This is the devastating moment two new Utah homes worth a combined $2million fell down the bottom of a cliff after they were built on unstable ground.
The properties in the Hidden Canyon Estates – one worth $1.1m and the other valued at $875,000 – slid down the hillside on Saturday which left the owners in shock.
Carole Kamradt, a sex therapist, broke down in tears after seeing the ruins of her home which she bought with her husband Eric less than a year before they were forced to leave.
Draper Fire Department said there were no injuries and the homes affected were previously evacuated in October.
The properties were built by Edge Homes and they have come under fire for building them on ‘sliding soil’.
The properties in the Hidden Canyon Estates slid down the hillside on Saturday which left the owners in shock
Two new Utah homes worth a combined $2million fell down the bottom of a cliff after they were built on unstable ground
Carole Kamradt, a sex therapist, broke down in tears after seeing the ruins of her home which she bought with her husband Eric less than a year before they were forced to leave
A video posted on social media shows the entire top floor of one house slide backwards, breaking off and falling on to the popular Ann’s Trail below which is now closed to the public.
Carole and her husband have been left devastated and said they lost more than just their home as their scrapbooks and photo albums lie in the wreckage along the hillside.
The pair moved in the Hidden Canyon Estates development in Draper in December 2021 and noticed damage just two months in.
Cracks formed in their garage, the walls around their doors and windows and their basement and they were forced to leave less than a year later.
The couple had not been allowed back inside since November before their home collapsed and slid down the cliff.
‘I visualized a lot of things for our lives in this home and they were all wonderful and beautiful. And looking at this now, it’s a nightmare,’ Carole told Utah radio station KSL.
‘But there are worse things that could’ve happened, and so that’s what I have to concentrate on.’
‘A lot of grief and remorse of the things lost. And hope now that it’s over, we can move forward and find another dream.’
While Eric described the collapse on Saturday as ‘mind-blowing’ and added: ‘Sort of at a loss. What do you do?’
Draper fire Chief Clint Smith said the surrounding area was being examined for sliding risk and said the two houses which slid were already in an area of concern
A notice revoking certificates of occupancy was issued to the two homes located at 2463 and 2477 E. Springtime Road and were declared unfit to live in due to dangerous conditions.
Draper fire Chief Clint Smith said the surrounding area was being examined for sliding risk and said the two houses which slid were already in an area of concern.
‘The conditions were related to earth shifting that resulted in sliding and breaks in the homes’ foundations,’ officials said in a statement on Saturday.
‘Engineers, building officials and public safety personnel are on site and have determined that two additional homes, one on each side of the previously evacuated homes, need to be evacuated. The residents of these homes have been notified and are evacuating.
‘With the snowpack melting and creating changes in conditions, other homes in the neighborhood will be evaluated for safety concern.’
Carole and her husband moved in the Hidden Canyon Estates development in Draper in December 2021 and noticed damage just two months in
She has been left devastated and said they lost more than just their home as their scrapbooks and photo albums lie in the wreckage along the hillside
Edge Homes said early report indicated that heavily saturated soils and subsurface earth movement contributed to the collapse of the homes.
‘Edge has been working closely with Draper City and professional engineers to monitor these homes since they were evacuated, but due to record snowfall and winter conditions, efforts to stabilize and repair the homes were put on hold until after the spring runoff,’ a statement from the developer said.
The homes are unsalvageable and it said it bought back one of the homes for an ‘acceptable price’ while it continues to work with the owners of the second home to find a solution.
It added: ‘From the outset of the concerns with these two homes, Edge has remained fully committed to fairly compensating the homeowners for the inconvenience and disruption they have experienced.
‘We stand by our products and take care of our buyers even when problems arise from circumstances outside of our control.’