A popular ski town was threatened by a large home that endangered occupants and adjacent properties due to its unstable foundation, incomplete and languishing construction work, as well as a general lack of maintenance onsite. Construction work had been started on the home, but that work lay unfinished for months, which turned into years, permits expired and the structure further deteriorated. Trash and construction debris littered the interior and exterior of the home. Blighted conditions were visible from the street and the property was clearly vacant, with broken windows and an unhinged door, providing an attractive nuisance and clear opening for transients and curious children. Further inspection by the municipality confirmed that transients had in fact taken advantage of this opening and were living inside the hazardous structure. Crucially, the foundation was at risk as it had been set on an elevated but eroded patch of land and needed to be shored up.

Photos of the property prior to receivership

CRG Abates Nuisance Conditions and Finds a Solution Allowing the Homeowner to Retain Ownership of the Property

Our first step after obtaining court approval was to address the foundation, which had worn away, with the property resting on a hillside that was degrading. It was critical that we moved fast on this as the deterioration was amplified by seasonal snowfall and melt. With our crew in motion to get the foundation shored up, we began work inside to both clean and repair the home. An unforeseen issue we encountered was the threat of hantavirus due to a vermin infestation onsite and we needed to take extra precautions in our clean-out of the home. Where possible, we endeavored to put the owner’s existing building materials to use to keep receivership costs down. Some of the items onsite were not usable and had to be disposed of as hazardous waste. We worked closely with the homeowner in this receivership and were able to find a solution that allowed them to retain ownership of the property. The receivership was complete once the municipality signed off on the abatement of the nuisance conditions.

Photos of the receivership work at the property