This is the devastating moment when two new $2 million homes in Utah fell from the bottom of a cliff after being built on unstable ground.
Properties in the Hidden Canyon Estates — one worth $1.1 million and the other worth $875,000 — slid down the hill on Saturday, leaving owners in shock.
Carole Kamradt, a sex therapist, burst into tears after seeing the ruins of her home she and husband Eric bought less than a year before they were forced to leave.
The Draper Fire Department said there were no injuries and affected homes were evacuated earlier in October.
The properties were built by Edge Homes and they have come under fire for building them on “sliding ground.”
Properties in the Hidden Canyon Estates slid down the hill on Saturday, leaving owners in shock
Two new Utah homes worth a combined $2 million fell from the bottom of a cliff after being built on unstable ground
Carole Kamradt, a sex therapist, burst into tears after seeing the ruins of her house she and husband Eric bought less than a year before they were forced to leave
A video posted to social media shows the entire top floor of a home sliding backward, breaking off and falling onto the popular Ann’s Trail below, now closed to the public.
Carole and her husband are devastated and said they lost more than just their home as their scrapbooks and photo albums lie in the wreckage down the hill.
The pair moved into the Hidden Canyon Estates project in Draper in December 2021 and noticed damage just two months later.
Cracks formed in their garage, the walls around their doors and windows, and their basement, and they had to leave less than a year later.
The couple had been banned from entering since November before their home collapsed and slid off the cliff.
“I visualized many things for our lives in this house and they were all amazing and beautiful. And when I look at this now, it’s a nightmare,” Carole told Utah radio station KSL.
“But there are worse things that could have happened, so I have to focus on that.”
“Much sorrow and remorse for the things that were lost. And hope that now that it’s over, we can move on and find another dream.”
While Eric described Saturday’s collapse as “mind-boggling,” adding: “Kind of a loss. What are you doing?’
Draper fire chief Clint Smith said the surrounding area was being investigated for sliding risks and said the two homes that slipped were already in a concern area
A notice was issued revoking occupancy certificates for the two homes at 2463 and 2477 E. Springtime Road, which were declared unfit to live in due to hazardous conditions.
Draper Fire Chief Clint Smith said the area was being surveyed for sliding risks and said the two homes that slipped were already in a concern area.
“The conditions were related to landslides that resulted in slippage and fractures in the foundations of the homes,” officials said in a statement Saturday.
Engineers, construction officials and public safety personnel are on site and have determined that two additional homes, one on each side of the previously vacated homes, need to be evacuated. The residents of these homes have been notified and are going to evacuate.
“As the snow melts and conditions change, other homes in the area will be assessed for safety risks.”
Carole and her husband moved into the Hidden Canyon Estates project in Draper in December 2021 and noticed damage just two months later.
She is devastated and said they lost more than just their home as their scrapbooks and photo albums are in the wreckage down the hill.
Edge Homes said early reports indicated heavily saturated soils and subterranean 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 have been suspended until after the spring runoff,” a statement said. said by the developer.
The homes are beyond salvageability and it said it had bought back one of the homes for an “acceptable price” while continuing to work with the owners of the second home to find a solution.
It added: ‘From the beginning of the concerns over these two homes, Edge has remained fully committed to fairly compensating the homeowners for the inconvenience and inconvenience they have experienced.
“We stand behind our products and care for our buyers, even if issues arise due to circumstances beyond our control.”