Mirasol costs mounting
With the cost of fixing the trouble-plagued Mirasol Homes spiraling past the $1 million mark, new concerns and sharp debates have arisen about the price tag, the extent of the problems, and the nature and quality of the repairs. Last week, the Mirasol Task Force, the 11-member community group appointed to resolve construction problems and health complaints at the West Side housing project, was told by its engineer that it would cost $420,000 just to fix poorly installed windows in Mirasol's 246 houses.

Mirasol costs mounting
 09/30/2007
Ron Wilson
Express-News Staff Writer

With the cost of fixing the trouble-plagued Mirasol Homes spiraling past the $1 million mark, new concerns and sharp debates have arisen about the price tag, the extent of the problems, and the nature and quality of the repairs.

Last week, the Mirasol Task Force, the 11-member community group appointed to resolve construction problems and health complaints at the West Side housing project, was told by its engineer that it would cost $420,000 just to fix poorly installed windows in Mirasol's 246 houses.

The engineer, Tony Scarnato of DeMunbrun Scarnato Associates, also submitted his first bill for seven weeks of preliminary work — $71,409.

That bill, along with the tab for window repairs and the more than $500,000 that the San Antonio Housing Authority has already spent on other repairs and legal fees, would push the total cost so far this year to more than $1 million.

Still to come are repairs to or replacements of air-conditioning units and foundation repairs that could run about $37,000 a house. The total also does not include the more than $150,000 that Mirasol builder KB Home has spent on foundation repairs since December, according to city permits.

Scarnato's $71,000 bill for initial work sparked a series of questions by task force Chairman Gordon Hartman, who wanted to know why it was so high when window repairs had been done on just two houses.

"That concerns the heck out of me that you only completed two houses in two weeks," Hartman said. "Did we not convey that to you (that the task force expected work to be finished much more quickly)?"

Scarnato said the first weeks entailed a review of all available documentation to create a repair plan and schedule. Those documents included reports on air quality and mold; various inspections; water intrusion; door and window analysis; and construction documents, such as drawings and specifications.

He also cited communication problems about whether third parties had cleared the houses for air quality, a necessary step before window work could begin, and a lack of documentation from KB Home and SAHA.

Task force members Phil Nelson and Maricela Cavazos, who also are SAHA commissioners, wanted complete explanations for costs, reason for delays and alternative repair methods that might save the agency money.

When SAHA CEO Henry Alvarez described Scarnato's bill as a lot of money for two windows, Scarnato responded: "To characterize my invoice as $71,000 for two windows is wrong. I've been working. To base this totally on how many windows we've flashed today is totally unfair."

Scarnato also pledged to have the window work done by his original target date of Christmas.

Task force member Stephanie Battle, a Mirasol resident, said it was unrealistic to expect Scarnato to fix in seven weeks problems that have persisted at Mirasol for seven years.

"I don't relish your position," task force member Ralph Velasquez told Scarnato.

Pushing for comprehensive solutions to problems with windows, air conditioners and foundations, Velasquez said, "We don't want to put more Band-Aids on cocos (a small cut or scrape)."

Nelson told Scarnato to provide daily updates on progress and problems and to submit paperwork showing how each problem fixed would be categorized — as a warranty issue, a construction defect or homeowner-caused — to help determine which parties are responsible for the repair cost.

On Friday, evidence emerged that seemed to confirm Scarnato's recommendation to proceed with window repairs without doing more tests to find out if there was water intrusion.

At the home of Mirasol resident and task force member Randy Zaragoza, repairmen found insulation was poorly installed or absent; window units were attached to the frame by only four nails; and one window unit wasn't level, increasing the likelihood of moisture problems.

Workers also found a large colony of termites in the uneven unit, which Zaragoza said was evidence of moisture intrusion.

Questions also arose last week over the quality of repairs done before Scarnato was hired.

Sara Olivares, a Mirasol lease-to-purchase resident, had moved out of her house for mold remediation and repairs, then was cleared by experts to return. She moved back Sept. 8.

Last week, a new water heater installed in June sprang a leak through the front electrical panel, causing an electrical short that tripped the circuit breaker and cut off her electricity.

Though the leak was repaired, Olivares, who said she is under a doctor's care for stress, said, "Now I don't know what to fear the most: a flood or a fire."

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