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KCRA 3 Investigates: Toxic Mold Found In Folsom Condos
Staci Disilva said four months ago, she paid more than $240,000 for an apartment at Waterford Place in Folsom. But she's not living in the unit because it's filled with toxic mold... But documents obtained by KCRA 3 show Prometheus Real Estate and the city of Folsom should have been aware of the potential dangers of mold. A report, required to be on file with the city and prepared by a private company, points out suspected mold in more than 170 units.
KCRA 3 Investigates: Toxic Mold Found In Folsom Condos
Residents Moving Out Amid Health Concerns
Disilva said she's concerned about her health and she's not alone.
Mike Sullivan said he's also moving out of his unit, where mold is visible along the kitchen wall and in the hallway. It's also in the carpet and ventilation system.
"A lot of these units are coming up with high levels of harmful mold," Sullivan said.
Sullivan, Disilva and more than 38 other residents bought their apartments from Prometheus Real Estate Group. Twenty of those residents are now talking to an attorney.
"My two children -- the older two -- have been diagnosed with asthma," resident Violent Vernon said.
Testing for mold in Vernon's unit has turned up potentially deadly mold levels.
According to the Center for Disease Control, aspergillus mold -- the type found in Vernon's unit -- is the second most common type of mold requiring hospitalization in the United States.
Similar tests revealed dangerous levels of mold in more than a half-dozen units. Residents said they are experiencing headaches, nosebleeds and breathing problems.
Chris Weaver manages the property for Prometheus Real Estate and admits there's mold in several buildings, but she refused to speak any further with KCRA 3 Investigates.
Prometheus Real Estate purchased the property in April 2005. Before selling off the apartments as condominiums, the city had to give its approval.
Amy Fagans, the city's director of neighborhood services, was directly involved with approving the project.
But documents obtained by KCRA 3 show Prometheus Real Estate and the city of Folsom should have been aware of the potential dangers of mold. A report, required to be on file with the city and prepared by a private company, points out suspected mold in more than 170 units.
The report was filed with the city long before the project was approved and the units were sold.
Reporter: Have you read that report?
Fagans: I've reviewed it. I haven't read it extensively.
Reporter: Did you know that 25 percent of the units pointed out suspected mold?
Fagans: I did not.
Reporter: More than 213 times suspected mold was pointed out in the units that were set to be sold.
Fagans: But suspected mold could also mean mildew. It was not tested. It wasn't analyzed. That's my understanding.
That's because the city of Folsom does not require testing. But it does require that the developer disclose the suspected mold to potential buyers, such as Disilva and Vernon.
Reporter: Did they ever tell you that?
Vernon: No.
Reporter: Would you have purchased your unit had they told you that?
Vernon: No.
According to the report, Prometheus Real Estate knew Vernon's unit showed major signs of suspected mold 10 months before they sold it to her for more than $300,000.
In fact, almost every unit testing positive for high levels of toxic mold shows up in the report, which was completed in March 2005.
The warning signs were there but the buyers said they were never informed.
As a result of KCRA 3's investigation, the city of Folsom said it is launching its own investigation.
KCRA 3 Investigators spoke with the owner of Prometheus Real Estate by phone. He said his company is willing to pay for any mold remediation that needs to take place.
Copyright 2006 by KCRA.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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