Residents Reflect On Anniversary Of Wall Collapse
A year after a massive retaining wall failed dramatically at the Hills of Rivermist subdivision, there remains a tell-tale scar that runs through the heart of the neighborhood... McGinty said he's seen home values drop dramatically since the wall collapse, and now finds himself in a situation where he has no realistic shot of selling his home and breaking even, after watching his neighbors lose more than $15,000 on their investment. San Antonio Pulte-Centex Retaining Walls - And the Wall Came Tumblin Down
Residents Reflect On Anniversary Of Wall Collapse
Rivermist Neighborhood Still Dealing With Fallout From Slope Failure
SAN ANTONIO -- A year after a massive retaining wall failed dramatically at the Hills of Rivermist subdivision, there remains a tell-tale scar that runs through the heart of the neighborhood.
Watch Simon Gutierrez's Report
Construction continues on a new retaining wall, with bulldozers, shovels and heavy equipment dotting the broken hillside that has caused neighbors nothing but headaches.
"You're just known as the place where the wall failed. And you'll always be known as that, no matter what kind of wall they put up," said Devin McGinty, who owns a home beneath the retaining wall.
McGinty said he's seen home values drop dramatically since the wall collapse, and now finds himself in a situation where he has no realistic shot of selling his home and breaking even, after watching his neighbors lose more than $15,000 on their investment.
"We'll probably have to stick through this the next five, six years to see how it all plays out," said McGinty.
Centex Homes, which built the subdivision, expects to have the new and improved retaining wall completed by June, said Valerie Dolenga, a company spokeswoman.
The new wall will feature a skeleton of concrete piers 20 feet below and above the ground and should be substantially stronger than retaining walls typically used in residential construction, Dolenga said.
About 30 homes were declared structurally unsafe after the wall collapse. Centex has repurchased 22 of those homes from their owners, and five families have elected to stay in their homes after necessary repairs were made, Dolenga said.
http://www.ksat.com/news/26578626/detail.html
Previous Stories:
- November 22, 2010: City Issues Permit To Re-Build Wall At Rivermist
- June 7, 2010: Centex Gets Wall Construction Permit
- May 10, 2010: Rivermist Residents Unhappy With Plans
- April 26, 2010: Rivermist Residents Worry About Property Values
- April 14, 2010: Progress Made On Failed Slope Stabilization
- April 7, 2010: Rivermist Buyout Sparks New Concerns
- March 30, 2010: Centex VP Meets With Rivermist Residents
- March 25, 2010: Rivermist Residents Gather For Vigil
- March 17, 2010: Centex Begins To Fix Slope Failure
- March 13, 2010: Rivermist Residents Helping Their Neighbors
- March 10, 2010: Pulte To Buy Back 27 Rivermist Homes
- February 12, 2010: City, Builders Meet Over Rivermist
- February 5, 2010: City Blasts Developer Over Slope Failure
- February 4, 2010: Homeowners Seek Help From City Leaders
- February 3, 2010: Rivermist Residents Worry About New Cracks
- February 1, 2010: Displaced Residents Meet With Lawyers
- January 30, 2010: Family Moves Out Of Subdivision
- January 29, 2010: Rivermist Residents File Suit
- January 28, 2010: Rivermist Residents Brace For Rain
- January 27, 2010: Rain Concerns Displaced Homeowners
- January 27, 2010: Rivermist Residents Moving Out
- January 27, 2010: City Engineers Inspect Rivermist
- January 27, 2010: Centex Admits Blame In 'Slope Failure'
- January 27, 2010: Neighborhood Weighing Legal Options
- January 26, 2010: Crumbling Wall Raises Concerns In Cibolo
- January 26, 2010: Rivermist Homeowners Want Answers
- January 26, 2010: Rivermist Developer Meets With Homeowners
- January 25, 2010: 'Slope Failure' Causes Evacuation
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