Neighbors concerned over Provo construction long before landslide


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PROVO — City investigators believe a landslide that ruined a home under construction in Provo this weekend was caused by a garden hose someone left running — but some residents in the neighborhood say the problem started long before that.

It was no shock to Gordan McClean when the house at 1244 N. 1450 East in Provo nearly came crashing down Saturday.

“It was pretty obvious that something like this was going to happen,” McClean said. “We, as neighbors, all knew that this was going to happen.”

“As soon as they started digging in I thought they’re weakening this,” said Julie Glassgow, who lives across the street from the collapsed house. “It’s just a dangerous situation.”

Both McClean and Glassgow said the house directly above the questionable property has had foundation issues for years. When the builders started construction directly below it, they knew there would be a big problem.

McClean said he took his concerns to city administrators, telling them "don’t issue these permits."

But city officials said they did their homework.

“We actually have licensed experts that go out and evaluate,” said Provo City engineer David Graves. “For every parcel and every lot that is developed, we require a geotechnical report.”

Graves said the report form a geotechnical engineer hired by the developer passed the evaluations. The city even hired its own experts to take a look at the land.

“On this particular site, we actually hired an independent firm to come in and give us a recommendation based on the expert’s opinion that supplied the initial design,” Graves said.

Both experts approved, and the permits were issued to build. But after what happened this weekend, Graves said “it’s likely that we’ll be asking for a second opinion of those recommendations.”

Neighbors just want the problem rectified.

“The city needs to take responsibility, and if that’s done we would probably be satisfied,” McClean said.

So what happens now? Graves said, at minimum, the entire house has to be torn down. Then city officials will re-evaluate the site and make a decision on how to move forward.

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