We expect further input from both entities, Fabos said by email. You have permission to edit this article. The community is full of town-homes and single-family homes. The Colorado Springs City Council spoke behind closed doors Monday about development at Gold Hill Mesa, where city planners recently halted wo Agency finds sinking at Gold Hill. CSU determined that it was a water service line leak, she wrote. In recent months, Gold Hill Mesa representatives have hosted seminars on the developments stability, the community and environment. Its a big problem.. Gold Hill Mesa is a Southern Colorado organization currently building a last development of lots that will offer a huge range of entertainment, food and more. So far, we havent had further flooding in our basement. Yes.. Grass and snow and landscaping could impact results, but these guys are looking at the corners of rooftops and other hard targets, Lovekin told The Gazette. 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. Hoffmann said his firm is drilling and testing more at the plot in question (Filing 11), though the results are not yet available. The survey data, provided to The Gazette by Gold Hill Mesa, tracked movement at different points in the development. Phillips said they worry the runoff will worsen. Crews move dirt at the Gold Hill Mesa neighborhood Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, as more home are being built on the site of the former Golden Cycle Mill that closed in 1949. This is the fourth time in two years, she wrote. 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 . Gold Hill Mesa residents fear retribution from community after reporting problems, BY CONRAD SWANSON (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette). Gold Hill Mesa is close to Downtown Colorado, Old Colorado City, Bear Creek Park, a dog park, and Garden of the Gods. Clemens inspection was not related to lawsuits filed by residents at Gold Hill Mesa. She called for more testing for settlement or liquefaction potential throughout the site after also reviewing Lovekins report. In order for land to be redeveloped, as has been done at Gold Hill Mesa, CDPHE must approve a No Action Determination.. Not only was the damage substantial in that Eclipse Drive home, but also areas showed evidence of previous repairs, indicating the builder was aware of several problems, Clemens said. Another woman, who formerly lived on Eclipse Drive in Gold Hill Mesa, said, The whole thing was a nightmare and we were only there a year. But one veteran home inspector with experience in the neighborhood, Walter Clemens, says much of the reported damage is symptomatic of sinking and heaving soils. Conditions found were considered to be suitable for a residential development, he wrote. 642. The home is within walking distance of the Bear Creek Open Space with a large, well-maintained Dog Park. As many of you have seen or heard by now, the Gazette published a long article on Gold Hill Mesa in Sundays newspaper. I would say theres shoddy craftsman work here, whether its a painter or a plumber to a carpenter. Site identification and general characteristics. Cleaned debris from the trench drain in the patio area. 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. The developer and fellow residents would absolutely crucify anybody who goes against the community, said one woman who lives there. Looking out over Gold Hill Mesa, a housing development in Colorado Springs. Gold Hill Mesa MD #2 Gold Hill Mesa MD #3 Grandview Reserve MD #1 Grandview Reserve MD #2 Grandview Reserve MD #3 Grandview Reserve MD #4 Greenways MD #1 Greenways MD #2 Greenways MD #3 GSF MD #1 GSF MD #2 Hancock MD #1 Hancock MD #2. Without new tests to ensure the land is safe and stable, Lovekin said, he cant condone more construction, especially considering the sinking elsewhere in the Gold Mesa neighborhood tracked by satellite images. Welcome to Gold Hill Mesa, a master planned community in Colorado Springs. All those who reached out to The Gazette or who were contacted by The Gazette about problems or concerns wanted anonymity because they are worried that voicing such concerns could bring them legal troubles and scorn in the neighborhood. The sump pump (has) been working, pumping gallons of water daily, sometimes multiple times a day, out into the alleyway behind our garage, she wrote. The flooding. According to homebuilder Wayne Intermill, owner of Hi-Point Homebuilders, there were. Nestled west of I-25, you are minutes from the interstate corridor but miles from the noise and traffic. Repaired, recaulked, and painted a small water leak in the ceiling where the fireplace jack goes out the roof. Questions remain about the satellite analysis, said Wendy Zhou, dean of graduate studies and professor of geology and geological engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. In addition, outliers in the data are generally quite visible and can be discounted. And in those cases, the developer and homebuilders have been responsive to the neighborhoods needs. Portions of the development sit atop an old decant pond full of tailings leftover from that refining process. The conditions in each VCUP is specific to the site and uses proposed for that site. Here you'll find a walkable, close-knit community where there's time to enjoy an active lifestyle. It helps to overcome differences and share experiences, and it . Standing as a symbol of entrepreneurship, the mill played a key role in the existence of Colorado Springs. We love that our young children want to go play outside with their friends and we feel safe letting them run free to explore. The city storm drain line had a backup in it, and that led to a downstream backup to our house, Diane Heinz said. Gold Hill Mesa is a thoughtful, master planned community that blends a network of walking paths, greenspaces, new homes and businesses. Gold Hill Mesa is located on the west side of Colorado Springs just south of Hwy 24 and West of I-25. As anyone with a sump pump has experienced, they will often run even in dry periods depending on conditions, including irrigation in the area., Asked about reports of doors unable to open or close, Edwards wrote, I have heard in passing of some minor door sticking, but as you know, this isnt abnormal in any new home but should nevertheless be brought to the homebuilders attention within the warranty period.. The current owner of that home declined to comment, also citing a fear of retribution. 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. by conrad swanson Evidence of builder errors unrelated to ground movement was also found in each inspection, Clemens said. Dreams inspired. Kin" is the new solo album from multi-instrumentalist, poet, novelist and translat Replaced appliances removed from the kitchen by previous owners. Address: 142 S Raven Mine Dr. # 200, 80905 | Use of this website is subject to, Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND). When asked about reports of sinking concrete, cracked pillars, porches and foundations and water damage, Hoffmann replied: Cosmetic damage (drywall cracking) can occur due to a number of factors unrelated to excessive foundation movement., Architectural and framing details can contribute to cosmetic cracking, Hoffmann continued. Explore new construction homes in the Colorado Springs area. Then people would know if that soil is the same as ours.. When I arrived, I found standing water in the curbline in front of address, one work order for February 2018 states. 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. #goldhillmesarising 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. Ease past the community center with its park and walking paths. I want out of the neighborhood, but I dont think that itll be very easy, she added. The site of the former Golden Cycle Mill was once the economic heart of Colorado Springs. It looks like a trout stream, like you could fly cast, Byram said. The site was formerly a gold processing facility known as the Golden Cycle Mill, which operated from 1906 to 1949 and processed approximately fifteen million tons of ore from Cripple . Nobody can tell them where any of this water is coming from and why some of the doors in their homes cant shut.". There may be things that homeowners can do, she said. Realtor Nathan Fisk said his team strongly recommended against a client buying in Gold Hill Mesa nearly three years ago and walked away from a $500K+ deal due to their safety concerns. Olson said his homes perimeter drain failed, and he took the homebuilder to small claims court over the matter. Bill Hoffmann, the senior principal engineer for CTL Thompson, an engineering firm hired by the developer, said the land at Gold Hill Mesa is stable and safe. Despite learning more than three years ago that perhaps dozens of homes in Gold Hill Mesa were slowly sinking, heaving and flooding, city planners and regional building staff allowed. In this case, however, a handful of distinct homes, separated geographically out of a community of more nearly 500 homes, with occurrences spanning over a decade, confirms that these were isolated cases of construction challenges and not any inherent issues with the land itself, she wrote. The Colorado Springs City Council spoke behind closed doors Monday about development at Gold Hill Mesa, where city planners recently halted wo. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Gold Hill Mesa Metropolitan District No. Several residents acknowledged flooding in their homes but say those issues are linked to heavy rains and possible homebuilder defects rather than any problems with the stability of the soils. April 2015: 1480 Gold Hill Mesa Dr - 1,363 sqf, about $1,450. We question why CGS has been non-responsive to our ongoing requests to meet with our engineer and address their questions, while it has apparently made time to meet on multiple occasions with the Gazette. The camera revealed perfect condition all the way to the underdrain tie in point. Were in a wet period now, and that would make me even more nervous to (continue construction) without additional borings to show whats going on down there, he said.. -70mm 3-inches). We are here to serve our clients. That area with the most subsidence matches the deep, largely uncharacterized mill-tailing slime pit, which was the focus of one lawsuit, Lovekin wrote. Clemens said he has inspected thousands of homes in El Paso, Douglas, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties as well as in California and Kansas. They wanted everything checked, wanting lines blown out for any debris thats getting built up, she said. Its unclear why Villa de Mesa hasnt settled and portions of Gold Hill Mesa have, Lovekin wrote to city planners. If additional testing indicates an underlying problem with the soils, McLemore said controlling the flow of water in and out of the development will likely play a part in the solution. In 2013, we welcomed our daughter into this world and into Gold Hill Mesa. Ft. That movement tracked by stacking 162 images captured by satellite cameras is greater than in surrounding areas and is concerning enough to warrant additional investigations of the mine tailings pile atop which the development sits, said Jonathan Lovekin, a senior engineering geologist at the agency. Tracking pre-existing damage could be difficult, but the data still indicate a defamation or landslide movement, she said. The nearby development, Villa de Mesa, should also be tested, Elliott said. In a prime location near I25 and HWY 24, Gold Hill Mesa is within a few minutes drive of nearly every tourist attraction in the area. The mill played a key role in the development of Colorado Springs into a thriving frontier community. The study of Gold Hill Mesa used more than four times that number. They literally will destroy the sale of your home.. The neighbors are very tight. Confirming the nature of those issues or their causes has proven difficult, in part, because of residents unwillingness to discuss problems or concerns that mightdiminish the value of their homes. Learn about the new phase coming soon to Gold Hill Mesa and other opportunities available in the Colorado Springs, CO, area by contacting our Internet Advisor at 719-639-2722. Vote Gold Hill Mesa Best Neighborhood in Gazettes Best of the Springs, Gold Hill Mesa Statement on Gazette Story. Fans will get to enjoy even more adventures as Season 4 returns. Gold Hill Mesa | 25 followers on LinkedIn. 492. 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. 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. conrad.swanson@gazette.com. The tailings pile under the development is estimated to be 130 feet deep in places. Portions of Gold Hill Mesa sank a cumulative 3 inches over a six-year period, experts at the Colorado Geological Survey reported to city planners this April. 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. As of 2017, this process is required for most development on the westside of Colorado Springs. In his home inspection report, Clemens warned that the sinking areas should be monitored. That old pond reaches 130 feet deep in places, many estimate. Beautifully built John Laing home complete with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and an ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT awaits you in the highly desired Gold Hill Mesa Community! In addition, the technology is used by the Colorado Department of Transportation and other organizations throughout the United States and Europe, he said. Again, this was a home builder issue, not a developer issue. 1545 Gold Hill Mesa Dr was last sold on Aug 15, 2022 for $796,000 (1% lower than the asking price . But that trouble shouldnt spill over to the developer, Olson wrote in an email to City Council members, responding to The Gazettes coverage. By Kim Washburn. VOTE Gold Hill Mesa for BEST Neighborhood in Colorado Springs! They say theyve seen no signs of ground movement, cracking foundations or damage to their homes. 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). Art builds community. To summarize, Mr. Paul Casey, PE, President and Principal Engineer of Casey Resources, Inc. makes the following statement regarding Gold Hill Mesa: The whole premise of the Gold Hill Mesa project was to clean up a blighted piece of property which was untouched for over 40 years and represented a health and safety risk to the residents of Colorado Springs. This shows shifting of the fencing he said. We provide, they decide.. Gold Hill Mesa is a traditional neighborhood development with a vision of building a mixed-use community in Colorado Springs with a balance of functional design and aesthetic appeal. They include sinking concrete pads, cracked pillars, door and window problems and water damage. 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. March 2015: RENTED 215 S Raven Mine Dr - Townhome - 1,885 sqf for rent at $1,500 - great space with 2 car garage. 2010: 20101350402 : Gold Hill Mesa Neighborhood Association; El Paso County Assessor Property Records Search; Colorado Springs: 137. Tony and Diane Heinz told The Gazette that their home on Millstream Terrace flooded in 2013 as well, as heavy rains flooded much of the Front Range. Theyre very thorough.. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. https://issuu.com/springsgazette/docs/2019newhomebuyingguide, Address: 142 S Raven Mine Dr. # 200, 80905 | Use of this website is subject to. Colorado Springs : 100. Fountain woman to get no jail time for sexually assaulting 13-year-old, mother unhappy with plea deal. 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. Haynie couldnt immediately say how many homes shes sold in Gold Hill Mesa but said her clients love the development. I am unaware of any verifiable, structural damage to any existing home at Gold Hill Mesa or any other reports that assert that claim, he wrote. You have permission to edit this article. The couple vehemently argue against the notion of settling soils at Gold Hill Mesa and say they love living in the neighborhood. View More Details Address But past tests conducted by a number of skilled and qualified geotechnical firms which include CTL Thompson, indicate conditions at the site were suitable for a residential development, Hoffmann wrote. But it does not appear that potential instability was a topic broached with the council, on which development approval hinged. Now, with a viable engineered cap placed in accordance with the State approved clean-up plan, the property is safe for the residents living there, as the exposed tailings have been capped, eliminating exposure pathways. The new proposed expansion should be tested for settlement risks, he said. Despite pushback from Hoffmann and Gold Hill Mesa, state geologists are holding firm. As a result, we understand that the water pumped out has created some discoloration on the concrete, but this is not corrosion, she wrote. 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. Doors and windows can stop operating properly and floors can become uneven.. The woman said she walks the neighborhood and can see water draining from one house into a nearby alley, even when the weather is dry. This sucker was moving.. We are not aware of the specific homes that are claimed to have experienced distress. 11 until further testing is completed to resolve unanswered questions, Lovekin wrote. . 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Instead, Hoffmann directed additional questions about the ground survey to the Woodland Park company behind the work, Rampart Surveys, representatives of which did not respond to a request for comment. Hanes, a Colorado Springs native, said the development also benefits the rest of the city by capping off the toxic mine tailings and preventing dust and dirt from blowing around the area. And that much movement in six years is quite fast, he said. refi payment: $2,344/mo Refinance your loan Neighborhood details Home value Zestimate $421,200 Zestimate range 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. Their. the separation and sinking of minerals below a silicate shell dur-absorption spectroscopy The observation of a n absorption spec- ing the cooling of the Earth from a liquid stage, . The average rental price in Gold Hill Mesa is currently $2,113, based on NeighborhoodScout's exclusive analysis. Clemens said he found no foundation problems at another house on Eclipse Drive but noticed movement in the yard. Citing evidence of significant sinking or subsidence of the land under homes elsewhere at Gold Hill Mesa and the lack of sufficient data characterizing land under the planned expansion (dubbed Filing 11), CGS cannot recommend approval of Filing No. They, too, spoke of the sense of community it offers them. POLL: How will the Rockies fare this season in the NL West? I always believe you have to prove with multiple methods.. . Risk for damage is most pronounced in areas where the ground is heaving or sinking at uneven rates, Hoyt said. Its the only place Ive ever lived where someone will sell one house to buy another house in the neighborhood.. The concert and festival will be held outdoors at the Gold Hill Mesa Community Center Saturday, October 13 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. But outside those two areas, movement elsewhere in town would be relatively minor, Lovekin said. (Displacement is measured in mm. Then sewage backed up into the home several times, but both problems were unrelated to the developer or soils, she said. 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. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! At least 35 images are needed for such a study, said Zhou, who was the keynote speaker at the 4th International Conference on GIS and Remote Sensing last year in Berlin. You would not believe the basement floor, she said. Multiple city officials are now calling for additional testing in the area. Mark Long, GHM Builder and Homeowner, featured on KRDO News! Differential ground movement in Gold Hill is clearly indicated, he wrote. If I were CGS or any party involved, I would strongly recommend to verify (the study) by a totally different method and also even go through the houses to see if there are observations of subsidence, Zhou said. Karen Newton, who lives on Eclipse Drive, also said her home had a drain backup in the basement, but the problem has been fixed. Mine tailings are notorious for their instability and settlement potential. One homeowner recently contacted the developer with concerns of water intrusion into her home, Edwards wrote. 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.. Reports of damage might be sporadic now, but more problems might show up in the future, those experts say. But, Zhou said, the Italian experts behind that analysis could have already accounted for those details. 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. 8/13/2017. Peering through bifocals, Walter Clemens thumbs through an inspection report he penned three years ago for a home on Eclipse Drive, in Gold Hill Mesa. The homeowner contacted Edwards in May 2019 to give notice of her intention to investigate further, the emails show. There are many misrepresentations in the article; here are corrections to the most significant inaccuracies, with facts and clarification following: About Gold Hill Mesa: Gold Hill Mesa is the site of the former Golden Cycle Mill. A sump pump was installed as well, she wrote. You dont want any more water getting into that pile, and you dont want any water getting out of it.. Thanks to the pioneering spirit of the projects developers, supporters and homeowners, the community will serve as homage to the history of Old Colorado City and the Golden Cycle Mill, and as a foray into the next era of sustainable, inspired neighborhood design and urban revitalization.