Harrison Condo Residents Left Homeless By Encroaching Landslide

Heavy rains early Sunday morning caused a landslide to expand to the doorstep of a condominium building constructed next to an old gravel pit.

Steve Meeks and his wife Kelly have been told they cannot stay in their new condo because of an encroaching landslide in Harrison. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Harrison, Oh.) - This past weekend’s abundant rainfall sped up a landslide that has been threatening a local condominium community.

Dozens of families are dealing with the challenges of effectively being made homeless overnight.

Legacy Condominiums on Legacy Way in Harrison has been experiencing a landslide which residents say became apparent late last year. Built next to an old gravel pit, the development sits on the sandy soil above.

As heavy rain fell around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, more than a dozen units of the condo development had to be evacuated because the landslide quickly grew dangerously close to one of the residential buildings. The collapsing terrain was at the doorstep of one unit’s walkout patio Monday. Some utilities are now exposed as a 50-foot wide part of the hill has eroded.

Kelly and Steve Meeks moved into the building nearest the collapsing hillside in February 2018, shortly after the new building first opened.

"It's unstable. It's still moving. It's spreading wider," Kelly said as she and Steve were packing up in their garage.

Since being evacuated Sunday morning, the Meeks and others have only been able to return to retrieve their belongings. Notices that the building is unsafe for occupancy have been posted on each door.

Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

The Meeks are now being forced to move out of their new condo much sooner than they ever anticipated.

"Were staying at my sister's right now. We'll wait and see. There is a meeting (Tuesday) night to tell us whatever they can tell us," Steve said. 

The Meeks and other residents of the condominium community are calling on the developer to remedy the problem. Legacy Condominiums was built by Fischer Homes.

"The HOA board is in litigation with Fischer for a permanent fix. Right now, everyone is blaming everyone," Kelly said. "Our HOA board members have been wonderful. They've been working with us, helping, and keeping us informed."

In the meantime, the Meeks and others are unsure about their future. They hope to get some answers at that HOA meeting Tuesday.

Fischer Homes issued a statement to local media Sunday:

"We have and continue to offer our expertise and service to aid the Condominium Association in their analysis of the situation and long-term solution. We remain concerned for those homeowners who were evacuated as a result of the heavy storms and subsequent erosion. Fischer Homes has built more than 24,000 homes over the past 39 years with our customers' best interests always at the forefront. We remain in contact with the Condominium Association to help guide them through the ultimate resolution."

Notices of an unsafe building have been posted on the door of each unit at the affected building at Legacy Condominiums by Fischer Homes. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.