The History
“In our opinion, the moisture damage was primarily from poor design and installation of flashing and other waterproofing details, not a lack of maintenance.”
August Hasz
PE Resource Group Inc., 2009
We are the owners of 92 government-regulated affordable housing condominiums in the heart of Aspen.
This very unfortunate beginning led to expensive challenges starting in 1987, just three years after the complex was built. The buildings were cheaply built so they could be sold at “affordable” free market rates before they were deed restricted by APCHA.
Over $1.5 million has been spent over the past 30 years by the HOA on emergency building repairs and regular maintenance. Homeowners have contributed to the repairs through increased assessments but receive no increase in equity or resale values. And yet, these repairs have not been enough to overcome the design flaws, which means extensive repairs are still needed.
Unfortunately, we can’t qualify for home improvement loans because our properties are deed-restricted, resulting in very low market values. This truly is a dilemma of epic proportions.
“Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. Mold grows on paper, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The entire Centennial complex (including 80 of the now 148 rental apartments)—the largest APCHA-controlled property in the city limits—was built in less than 6 months in 1984 by a private developer on a limited, unrealistic budget. Pervasive design flaws and shoddy construction have led to extensive water leaks, structural damage and mold in all buildings. The extent of the problem was hidden for decades because of the moisture-resistant redwood siding. We have worked diligently from day one on maintenance issues and have provided numerous emergency repairs to fix building design omissions. (Note: The rental apartments underwent massive repairs over roughly 12 years for the exact issues.)
We have never been subsidized by public funds, unlike most other Aspen and Pitkin County affordable housing units. This reality, plus unprecedented demands/fees from the City and county ($1.3M) during construction, and the original contractor going bankrupt due to underbidding, means the project was built on a shoestring budget without proper design or appropriate construction methods. The developer even publicly admitted to cutting corners.
For more details on the long history related to our issues, click.
All historical photos credit: Aspen Historical Society, Aspen Times Collection, Follow: @aspenhistory
