WESTMINSTER : City’s Help Sought for Damaged Homes

When Robert and Faye Knapp moved to Bel Air Circle in 1973, they thought they had found their dream house. But when the walls, floors and back-yard patio of their six-bedroom home began to crack, their dream turned into a homeowner’s nightmare.

Their sliding glass door won’t open more than than two feet, and the floor of their family room has sunk so low on one side that friends say crossing the room is like walking up a hill.

Several of the Knapps’ neighbors in the quiet cul-de-sac near McFadden Street and Newland Avenue have also experienced structural damage ranging from tilting floors and cracked foundations to doors that won’t open.

Homeowners want the city to pay for damage to their homes, which they believe was caused by unstable soil. A group of neighbors plan to go before the City Council tonight to voice their concerns.

City Engineer Neal Thompson said the damage is occurring because the houses, built in 1968, may have been constructed on soil containing peat--plant matter that absorbs water and causes the ground to contract and expand. Thompson said this may have caused the homes to shift and settle.

“Extensive testing of the soil conditions were taken before the homes were built and small amounts of peat were discovered, so the conditions were not ideal,” Thompson said. “Mounds of dirt were built over the entire tract to compress the soil before the homes were constructed. Reports made at that time indicated that the soil was strong enough to support more than a two-story building.”

The city is mainly concerned with damage to the street, sidewalk, curb and gutter, said Don Vestal, director of community development. He said damage to homes is the responsibility of the developer, Showcase Homes in Westminster. William Krueger, president of the company, said he is looking into the matter but refused further comment on the subject.

Residents want the city to install storm drains to improve drainage because they say ground settling has resulted in pools of water that sit in the street. They also want the city to repair structural damage to the homes and reinforce foundations.

Resident Harland Slater said drainage problems cause water to flood “from the middle of the street to the middle of my driveway.” Neighbors have jokingly referred to the area as “Slater Lake.”

“We try to have a sense of humor about it,” Slater said. “But the fact is, it’s a serious nuisance. We’ve had guests who have slipped and fell and come up to our door sopping wet.”

The city conducted soil tests last week to determine if there is still a peat problem with the soil, but results are not yet available, Vestal said.

The city rebuilt the curb and gutter in the neighborhood in 1975 when similar problems occurred. Vestal said installing a storm drain would cost about $60,000 while replacing the curb and gutter would only cost a fraction of that.