You’ve probably heard the news by now–an HOA refused to allow Make-A-Wish to grant a young cancer patient’s wish by constructing a playhouse in the girl’s back yard. The reason? Outbuildings are against the covenants. Of course, the HOA ends up taking the heat with press coverage and outspoken support for the sympathetic young girl.

The story has quickly blown up, with multiple sources reporting the details. One source reports that the HOA board member names and telephone numbers have been removed from the association’s website. Other stories give updates on the HOA’s reconsideration of the matter and willingness to compromise after talking with Make-A-Wish and the construction contractor.

For now, it sounds like one young girl will get her wish. It remains to be seen whether other kids in the neighbor will be permitted to have their own playhouses constructed or what kind of pressure the volunteer board members will face from neighbors who do not appreciate the compromise in this case. Unfortunately, boards can come under fire even when following the rules and fairness to others guide their decision-making.

We’ve previously written about what to do if your HOA ends up in the news (because we all know that making the headlines is rarely, if ever, a good thing). But, on this Friday afternoon, I’m curious about how you and your association may have handled the playhouse wish differently to avoid the headlines from the start. Ideas?