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Noblesville Residents balk at project's builder
Twin Oaks developer picked Los Angeles-based company that has recorded complaints about its quality of work. "It's not the price of the homes we're worried about, it's the quality," said Karen Minniear, who lives nearby. "We do not need this kind of builder in Noblesville." Neighbors cited Federal Trade Commission complaints and a troublesome KB Homes project in Arlington, Texas, as reasons for their concern. Neighbor Reese Stormes said KB Homes has paid more than $10 million in federal fines and has been accused of building a subdivision on a former military bombing range in Texas. Stormes referenced an anti-KB Homes Web site in his remarks. Allen Hoey, who lives nearby, moved to Noblesville from Los Angeles in August. Hoey said he used to live adjacent to a KB Homes development that had so many problems it devalued his house when he sold it. "I would not have built a home in Noblesville had I known I would be near KB Homes," Hoey said.
Indy Star Noblesville Residents balk at project's builder
Twin Oaks developer picked Los Angeles-based company that has recorded complaints about its quality of work
October 27, 2005 By Bill Ruthhart The project, called Twin Oaks, was unanimously approved last week by the Noblesville Plan Commission. The developer, Indiana Land Group, selected Los Angeles-based KB Homes to construct the project's homes.
That's what several neighbors complained about at a City Council meeting Tuesday night, even though the neighborhood's high price points listed around $300,000.
"It's not the price of the homes we're worried about, it's the quality," said Karen Minniear, who lives nearby. "We do not need this kind of builder in Noblesville."
Neighbors cited Federal Trade Commission complaints and a troublesome KB Homes project in Arlington, Texas, as reasons for their concern. Neighbor Reese Stormes said KB Homes has paid more than $10 million in federal fines and has been accused of building a subdivision on a former military bombing range in Texas. Stormes referenced an anti-KB Homes Web site in his remarks.
Jose Kreutz, a managing partner with Indiana Land Group, defended his company's project, which calls for 334 homes to be built on 150 acres at the southeast corner of 161st Street and Hazel Dell Road. A representative for KB Homes did not attend the meeting.
"We're excited to have KB Homes as a partner in this. They've built 383 communities and completed more than 40,000 homes around the world," Kreutz said. "Unfortunately, the Internet has given anyone with a grievance an open forum."
Allen Hoey, who lives nearby, moved to Noblesville from Los Angeles in August. Hoey said he used to live adjacent to a KB Homes development that had so many problems it devalued his house when he sold it.
"I would not have built a home in Noblesville had I known I would be near KB Homes," Hoey said.
KB Homes has built houses in at least 28 different developments in Central Indiana, according to the company's Web site. One of those, Monarch Springs, is located in Noblesville near 191st Street and Promise Road. Five others are located in Hamilton County, including two in Carmel.
After Stormes, Hoey and others referred to past complaints to KB about cracked concrete and other structural problems. Kreutz reminded residents that the same Indiana subcontractors that built their homes would be constructing the ones in Twin Oaks.
Councilwoman Kathie Stretch urged the developer to meet with neighbors before the council's next meeting on Nov. 8.
"I was excited about this project," Stretch said. "But now I'm listening to all these facts citizens have found, and now I'm concerned."
Rex Dillinger, a former city councilman who also is a partner with Indiana Land Group, backed the project's quality.
"I live in the subdivision right next to where we're building this," Dillinger said. "I'm just as concerned about quality as everybody else." Call Star reporter Bill Ruthhart at (317) 444-2606.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051027/ZONES01/510270323/1026/ZONES04 |
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