Mold drives residents away from condominiums

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Mold drives residents away from condominiums

City investigating its permit process

By: Raheem Hosseini

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 4:16 PM PDT

Folsom Telegraph - Folsom,CA

http://folsomtelegraph.com/articles/2006/08/02/news/top_stories/04mol

d.txt

Toxic mold has been found in some units at Waterford Place, a

recently converted condominium complex. Philip Wood/The

TelegraphReports of toxic mold at a Folsom condominium complex have

raised questions about the city's project approval process.

Dozens of homeowners at Waterford Place on Natoma Station Drive are

complaining of mold in their apartments, with some forced to leave

and others complaining of health problems.

When new owners Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc. converted the

apartments into condominiums last year, the city apparently signed

off on a report by a private company that pointed out potential mold

issues in more than 170 units.

But Prometheus senior vice president Moss said the report

pertained to water heating issues the company mitigated last year.

" They're not related to that issue at all, " Moss said of the recent

mold discovery.

As for the toxic mold that has been found, Moss says two events are

to blame.

One unit had a damaged fire sprinkler that leaked into the walls and

created mold, while more than a dozen units on the site's lower end

suffered water intrusion and drainage issues because of the heavy

winter rains. In total, 14 apartment units have mold issues.

" It hadn't caused a problem to our knowledge previously, " Moss said.

He added that the company is replacing sheet rock in a number of the

damaged rentals now and letters have been sent to all 41 residents

asking them to report any issues.

" We've got our arms around the cause and our arms around the

solution, " he said, although some residents have refused to let

company officials enter their apartment units to assess whether

there is any damage.

And while an attorney on behalf of some of the residents has

contacted the company, Folsom Director of Neighborhood Services Amy

Feagans says that, to her knowledge, the city has not.

The city is performing their own investigation into what, if

anything, went wrong when granting the building permits.

Waterford Place was the first apartment complex the city allowed to

be converted into condominiums. Feagans said her department went

through a number of " what if " scenarios.

" It certainly was something that we never anticipated, " she said.

The investigation is occurring at the staff level with no immediate

plans to make a report to the City Council, Feagans noted.

Staff is reviewing current construction projects and recent building

permits as part of the inquiry.

While the city doesn't require testing when mold is found to

determine whether it's mildew or something more serious, like the

asperigillus mold that was found in at least one unit, Feagans said

it was too early to say whether the city would change its process.

Representatives of Waterford Place didn't return calls for comment.

[Guest guest]

There's also a big problem like this on the Beach in West Palm Beach High Rise

Building Insurance want pay it is todays TV News I don't have the link.

Thank You

Elvira

[] Mold drives residents away from condominiums

Mold drives residents away from condominiums

City investigating its permit process

By: Raheem Hosseini

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 4:16 PM PDT

Folsom Telegraph - Folsom,CA

http://folsomtelegraph.com/articles/2006/08/02/news/top_stories/04mol

d.txt

Toxic mold has been found in some units at Waterford Place, a

recently converted condominium complex. Philip Wood/The

TelegraphReports of toxic mold at a Folsom condominium complex have

raised questions about the city's project approval process.

Dozens of homeowners at Waterford Place on Natoma Station Drive are

complaining of mold in their apartments, with some forced to leave

and others complaining of health problems.

When new owners Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc. converted the

apartments into condominiums last year, the city apparently signed

off on a report by a private company that pointed out potential mold

issues in more than 170 units.

But Prometheus senior vice president Moss said the report

pertained to water heating issues the company mitigated last year.

" They're not related to that issue at all, " Moss said of the recent

mold discovery.

As for the toxic mold that has been found, Moss says two events are

to blame.

One unit had a damaged fire sprinkler that leaked into the walls and

created mold, while more than a dozen units on the site's lower end

suffered water intrusion and drainage issues because of the heavy

winter rains. In total, 14 apartment units have mold issues.

" It hadn't caused a problem to our knowledge previously, " Moss said.

He added that the company is replacing sheet rock in a number of the

damaged rentals now and letters have been sent to all 41 residents

asking them to report any issues.

" We've got our arms around the cause and our arms around the

solution, " he said, although some residents have refused to let

company officials enter their apartment units to assess whether

there is any damage.

And while an attorney on behalf of some of the residents has

contacted the company, Folsom Director of Neighborhood Services Amy

Feagans says that, to her knowledge, the city has not.

The city is performing their own investigation into what, if

anything, went wrong when granting the building permits.

Waterford Place was the first apartment complex the city allowed to

be converted into condominiums. Feagans said her department went

through a number of " what if " scenarios.

" It certainly was something that we never anticipated, " she said.

The investigation is occurring at the staff level with no immediate

plans to make a report to the City Council, Feagans noted.

Staff is reviewing current construction projects and recent building

permits as part of the inquiry.

While the city doesn't require testing when mold is found to

determine whether it's mildew or something more serious, like the

asperigillus mold that was found in at least one unit, Feagans said

it was too early to say whether the city would change its process.

Representatives of Waterford Place didn't return calls for comment.