Townhome Unit Separation Strategy | StrideArc Consulting

Introduction

StrideArc was engaged by a residential developer during the design phase of a townhome project to address long-term maintenance concerns. The client needed a solution that would reduce future homeowner disputes, limit exposure to HOA mismanagement, and clarify responsibility for exterior upkeep.

The engagement focused on architectural separation as a means to mitigate shared maintenance risks and simplify operational responsibilities for both the developer and future owners.

Project Overview

● Client Type: Residential Developer

● Project Focus: Risk Assessment & Architectural Plan Adaptation

● Objectives: Reduce long-term maintenance risk, limit HOA exposure, and create a design structure that assigns clear responsibility for exterior upkeep at the individual unit level.

The Challenge

StrideArc was brought in during design development to assess long-term maintenance exposure in a proposed townhome community. The project featured traditional shared-wall construction, with continuous rooflines and no clear delineation of exterior maintenance responsibility. This created legal and operational ambiguity for both the developer and future homeowners.

“This wasn’t about design efficiency. It was about what happens ten years later, when the roof needs to be replaced and no one agrees on who pays.”

— Development Strategy Lead, StrideArc

The client faced two primary risks: potential mismanagement by a future HOA, and the operational challenges of requiring neighbors to coordinate exterior repairs. Both scenarios carried long-term reputational and financial risk if not addressed during the design phase.

The Solution

StrideArc approached the assignment by reframing the issue as a design problem rather than a legal one. Instead of relying on restrictive covenants or shared maintenance agreements, the team explored ways to separate responsibilities through physical architecture. This required close coordination with the design team to adjust material transitions, roof geometry, and wall definitions without affecting unit yield or code compliance.

“We focused on removing the root cause of shared risk, shared surfaces. The design had to make the boundary obvious, not negotiable.”

— Development Advisor, StrideArc

The engagement required balancing legal simplicity with construction practicality. StrideArc recommended a party wall format supported by architectural breaks that reinforced the independence of each unit. The design revisions were structured to prevent downstream complexity for homeowners, the HOA, or the developer.

The Outcome

The revised design established a clean architectural break between each unit, allowing maintenance responsibilities to be assigned individually. This eliminated the need for a shared maintenance model and avoided reliance on HOA oversight or neighbor coordination.

The party wall format simplified legal documentation, and future homeowners gained full clarity on ownership boundaries. The result was a development structure that reduced long-term risk while improving operational independence at the unit level.

Key Takeaways

StrideArc’s design-focused approach resolved a long-term operational risk by removing the source of shared maintenance ambiguity. The resulting structure clarified responsibilities, reduced developer liability, and simplified ongoing management for homeowners.

● Architectural separation eliminated reliance on shared exterior elements

● Legal structure reinforced individual responsibility without adding HOA complexity

● Design coordination maintained density targets while improving long-term clarity

● Risk of future disputes or deferred maintenance was materially reduced

Designing for Long-Term Clarity?

Shared risk often begins with shared surfaces. StrideArc helps developers address operational challenges through architectural strategy, simplifying ownership structures before issues arise.

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Unit Separation Design for Townhome Development