And that much movement in six years is quite fast, he said. Reports of corrosion and flooding throughout the development gave rise to concerns that toxic chemicals in the century-old mine tailings pile beneath the neighborhood might bubble to the surface, the former Eclipse Drive resident said. 2010: 20101350402 : Gold Hill Mesa Neighborhood Association; El Paso County Assessor Property Records Search; Colorado Springs: 137. Gold Hill Mesa is creating a healthy, sustainable community for today and generations to come by offering an alternative to life in the conventional . causing building collapse or buildings sinking into wet loose soil. conrad.swanson@gazette.com. Gold Hill Mesa is positioned at the gateway to Western Colorado's finest outdoor recreational areas, with quick access to Highway 24 and I-25, making it an easy drive to some of the best ski resorts and outdoor living adventures in Colorado. The homeowner contacted Edwards in May 2019 to give notice of her intention to investigate further, the emails show. They found that portions of the site sank more than 3 inches, Lovekin wrote. Removing the window well on the north east side of the home to scope the French drain in all directions to look for any kind of issue (clogged, smashed). ", In July, the homeowner emailed Edwards again to say that the plumber they hired found that the homebuilder did not properly grade the foundation and a drain pipe that goes around the home was crushed.. Long undeveloped and a blight on the westside of Colorado Springs, the property has been developed over the past 15 years as a traditional neighborhood development, with careful attention given to both the aesthetic and functional appeal of the community, as well as the particular considerations of constructing at a site with this unique history. As the saying goes, it takes a village, and the village in Gold Hill Mesa is like no other. Phillips said they worry the runoff will worsen. This property is not currently available for sale. All buildings and foundations move, he wrote. But since construction began, its served as a thoroughfare for heavy machinery and speeding cars, they said. Its a big problem.. Crews responded to Millstream Terrace again in June 2018, and work orders from the utility indicate they discovered water surfacing from multiple areas in the street and grass. The crews determined that leak could stem from groundwater and a small leak in the water line there, which was repaired. That policy stems from a local environmental engineer who, Fisk said, raised concerns of shifting soils and environmental issues. Homes built by Covington Homes build community, The Girl Scout Cookie Program feeds entrepreneurial and life skills, 1 dead following overnight shooting in Pueblo, Colorado Springs home prices fall to lowest point in nearly 1 years, Reliever Brad Hand signs with Colorado Rockies, Jamal Murray's big second half serves as last laugh vs. old friend and Memphis Grizzlies, 'Here's looking at you, Congress' | COLUMN, LETTERS: Ducking the real issues; ASC Thrift Shop to close, At Home: Whats hiding in your rugs? City planners have halted the next phase of development at the Gold Hill Mesa site because state geologists said they cant condone additional building on the land without more tests to determine whether its stable and safe. Not until much later in the article is there any mention that the report from 2015 was actually commissioned by a plaintiffs attorney, and the reporter never connected the previous mention of an independent experts report to the fact that it was actually a report prepared for the plaintiffs lawyer. (Other residents) are having true issues and its costing them money. Bryant Consultants offers over 20 years of expertise in geotechnical forensics and site analysis built upon a multi-disciplinary approach for uncovering truths held within soil, materials and . 1171 Gold Hill Mesa Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 is currently not for sale. Reports of sinking, heaving and flooding are scattered throughout the development of about 200 acres south of U.S. 24 and east of 21st Street, according to accounts from some residents, public. But several residents interviewed by The Gazette outlined cracks, flooding and other problems theyve had with their homes or saw in others. VCUPs are used in places where the land can be rehabilitated. A sidewalk in the Gold Hill Mesa is cracked and separated, A sidewalk in the Gold Hill Mesa is cracked. 11 , Final Plat-AR FP 19-00201; and Development Plan-AR DP 19-00198; . We have lived here for 12 years & just moved to a different house in the same neighborhood. I do not direct my buyers in any way shape or form, Haynie said. Three-inches of movement can result in cracking of walls, floors, and hard finishes such as tile or rock, Lovekin wrote. Their. The survey data, provided to The Gazette by Gold Hill Mesa, tracked movement at different points in the development. It stacked 162 images of Gold Hill Mesa captured by satellite cameras between June 2011 and October 2017, tracking the movement of buildings and infrastructure. Crews move boulders at the Gold Hill Mesa neighborhood in August as more homes are being built on the site of the former Golden Cycle Mill that closed in 1949. The former owner of the Eclipse Drive home also said she saw and spoke with neighbors about similar cracks and flooding in other parts of the development. That vertical foundation crack was filled with epoxy, and anchors were installed to brace the home further, the repair schematic shows. Repainted the walls after replacing the drywall in the basement. The satellite study was performed by experts at the University of Rome in Italy, which offered the potentially expensive analysis for free, Lovekin said. I love to garden. Its just coming from their property onto ours, said Debbie Stickel, who also lives on West Costilla Street. In the meantime, we continue to perform grading work in anticipation of that upcoming filing release. We received the latest CGS letter responding to CTLs response this morning and, as we always have, we will continue to work to address the questions CGS has raised. A gap between a porch and its foundation of a home in Gold Hill Mesa can be seen in this photo taken last week. LOVE, POVERTY, WAR AND Also by Christopher Hitchens BLOOD, CLASS AND EMPIRE: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship A LONG SHORT WAR: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq WHY ORWELL MATTERS LEFT HOOKS, RIGHT CROSSES: A Decade of Political Writing (edited with Christopher Caldwell) LETTERS TO A YOUNG CONTRARIAN THE TRIAL OF HENRY KISSINGER BLAMING THE VICTIMS: Spurious Scholarship and the . Somethings shifting here, he said. Colorado Springs, CO. 82. 1605 Gold Hill Mesa Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 Sold : $385,000Sold on 07/30/21 Zestimate : $421,200 Est. 1185 Gold Hill Mesa Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 is a 3,260 sqft, 5 bed, 4 bath home sold in 2021. This home is quite possibly the same house that has raised such concern from the anonymous neighbor. The Gold Hill Mesa Tailings was closed at the time of data entry with no known plans to re-open. And in those cases, the developer and homebuilders have been responsive to the neighborhoods needs. Fountain woman to get no jail time for sexually assaulting 13-year-old, mother unhappy with plea deal. 2, El Paso County, Colorado. He said he has also worked as a code enforcement officer in Kansas and inspected properties for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They didnt sample, they didnt test, they didnt do blow counts. 211 S Raven Mine, 1,471sqf, $1,400. We have full confidence in the safety of the property as evidenced by the No Action Determination letters provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment with its review of cleanup plan compliance documentation on a filing by filing basis.. Our properties that lie to the east/southeast of GHMs iconic smokestack are perpetually subject to the runoff of contaminated soils, grease, oils, and any other environmental hazard to Earths fragile ecosystem because of the nearly two decades of ongoing construction, Joan Phillips wrote in an email. It is important to note the areas measured were in an area of newly constructed homes and landscaping activities were likely ongoing affecting the measurements.. As evidence for these claims, the Gazette article refers to minutes from a meeting that apparently occurred in February 2016. Haynie couldnt immediately say how many homes shes sold in Gold Hill Mesa but said her clients love the development. A garage door of a home in the Gold Hill Mesa didnt shut all the way. Nearby Neighborhoods. After John Laing filed for . The street used to dead end. The former resident spoke of cracks in her porch, sinking and cracking concrete and water damage to her homes foundation, all corroborated by Walter Clemens, lead inspector for Encompass Home Warranty Inspections. (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette). Replaced burned out or missing light bulbs throughout the home. That old pond reaches 130 feet deep in places, many estimate. Life simplified. Filing 10 is in the process of being amended to accommodate design changes that we initiated. 1480 Gold Hill Mesa Dr 1,363 sqf, $1,450. Public Facts for 1605 Gold Hill Mesa Dr Edit Facts Beds 3 Baths 3 Sq. Location Colorado Springs, Colorado Website goldhillmesa.com Next Project Previous Project Reports of sinking, heaving and flooding are scattered throughout the development of about 200 acres south of U.S. 24 and east of 21st Street, according to accounts from some residents, public documents, claims made in three lawsuits by residents, and inspection reports. Common sense suggests that if there were issues with the community itself, one would expect challenges with homes to become apparent over entire areas, such that neighboring homes would exhibit similar symptoms, Stephanie Edwards, executive vice president of the corporation, wrote to residents in response to coverage by The Gazette. When I arrived, I found standing water in the curbline in front of address, one work order for February 2018 states. Asked about the two reports, Stephanie Edwards, executive vice president of Gold Hill Mesa LLC, wrote in an email that it took Utilities crews a while to diagnose the issue, having visited on multiple occasions. Ease past the community center with its park and walking paths. The conditions in each VCUP is specific to the site and uses proposed for that site. Every few years, renewed interest and intrigue arises about the property and its history. Edwards reiterated that the developer is unaware of any structural settlement of homes outside industry norms. Edwards has previously rebutted reports of ground subsidence or heaving in the Gold Hill Mesa development by stating that such geological forces would produce numerous structural injuries to homes in the vicinity, and there is no evidence of that having occurred. Conventional on-the-ground surveys conducted at the site suggest a normal amount of land movement for a residential development, Hoffmann said. Then people would know if that soil is the same as ours.. The site has been tested multiple times by a number of skilled and qualified geotechnical firms, including CTL Thompson, since 2004, he wrote in an email to The Gazette. Lovekin has said state geologists didnt voice their concerns on those past phases because city planners didnt ask for their input. Since 1976, David Weekley Homes has put our Customers' needs, desires and requests above all else to fulfill Our Purpose of Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives. The 114-lot (168-unit) Filing 1, including a community center and several dozen homes on 27 acres north of Lower Gold Camp Road, has been under construction for the past two years. There are 1794 active homes for sale in Gold Hill Mesa, Colorado Springs, CO. They include sinking concrete pads, cracked pillars, door and window problems and water damage. This is the story about Gold Hill Mesa that people really need to read! You actually know each other compared to other neighborhoods., Of course, every buyer has their own objectives, has their own requirements and they make their own decisions, Haynie said. Custom is the standard with Hi-Point Home Builders. This area started new construction in 2005 when John Laing was the primary builder in the area. And the basement there was left discolored after water flooded in, she said. Mr. Casey began working on the Gold Hill Mesa Project in 1999. In addition, the technology is used by the Colorado Department of Transportation and other organizations throughout the United States and Europe, he said. Gold Hill Mesa is a thoughtful, master planned community that blends a network of walking paths, greenspaces, new homes and businesses. Concrete in the garage of another home and the alley behind the property were also cracked, she said. The findings should be enough to launch a review of the development, Zhou said. The data does not consider site grading, landscaping or other manmade activities, Hoffmann wrote. Instability has been a chief concern for the site since its inception. Again, this was a home builder issue, not a developer issue. 23220. Peter M. Susemihl (Designated Election Official Signature On File) A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS (NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF) 1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S . Its a tight-knit community, said Ken Hanes, who lives on Gold Hill Mesa Drive. The Geological Survey raised concerns about settlement after it found portions of Gold Hill Mesa sank more than 3 inches over a six-year period using satellite images. They wanted everything checked, wanting lines blown out for any debris thats getting built up, she said. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Gold Hill Mesa Metropolitan District No. This is the fourth time in two years, she wrote. We have no settlement issues, Newton wrote in an email. Thats true, said Virginia McLemore, principal senior economic geologist at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, who was also asked by the Gazette to review the state geologists report. It opened and closed. It helps to overcome differences and share experiences, and it . I thought last year it was related to the sediment being found in the pipes in the street. There was a backup of debris with a historic flood.. But then Harward who lives on South Favorite Street said she spoke with a representative of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which regulates the site, determining whether dangerous chemicals exist in Gold Hill Mesas topsoils. The apparent sinking that has occurred in the development is likely caused by water shifting in the soil at Gold Hill Mesa, hypothesized Virginia McLemore, principal senior economic geologist at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, who studied the satellite images and the CGS report. The two women and other homeowners track varied lists of homes throughout the development where theyve seen flooding, heard of cracking or other problems. Homes near areas with detected sinking and heaving should be examined first, Zhou said. Portions of Gold Hill Mesa sank more than 3 inches over a six-year period, state geologists reported to Colorado Springs planners this April. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 642. He alleviated those concerns by explaining the testing process and its results, she said. Indeed, those experts do try to account for such details, Lovekin said. Location 1 Aliquots. Dreams inspired. The developer and fellow residents would absolutely crucify anybody who goes against the community, said one woman who lives there. He spoke fondly of a summer concert series in the neighborhood and the potlucks that coincide. Edwards also shared email correspondence with that homeowner, who did not return a call seeking comment. Other reports of flooding throughout the development are likely linked to debris stuck in piping, she said. Homes for sale in Gold Hill Mesa, Colorado Springs, CO have a median listing home price of $435,000. They say theyve seen no signs of ground movement, cracking foundations or damage to their homes. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! Gold Hill Mesa is in School District 11, which is supported by Midland Elementary, West or Holmes Middle School, and Coronado High School. A representative said, That would be like a doctor going against the hospital.. I present whatever information is available give them resources where buyers can do their own research and then the buyers make up their own mind.. There was a problem saving your notification. Work to address the concern raised about liquefaction during a maximum credible earthquake study was already performed in 2004 before the overall development got started. Heres how to unlock the dirt, Year-round gardening: Plant this, not that native edition, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, dies at 61, Attendance data dive: Local performing arts groups may never fully recover, PHOTOS: The Classical Academy falls to Resurrection Christian in state quarterfinals, PHOTOS: Cheyenne Mountain hockey beats Durango 5-0 in semifinals, Brewers' Bracket: Vote for your favorite Colorado Springs breweries, Colorado Springs Mayoral Race | 2023 candidates and issues, GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Cold Cases and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get news that matters sent to your inbox, By Conrad Swanson No home in this neighborhood has sunk, shifted, anything of that nature, Diane Heinz said. It seems to happen in all the building areas (in town), all the waterways get clogged up with nasty debris.. This has been determined to be a groundwater issue., Public Works Director Travis Easton said in an email that he spoke with the city employee who investigated the reports and from his memory, it sounds like there were no water line breaks, but that it was determined to be groundwater.. If a buildings being built, itd show really aggressive movement and its off the charts, its an anomaly., Whats left, Lovekin said, is a pattern of subsidence that appears to coincide with the mill tailings pile under the development.. As this vibrant community has taken shape, it is difficult to imagine that the land it occupies sat dormant for over half a century. Heres how to unlock the dirt, Year-round gardening: Plant this, not that native edition, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, dies at 61, Attendance data dive: Local performing arts groups may never fully recover, PHOTOS: The Classical Academy falls to Resurrection Christian in state quarterfinals, PHOTOS: Cheyenne Mountain hockey beats Durango 5-0 in semifinals, Brewers' Bracket: Vote for your favorite Colorado Springs breweries, Colorado Springs Mayoral Race | 2023 candidates and issues, GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Cold Cases and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get news that matters sent to your inbox, twice reiterated their call for additional testing, state geologists are calling for additional testing to ensure the ground is stable and safe, Agency finds sinking at Gold Hill Mesa, calls for more testing, Readers react to Gazette investigation on Gold Hill Mesa, City halts new building phase at Gold Hill Mesa, as further soil testing is considered, Rich history of gold mining left problems for Colorado Springs, Long-sought link between Colorado Springs parks identified, but it comes at a price, Second Gold Hill Mesa expansion on hold as geologists ask for more testing, More soil testing being conducted at Gold Hill Mesa expansion site, developer says, New analysis of Colorado Springs neighborhood may allow for additional construction, State gives Gold Hill Mesa expansion green light after reviewing new soil report, Lead Inspector For Encompass Home Warranty Inspections, Alex Murdaugh trial: Autopsy photos shown, and witnesses paint graphic picture as trial continues, Stimulus update: Direct payment worth up to $400 to be available for Massachusetts residents in 12 days, New downtown Colorado Springs transit center plans updated, councilman calls it a 'boondoggle'. But it does not appear that potential instability was a topic broached with the council, on which development approval hinged. For a time, Shannon Harward said she was concerned about chemicals in the soil at Gold Hill Mesa. We no longer accept (Villa de Mesa) as a valid substitution for sampling, testing for settlement or collapse, calculating estimates of long-term settlement, or as a reason to approve development where such an investigation and evaluation has not taken place, he wrote. Many of these homes have been built in the last 10 years, with a median sales price of $340,000. The homes at Villa de Mesa have stood strong for decades and indicate that no problems should be expected at Gold Hill Mesa, Hoffman said. 1281 Gold Hill Mesa Drive, $1,395 master on main level - Homes are renting quickly. We expect further input from both entities, Fabos said by email. An exploratory study submitted by the developer is incomplete, and neither the developer nor city planners fully understand soils throughout the site, Lovekin wrote. Established in 1905, it proudly stood as the most important mill in the region for nearly four decades. That wasnt a failure of our (perimeter) drain. Established in 1905, it proudly stood as the most important mill in the region for nearly four decades. Gold Hill Mesa Community Center, 142 S Raven Mine Dr, Colorado Springs, 80905 Event Description Join Gold Hill Mesa and Cottonwood Center for the Arts as we celebrate artists Tish Lacy. Berry later added that Utilities crews do not think both incidents were attributable to the pinhole leak that was discovered in June, but its difficult to prove without a doubt due to elevated groundwater levels in the area.. Gold Hill Mesa representatives say the land is stable and safe, but state geologists have twice reiterated their call for additional testing of a planned expansion of the development. The next week, Phillips, who lives on West Costilla Street, sat at a picnic table in her yard, joined by others who, like her, live just a few blocks to the east and downhill from Gold Hill Mesa. I plan on digging on June 14 to see if its our foundation. Its the only place Ive ever lived where someone will sell one house to buy another house in the neighborhood.. Several residents there have kept track of homes throughout the development where theyve seen flooding, heard of cracking or other problems. I have not seen evidence of excessive settlement of structures, roadway improvements or utilities, or been advised by city officials that excessive settlement has occurred at Gold Hill Mesa, he later wrote to The Gazette. By Kim Washburn. Cleaned debris from the trench drain in the patio area. To investigate the concerns at Gold Hill Mesa, Lovekin said the Colorado Geological Survey commissioned an independent analysis of satellite images to determine whether the land was moving and, if so, by how much. We Are Gold Hill Mesa. When Gold Hill Mesa submitted the development plan for Filing 11, CGS raised questions. As many of you have seen or heard by now, the Gazette published a long article on Gold Hill Mesa in Sundays newspaper. GHM Builder and Homeowner, Mark Long, featured in Springs Magazine! Pushback from area residents is natural and understandable, agreed Zhou, Hoyt and McLemore. POLL: How will the Rockies fare this season in the NL West? Water was puddling in a corner of the parking lot near the building, she said. Other school options nearby include Giving Tree Montessori School, The Colorado Springs School, and an option to enter the D-12 School District space permitting. State geologists first raised the alarm last year about the Westside subdivision's susceptibility to sinking, heaving and flooding. Jennifer Elliott said her home on Eclipse Drive, like many others in town, flooded during heavy rains in 2013. Style Townhouse Year Built 2012 Year Renovated County El Paso County APN 7414428002 Home facts updated by county records on Oct 24, 2022. Gold Hill Mesa is a master planned community located on the highly desirable west side of Colorado Springs. Work orders for Utilities crews also confirm the reports. Representatives of the developer, Gold Hill Mesa, and others flatly deny that there has been an inordinate amount of sinking or subsidence of land there, and they attribute any reported cracking and damage to homes to construction defects. Homes for sale in Gold Hill Mesa are newer homes built from 2010 to today with a median sales price of $340,000. VOTE Gold Hill Mesa for BEST Neighborhood in Colorado Springs! The satellites were unable to track movement in plots without surfaces like buildings or infrastructure on which they could focus, Lovekin wrote, which is why settlement wasnt measured in Filing 11. We love that our young children want to go play outside with their friends and we feel safe letting them run free to explore. Typical for large developments, the 210-acre Gold Hill Mesa (master-planned for about 1,000 homes), is separated into filings. -70mm 3-inches). The camera revealed perfect condition all the way to the underdrain tie in point. And Lovekin said understanding the liquefaction risk is pertinent for current and future residents. City Councilman Bill Murray expressed concern that the developers engineer, rather than an independently contracted firm, was conducting those additional tests. Throughout this 15-year redevelopment, Gold Hill Mesa has grown into a strong and vibrant community, which is key to our mission of taking this long-dormant and blighted property and improving it through a responsible environmental clean-up plan. GHM Feature: Gazette New Home Buyers Guide. You have permission to edit this article. Residents thinking out loud and scratching their heads where the "facts" the Gazette stated about Gold Hill Mesas sinking homes were coming from. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock). A city ordinance enacted in 2017 requires city planners and engineers to consult with the Geological Survey before approving development, and that is why Filing 11 has been reviewed by CGS.