around longer than one might think. While the modern form of CICs known as condominium and homeowner associations and cooperatives, primarily gained traction in the United States within the last 80 years, its roots can be traced back to ancient times. For this issue’s Home Sweet Home theme, the Editorial Committee thought it would be interesting to provide a timeline (albeit somewhat abridged) of the CIC model throughout history:

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The earliest evidence of a CIC form of ownership can be traced back to first-century Babylon, with a 4,000-year-old document referencing the sale of a first-floor residential dwelling in a structure where the property owner retained title to the second floor. Ancient Rome begins enacting laws allowing citizens to own singular dwellings within multi-family struc tures. The laws were specific enough to permit rules relating to owners’ conduct and also establish an annual payment by each owner to maintain the main structure and certain other common areas and interests.

2000 B.C.

450 B.C.

The earliest known date of a papyrus deed relating to selling of a dwelling within a larger structure. The deed includes certain restrictions and conditions of ownership.

434 B.C.

Western European cities, such as Paris, developed fortresses, cities encircled with fortified walls to protect from attack. With limited supply and high demand for space within these fortresses, the need for having multiple families live within a single structure became common. While common interest communities existed for centuries in Europe to varying degrees, its history in the United States is relatively recent. The United States began to transform from a primarily agricultural society to one focused on industry. As people started flocking to cities for work, the emergence of commuter trains allowed citizens to live in more suburban areas, thus setting the stage for CIC living.

MIDDLE AGES

19th CENTURY

The first large-scale, covenant-based common interest community occurs with the development of the Roland Park community in Baltimore, MD.

1891

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FEBRUARY 2024