Rivermist residents' message to buyers: Beware the Pulte pigs
Angry Rivermist residents deployed this giant pig as a warning to potential Pulte Homes buyers, the residents said. The main attraction was an giant inflatable pig with a "Pulte-Centex" label taped to its stomach. The group took their message to a new audience: prospective buyers. The home owners say that they were never told they were buying homes sitting on expansive soil.

Rivermist Construction Plan
The city asked for it and now they have it. A possible solution to the wall failure at Rivermist. Which includes a complete wall reconstruction. Andy Cunningham has more. Rivermist Construction Plan  Rivermist Construction Plan.  

Centex Homes submits plans for new retaining wall at Rivermist
Centex Homes is hoping the third time�s the charm. This week it produceda preliminary design concept for a new retaining wall to replace one that collapsed in January in a Northwest Side neighborhood � which in 2007 replaced one that was not �performing to expectations.� But homeowners say they are weary after two months of stress and uncertainty and are still on the fence about whether to trust that this latest fix will last.

Express News: Centex Homes wrong about wall threat
We received a video of the entire meeting, which shows Centex claimed that the neighborhood was safe because city firefighters were leaving.

Centex releases new wall design
Centex Homes is hoping the third time's the charm. This week it produced a preliminary design concept for a new retaining wall to replace one that collapsed in January in a Northwest Side neighborhood — which in 2007 replaced one that was not “performing to expectations.” But homeowners say they are weary after two months of stress and uncertainty and are still on the fence about whether to trust that this latest fix will last.  Becker said. “It's not the house and the wall I'm worried about. It's the land that they built it on. What if 10 or 20 years from now something happens? What's to keep the land from moving again?” Residents expect to have a meeting with city officials and Centex on Tuesday.Karen Maxwell, who lives across the street from 20 of the evacuated houses, isn't convinced a new wall is the solution. “This is going to be the third wall, and we're supposed to believe them again?”

Rivermist hillside fix to begin

City OK's plan to stabilze Rivermist retaining wall
Centex has met with city officials to present a plan to stabilize the failing retaining wall in San Antonio's Hills of Rivermist subdivision.The company released information that described the sort of work needed to make the area secure from future landslides.They say the first stop included drilling and inserting several stabilizing piers in a pattern across the landslide area of the slope. According to Centex, the piers will stabilize the area so that soil and damaged portions of the wall can be removed.They will utilize 100 piers, or pins, which are 30 feet long and between 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Each of the pins has a nine-inch steel tube embedded with 4,000 psi concrete. Additional KENS 5 News Reports

Pulte Building Systems settles suit over jobs
A subsidiary of Pulte Homes Inc. has settled a lawsuit brought by a labor union that alleged the nation’s largest homebuilder fired several construction workers because they were trying to join the union. Pulte Building Systems, the subsidiary, denied any wrongdoing or liability in the case.

United Home Owners of Rivermist
Feeling the heat from Rivermist residents, Pulte / Centex agrees to buy back 27 homes.  But is that enough?On Wednesday, March 10th, over 80 Rivermist residents, community leaders, and State Rep. David Leibowitz rallied and spoke with reporters to demand that Centex Homes and its parent company Pulte take full responsibility for the harm inflicted on the Rivermist community. Afraid of the negative publicity, Pulte /Centex released a statement to the press simultaneously announcing that they would offer to buy back the 27 homes that had their certificate of occupancy removed by city inspectors

AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN
See the latest on the Rivermist Community  See Photos