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Express-News: Pulte-Centex Play No-show Games
Tuesday, 23 March 2010

Rivermist builder no-show at meet
But at the meeting organized by city staff, everyone's attention ultimately focused on the party not in attendance: the builder.  Officials from Centex Homes and parent company Pulte Homes were no-shows at the informational meeting the city had organized, saying they won't meet with consumer activist groups that have gotten involved in the Rivermist community, where dozens of residents want the builder to buy back their homes...Residents on Tuesday asked the city to help them get more information from the builder — particularly about how much and what kind of fill dirt was brought into the neighborhood, any topographical maps of the area before it was developed, information from soil testing and whether there is a water source somewhere on the land.

Rivermist builder no-show at meet
By Jennifer Hiller - Express-News
Read and comment on article

Rivermist residents Tuesday got their first chance to ask the city questions about plans released last week for hillside repairs and retaining wall reconstruction in their neighborhood

But at the meeting organized by city staff, everyone's attention ultimately focused on the party not in attendance: the builder.

Officials from Centex Homes and parent company Pulte Homes were no-shows at the informational meeting the city had organized, saying they won't meet with consumer activist groups that have gotten involved in the Rivermist community, where dozens of residents want the builder to buy back their homes.

But City Councilman Reed Williams said the reason for the no-show had more to do with legalities than politics.

“They are just in a very difficult situation with their legal department over what they can do and where they can go and what they can say,” Williams said.

“That is such a ... lame excuse,” said Mary Moreno, whose daughter lives in Rivermist.

The last time Centex met with a group of residents was Jan. 25.

Williams said he was disappointed the city couldn't persuade the builder to attend.

The builder offered to meet with individual homeowners Friday, and will host a meeting with the neighborhoods' homeowners associations in April.

“We have made a long-term commitment to the city and remain diligent in resolving the issue caused by the slope failure at the Rivermist community,” Laurin Darnell of Centex Homes said in a prepared release. “Some of the participants in today's meeting, however, are groups who do not have the best interest of the residents of the Rivermist community.”

The ground shifted and a large retaining wall collapsed on a steep slope in the neighborhood Jan. 24. Since then, the city suspended the certificates of occupancy for 27 homes, and many of the homeowners have been living in hotels, apartments and rental homes with limited access to their properties.

Centex has made buyback offers to 20 homeowners in The Hills of Rivermist who live along the top of the slope, as well as to the owners of the seven homes in the Rivermist neighborhood whose homes sit just below the spot where the wall split open and crumbled.

Residents on Tuesday asked the city to help them get more information from the builder — particularly about how much and what kind of fill dirt was brought into the neighborhood, any topographical maps of the area before it was developed, information from soil testing and whether there is a water source somewhere on the land.

One woman said a sinkhole had opened on the street near her home in 2007. Despite a repair, she said the ground is sinking again.

Brian Ramirez said he told company officials at the Jan. 25 meeting that they could come to his house and see the construction defects.

“Haven't heard a peep,” he said. But he did get a letter from the company's attorney. “Apparently they have lawyers running their customer service,” he said. “That's ridiculous.”

Williams said that any information the city receives will be available to residents.

“Anything that you want that we have, you can have,” he said.

City officials showed residents Centex's conceptual plans for a new retaining wall that's 1,700 feet long. The new wall will be built in front of the existing retaining wall, and will include reinforced concrete piers driven 10 to 30 feet into the ground and reinforced concrete panels between the piers. The company will give the city formal engineering plans by April 30.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/88965822.html

Reader Comments

xoxo_sa8:15 PM

 Definitely time for a Home Lemon Law .. lobby for it ! This is the tip of the iceberg. The City doesn't inspect homes as most people expect. Fire everyone in the city that has let this laissez-fiare attitude become "business as usual." That includes Sanchez ! Fire him and the City Manager !
 
John7:08 PM
I might also add that when the homeowners asked for a dialogue to discuss buying the homes back because of the builder's poor judgment, the company immediately contacted their attorneys. It Bracewell and Giuliani truly interested in the well-being of the community? Right.
 

Eric
4:42 PM
Let me see if I understand this. If someone stands up for the homeowner's that's a special interest group. But if Centex doesn't show up it's protecting it's shareholders? The way you protect shareholders is by doing the job right the first time. Not breaking laws and paying off city hallers. It's obvious the city is in bed with the homebuilders. Otherwise, things like this couldn't happen. I would recommend to the homeowners that they be aware that Centex will try to divide and conquer. They will start by trying to meet with each homeowner individually and get them to sign-off for pennies on the dollar. This is what happens when there is no oversight and no consequences for homebuilders when they break laws.
 
Anymouse10:35 AM
“But City Councilman Reed Williams said the reason for the no-show had more to do with legalities than politics. ‘They are just in a very difficult situation with their legal department over what they can do and where they can go and what they can say,’ Williams said.” Let me try and get this straight; Mr Williams states legal reasons and/or excuses for whom? Who is “they?” Read this over and over. It appears to me Mr Williams is acting as spokesperson or agent for “they.” The logical reference is Centex Homes. So if the talented and precise who post comments, please tell me we don’t have a San Antonio city council member acting as agent or spokesperson for a homebuilder. These lackeys don’t even hide their conduct behind closed doors anymore?
 
John6:14 AM
Mongo, Centex agreed to meet with the homeowners, and the meeting was brokered by the city, in a city facility, and Centex has no control over who attends or has input. And while they have a "duty" to their shareholders, their shareholders are not being well served by the tactics that the company executives have taken in acting in bad faith with the homeowners.
 

Mongo
2:01 AM 
 
Why doesn't this story mention who or what these groups are? Were there activist groups at the meeting? What are the names of these groups or individuals. What are they recommending? --- John, actually, Centex can indeed decide who they want to meet with. So if you want to be "represented" by someone, you may be represented with no one from Centex on the other side of the table. Centex can choose to meet with owners only if they want. And Centex doesn't have a duty except to its shareholders and any warranty they may issue with their homes.

John7:53 PM 
 
It isn't any concern of Laurin Darnell's who we have consulting us. We are the homeowners, and we have been asking for a dialogue for 2 months now. The city put this meeting together and the builder agreed, then bailed out at the last minute. If this company wants to ever have a shred of credibility left with Texas, they'd better get with the program and speak to us. We're not going away ANY time soon. Centex failed in its duty to provide safe housing and now we want our homes bought back.
 
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