In a story that underscores the clash between community goodwill and rigid homeowners’ association (HOA) rules, David Martin, a resident of Goodyear, Arizona, has found himself at odds with his HOA for offering free water.
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin placed a water cooler in his driveway, stocked with bottled water and ice, for anyone passing by who needed a drink. What started as a neighborly gesture during a global crisis has turned into a battle with his HOA, which has been fining him for violating community rules.
It all started in the spring of 2020, as the world was reeling from the effects of the pandemic. Martin, a man who clearly values helping others, placed the cooler on his driveway, offering free water to his neighbors, delivery drivers, and anyone else in need. The gesture was simple: grab a bottle of cold water and stay hydrated, especially as the Arizona heat began to climb. Over the years, the cooler became a staple in his neighborhood. Residents and passersby, including dog walkers and people playing basketball at the nearby park, came to rely on Martin’s generosity, especially during the record-breaking heat waves Arizona has faced this summer.
But while his neighbors were grateful, there was one entity that wasn’t: the Canyon Trails Unit 4 West Community Association, Martin’s HOA. In April of this year, the association started sending fines to Martin and his wife, citing a rule that requires items to be stored out of sight. The fines, which started small, quickly escalated to hundreds of dollars, and the HOA threatened to continue levying them until Martin removed the cooler.
Martin, however, has refused to comply. “I’m doing what I believe in to take care of the community, to show that my family is positive and that we are here if you need us,” Martin told The Washington Post. “It’s a simple thing. It’s a water cooler.”
The HOA, however, sees things differently. In a statement, the association claimed it wasn’t opposed to Martin providing water but argued that the cooler violated community rules because it was visible from neighboring properties. “The Board has diligently worked with the resident so as to allow him to continue making water bottles available, and has simply requested that the portable ice chest be screened from view,” the statement read. The HOA emphasized that Martin had declined to work toward a mutually agreeable solution.
Martin disputes this. According to him, the HOA hasn’t been cooperative. He shared emails showing that a property manager from FirstService Residential, the company that manages the association, refused to discuss the matter with him because he isn’t the official homeowner—his wife is listed as the owner of their house in public records. Martin believes the HOA’s response is a bureaucratic way of ignoring the larger issue of helping people in need.
When Martin first started offering water, he also provided other essentials like cleaning supplies and toiletries, turning his garage into what he described as a “local bodega.” The community responded positively, and Martin got to know many of his neighbors through his small act of generosity. He even made adjustments to his setup over the years, such as elevating the cooler on a crate to make it more accessible for elderly residents and purchasing a freezer to freeze the water bottles, eliminating the need to buy ice constantly.
The HOA initially flagged Martin’s cooler as a violation back in May 2022, but when he contacted them, the matter seemed to be resolved with a written apology. However, two years later, the fines started rolling in again, much to Martin’s dismay. By September 2024, the fines had reached $475, and the HOA showed no signs of backing down.
Despite the ongoing battle, Martin has refused to pay the fines or remove the cooler. He continues to pay his HOA dues but is standing firm in his refusal to take down what he views as an essential lifeline for his community. He has even added a new note to the cooler, written in marker: “Please grab a water! Even you HOA.”
The situation has become even more dire as southern Arizona suffers through one of the most intense heat waves in history. On Tuesday, Phoenix hit 100 degrees for the hundredth day in a row, and Goodyear, where Martin lives, has experienced similarly brutal temperatures.
“It’s one of the reasons I’ve been fighting it as hard as I am,” Martin said. “It’s horrific.”
Martin’s story highlights the tension between individual kindness and community regulations. While HOAs are designed to maintain property values and community standards, this case raises the question of when rules should be bent in favor of human compassion, especially during times of extreme hardship like the current Arizona heat wave. For now, Martin’s water cooler remains, a symbol of defiance and neighborly goodwill in a neighborhood where the temperature isn’t the only thing heating up.
