Braeswood Place Homeowners Association (BPHA) is the HOA for multiple subdivisions including:

• BraesHeights (13 Sections)
• Ayrshire (14 Sections)
• Braes Oaks (2 Sections)
• SouthernOaks (2 Sections)
• Emerald Forest
• BraesTerrace
• Braes Manor

Part of the responsibility of BPHA is to ensure that the various sets of deed restrictions are renewed to keep them active and to enforce the restrictions. Many of the restrictions specify that a residence cannot exceed a specified number of stories or levels: 1½, 2 or 2½. Following Hurricane Harvey, Harris County and the City of Houston have imposed certain requirements for new construction or additions which exceed 1/3 of the existing square footage of the house. Effective September 1, 2018, the lowest occupied floor must be a certain height above the 500-year flood plain. Any space below the lowest occupied floor must be “floodable”, have vent openings to accommodate water flow, and mechanical and electrical equipment must be raised; the lowest level can be used for parking, storage and access to the upper level(s).

To accommodate these requirements, the BPHA Board of Directors has agreed to allow new construction (or existing structures being elevated) to have a ground level for parking, storage and access to upper levels. That lowest level will not be counted toward the maximum number of floors listed in the deed restrictions as long as the following criteria are met:

1. There must be an opaque wall or skirting on all sides of the lowest level which are visible from the street regardless of the presence of any other visible obstructions including fences and landscaping.
2. That wall or skirting must be of materials thatare consistent in appearance with the upper portion of the house.
3. The lower level cannot be air-conditioned, except for the access point to the upper levels.
4. There can be a garage door or doors on the front and rear.