Video 1
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Footage starts out on the west wall. This wall fell down due to high winds in November 1989. No records were maintained at Spring Township Administration Building when records were reviewed in August 2011 and May 2012. At about 0.19 you will see a blue plastic safety seat be removed that is in front of the hole next to the wall. At 1.19 you will see the new wall built in December 2012 that was previously railroad ties. The block was painted with black tar and then filled in behind the new blocks. See photos included in “Construction No Permits” section of this website. The grass is still filling in from being planted in December 2012. You will note several cracks in this wall running several feet across and up and down. At 5:07 the footage is in front of Unit B. At 5:19 you will see cracks in the pavement where the left portion has dropped. This is a common theme from unit B back to the west wall. At 5:34 you can begin to see the overgrowth next to unit B. At 5:47 you see a wider view of the overgrowth that has been left unattended for some years. Later footage in Video 5 beginning 0.56 will show more detail. At 6:10 you will see one of the sewer drains. One of the homeowner's complaints was raw sewage coming up from the sink and tub. Ironically, when we went to Spring Township Municipal Building in August 2012, there were records of enhancements to the sewer system in the mid 2000's. At 6:37 footage is of the worker on other side of the condominium.
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CONDEMNATION FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE
The Urban Redevelopment Law grants the power of eminent domain for the specific purpose of eliminating "blight"
1) Unsafe Dwellings
2) Overcrowding of dwellings
3) Excessive land coverage of buildings
4) Lack of proper air, light and proper space
5) Defective design and arrangement of buildings
6) Faulty lot or street layout
7) Economically or socially undesirable land uses
**** How many can you count at HV that would qualify for Condemnation? *****
The Urban Redevelopment Law grants the power of eminent domain for the specific purpose of eliminating "blight"
1) Unsafe Dwellings
2) Overcrowding of dwellings
3) Excessive land coverage of buildings
4) Lack of proper air, light and proper space
5) Defective design and arrangement of buildings
6) Faulty lot or street layout
7) Economically or socially undesirable land uses
**** How many can you count at HV that would qualify for Condemnation? *****
Sink Hole : Literature on sinkholes is available from the Engineering Services Office and is free of charge or can be obtained at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website at: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/ - click on Geologic Hazards Heading, then Sinkholes where ?Sinkholes in Pennsylvania? booklet can be downloaded.
DO YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU TYPE IN THE ADDRESS ON GOOGLE FOR -1334 WEST WYOMISSING BLVD- IT COMES UP AS A POOL ? When you look up the address for Hidden Valley Condominiums - 1334 West Wyomissing Boulevard, West Lawn, PA 19609- that address show's up as a pool! It shows up at Lincoln Park Pool. You can go to several search engines and the address shows a pool... I think that's pretty coincidental timing that they would post this sign right after that. Someone saw the videos being made & decided to do SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, but don't do anything about EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PLACE!
As stated on this website, the west wall fell down in November 1989. The Township's March 24, 2014 response states, "the Township would be willing to review the article for any current issues of concem; however, it is assumed the wall was rebuilt to a satisfactory standard and no relevance to current conditions was provided in your complaint. The Township will fmiher review any information provided to fully understand concems for the exterior walls and related property." This comment is shocking on a number of fronts. First, a wealth of information and probable cause for investigation was provided and the Township cannot take the time to locate the article when the date is provided. Secondly, wouldn't the Township files have this type of information if they oversaw the reconstruction of this wall. Permits should be on file, because I cannot believe that a wall falling down is normal repair and maintenance. Stating that it is "assumed the wall was rebulit to satisfactory standard and no releveance to current conditions was provided in your complaint" is a bunch of you know what. The Township has no records of how the wall was restored/ rebuilt and there are significant cracks throughout that entire wall, so was the wall rebuilt correct? Heck was even rebuilt or did they use the debris that fell down? And his very report is the overall conditions of the complex, so it is extremely relevant and vital. Again, no investigation and analysis was conducted on the Township's part. Finally, he states that the railroad ties on that end are "slumping." These railroad ties hold up the dirt that is surrounding this wall's foundation.
In regards to the Spring Township Codes Enforcement Officer not doing his report 72 days after a preliminary inspection of the property:
This is truly outrageous that it's delay after delay when it's clear to even a 5 year old that this place is disgusting! How can you not take notes when you're at a property to do an inspection? How do you not take a multitude of pictures to document every nook and cranny and then dissect the pictures later like we did with ours? How do you not test the soil/air/water when requested to do so, even after making a joking comment about hearing the property was on contaminated land? How do you not block off the woods when requested to do so with all that debris in there, even after making a comment about hearing about an autistic child playing around there? How do you not let the other residents know about the mold in the "basement"/storage area? How do you not leave notes on the units' doors asking them to contact you if they have dryer vent buckets in use because they're harmful & illegal? How do you not get a report done in a timely manner and start the ball rolling on doing something about condemning this property?
I'll tell you why.... Because HE DOESN'T CARE! He's collecting his nice fat paycheck for his 3 job titles (which apparently he doesn't even know the job descriptions of) and just sits around on his laurels and makes excuses for not doing his job. Well, once this gets out to the media, we'll see how long he has that nice, comfy job position after everyone hears that he's collecting taxpayers' money to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! THIS MAN IS A DISGRACE TO THE TOWNSHIP AND THE RESIDENTS IN IT!!! How does he sleep at night knowing that all these people in there are breathing this crap in and is doing God-only-knows-what to their bodies? He needs to be called out and soon!
This is truly outrageous that it's delay after delay when it's clear to even a 5 year old that this place is disgusting! How can you not take notes when you're at a property to do an inspection? How do you not take a multitude of pictures to document every nook and cranny and then dissect the pictures later like we did with ours? How do you not test the soil/air/water when requested to do so, even after making a joking comment about hearing the property was on contaminated land? How do you not block off the woods when requested to do so with all that debris in there, even after making a comment about hearing about an autistic child playing around there? How do you not let the other residents know about the mold in the "basement"/storage area? How do you not leave notes on the units' doors asking them to contact you if they have dryer vent buckets in use because they're harmful & illegal? How do you not get a report done in a timely manner and start the ball rolling on doing something about condemning this property?
I'll tell you why.... Because HE DOESN'T CARE! He's collecting his nice fat paycheck for his 3 job titles (which apparently he doesn't even know the job descriptions of) and just sits around on his laurels and makes excuses for not doing his job. Well, once this gets out to the media, we'll see how long he has that nice, comfy job position after everyone hears that he's collecting taxpayers' money to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! THIS MAN IS A DISGRACE TO THE TOWNSHIP AND THE RESIDENTS IN IT!!! How does he sleep at night knowing that all these people in there are breathing this crap in and is doing God-only-knows-what to their bodies? He needs to be called out and soon!
MY THOUGHTS -
Representative Gillen - Still working on budget. - (An absolutely pathetic excuse!)
Commissioner Lienbach - Waiting to hear back from the township.- (Should be involved and overseeing this matter.)
EPA/DEP - Waiting for return response.- (Nothing positive)
Berks County Health Department- Can't help; they only do immunizations.- (Normally this is not the case.)
Township of Spring - Still waiting on their report. - (Buying time to cover their butts!)
*All entities that have been contacted claim that it's the Township's responsibility.
Representative Gillen - Still working on budget. - (An absolutely pathetic excuse!)
Commissioner Lienbach - Waiting to hear back from the township.- (Should be involved and overseeing this matter.)
EPA/DEP - Waiting for return response.- (Nothing positive)
Berks County Health Department- Can't help; they only do immunizations.- (Normally this is not the case.)
Township of Spring - Still waiting on their report. - (Buying time to cover their butts!)
*All entities that have been contacted claim that it's the Township's responsibility.
Another main concern we should all have is the retaliation that will be placed against the homeowner for being a whistle blower.
Berks ranks 3rd in state for lead poisoning among children readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=65645 Cached ... 7,450 children under age 7 in Berks County showed detectable levels of lead in ... That focus could explain why Berks County revealed a high number of lead ...
You have to know that something is wrong here because there are too many things that don't add up. There are too many missing papers, lack of answers and overall claims of ignorance. We are not talking about one house here we are talking about a condo that has over 20 units in it. Where did everything go and who took it? Why did they take it? Why has everything been brushed under the rug? How is it this group gets together and finds more information about this property than management company and township claims to have on file? There are too many things surrounding this property that are red flags. This needs to be investigated by people outside of the county immediately!
The main exterior wall of this building the one located at the entrance next to the road fell down in 1989. There are news articles about it yet nothing on file anywhere? How can that happen people don't forget something like this unless they are trying to hide it. Why because they probably would lose their insurance or not be able to even insure the building. The conditions at this property both inside and out did not happen over night. People knew and the problems are getting worse. The board members and management company have to know about the deplorable conditions. They probably did not tell their insurance and maybe that is who should be told. Report this to their insurance. Check out all and any incident reports and tell the insurance. Find out who issued their insurance. It would be interesting to know if it were from a broker. Take the pictures and submit them to their insurance and ask them if they knew before they insured the building. I bet they didn't. Something is not right here and there are too many red flags. Report these people and make them accountable. Find out who they got their insurance from and when it was issued. That is important and then find how many times they lost their insurance and why?
ANYONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THESE CONDITIONS AND HAS DONE NOTHING SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE! MANY PEOPLE TOOK OATHS OF OFFICE AND ARE BONDED. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND GO AFTER THEIR BONDS! BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLECT OF NOT DOING THEIR DUTY PEOPLE ARE CONTINUING TO BE IN HARMS WAY. STOP THE VICIOUS CYCLE!
AN EMPLOYEE FROM THE DEP REVIEWED THIS WEBSITE AND FROM PICTURES ALONE ?
HE STATED THE FOLLOWING OPINION-
THE BUILDING IS NOT SANITARY, NOT SAFE, AND NOT LIVABLE AND SHOULD BE CONDEMNED!
THE HIGHER AGENCIES CLAIM THAT THEY LACK JURISDICTION AND THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING THE ISSUES.
1 .THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRING HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION!
2. HOW CAN YOU TRUST THEM WHEN THEY KNEW AND DID NOTHING?
3. WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING?
HE STATED THE FOLLOWING OPINION-
THE BUILDING IS NOT SANITARY, NOT SAFE, AND NOT LIVABLE AND SHOULD BE CONDEMNED!
THE HIGHER AGENCIES CLAIM THAT THEY LACK JURISDICTION AND THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING THE ISSUES.
1 .THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRING HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION!
2. HOW CAN YOU TRUST THEM WHEN THEY KNEW AND DID NOTHING?
3. WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING?
FOR THE SAKE OF PEOPLE'S HEALTH, THE INDOOR & OUTDOOR AIR SHOULD BE TESTED AND HERE'S WHY:
The dryer buckets are not legal to my knowledge and there are reports about people getting Legionnaries Disease because of them. There is not proper ventilation in the building, and there are no vents in the utility room. It has been said that the entire building has ventilation issues.
Mold is throughout the building, with the basement and storage areas being a nightmare of different-colored molds. It appears as if the mold has been painted over with white paint. As long as you have these major cracks everywhere you will have mold and other air toxins.
Then you have the issues with the building, that it looks like it's sinking. The roof looks like it has problems with moisture and many areas do too. I was thinking about lead-based paint and things like asbestos, drywall and the insulation.
Then when you go to the exterior of the building. Since it has been stated there were sewer issues, what about those gases? What about the random fires that were in the Lincoln Park area fields? Local residents talked about gases coming from the ground. It could be anything from sewer gases to radon or more. We don't know; but we do know that the information about the random fires in the Lincoln Park field area further solidifies that this gas is present and dangerous. Testing should be done not only for the interior air but the exterior also.
The dryer buckets are not legal to my knowledge and there are reports about people getting Legionnaries Disease because of them. There is not proper ventilation in the building, and there are no vents in the utility room. It has been said that the entire building has ventilation issues.
Mold is throughout the building, with the basement and storage areas being a nightmare of different-colored molds. It appears as if the mold has been painted over with white paint. As long as you have these major cracks everywhere you will have mold and other air toxins.
Then you have the issues with the building, that it looks like it's sinking. The roof looks like it has problems with moisture and many areas do too. I was thinking about lead-based paint and things like asbestos, drywall and the insulation.
Then when you go to the exterior of the building. Since it has been stated there were sewer issues, what about those gases? What about the random fires that were in the Lincoln Park area fields? Local residents talked about gases coming from the ground. It could be anything from sewer gases to radon or more. We don't know; but we do know that the information about the random fires in the Lincoln Park field area further solidifies that this gas is present and dangerous. Testing should be done not only for the interior air but the exterior also.
THEY HAVE TO KNOW THIS BUILDING IS NOT SAFE! PEOPLE NEED TO READ ABOUT WHAT THIS GROUP HAS FOUND AS FAR AS INFORMATION. INCIDENT REPORTS, PERMITS...MANY MISSING OR NOT ISSUED?
Structure-
The structure shows many visible issues? Extensive, deep cracks, many which have been there for year. .There are walls that are being held up by, wooden support beams. There is visible permeating mold, in various colors of blue, red and even black mold. I believe that a major cause of this is from structural defects that have gone unrepaired. I further believe that the building is sinking as sited by others on this site and those who have reviewed pictures, videos and documentation.
What about what we do not see? That is another major concern. What about the materials that were used to build this building, the paint for instance could it possibly be lead based and then we have the drywall and insulation questions as well. There is a plethora of issues that many have questioned and even further a greater concern is why it is not being addressed. How did it get this far?
The land that it sits on was filled in by 1971. The code enforcement official claims that he does not know when the building was built. How can he not know that? He should have the plats and plans on file at the township building for/on public record. So what we do know is that the condominium was built after sometime after 1971. Some people claim that it was part of Lincoln Park Apartments originally. Another story is that it was originally called- REVERE HOUSE APARTMENTS -and then later became HIDDEN VALLEY CONDOMINIUMS. How can you change an apartment into a condominium? Then you have that it was built ion two sections one section in 1985 and the other in 1986. I find this odd as well. The lack of verification and questioning of officials and others does increase my curiosity.
This condominium was the only building that was in this triangular area until the retirement village was built in about 2006-2007. So from 1971 until mid-2000 the only thing built on that specific area of land was one condominium? Sound odd to anyone? Further this condominium was blocked off by chains? Yes, chains. I will allow you to ask your own questions however theses are mine.
The structure shows many visible issues? Extensive, deep cracks, many which have been there for year. .There are walls that are being held up by, wooden support beams. There is visible permeating mold, in various colors of blue, red and even black mold. I believe that a major cause of this is from structural defects that have gone unrepaired. I further believe that the building is sinking as sited by others on this site and those who have reviewed pictures, videos and documentation.
What about what we do not see? That is another major concern. What about the materials that were used to build this building, the paint for instance could it possibly be lead based and then we have the drywall and insulation questions as well. There is a plethora of issues that many have questioned and even further a greater concern is why it is not being addressed. How did it get this far?
The land that it sits on was filled in by 1971. The code enforcement official claims that he does not know when the building was built. How can he not know that? He should have the plats and plans on file at the township building for/on public record. So what we do know is that the condominium was built after sometime after 1971. Some people claim that it was part of Lincoln Park Apartments originally. Another story is that it was originally called- REVERE HOUSE APARTMENTS -and then later became HIDDEN VALLEY CONDOMINIUMS. How can you change an apartment into a condominium? Then you have that it was built ion two sections one section in 1985 and the other in 1986. I find this odd as well. The lack of verification and questioning of officials and others does increase my curiosity.
This condominium was the only building that was in this triangular area until the retirement village was built in about 2006-2007. So from 1971 until mid-2000 the only thing built on that specific area of land was one condominium? Sound odd to anyone? Further this condominium was blocked off by chains? Yes, chains. I will allow you to ask your own questions however theses are mine.
ANOTHER HUGE CONCERN THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN TOUCHED YET == ASBESTOS!!! (Correct me if I am wrong) but I believe that two schools- Lincoln Park Elementary & West Wyomissing Elementary had issues with asbestos. It was further communicated that it was found on boilers. If the air/water/soil is going to ever be tested here, they better also check for asbestos. This is a HUGE silent killer and I know from experience. My brother lost his life at the age of 48 because of asbestos cancer. We both attended Ontelaunee Elementary and they later found asbestos to be in that school too. I don't know where or how he originally contracted it from because of the work he did throughout his life, but it's a very scary thought to think that it might have all stemmed from his childhood at this school. Asbestos is all over the place - even in your car's brake pads. It's something that nobody really thinks about until it hits home. This condominium is in the same neighborhood and since we're not really sure when this was built, there's a strong possibility that it has asbestos in it also. This should be checked immediately and if it comes back positive, each and every resident needs to be checked for mesothelioma
The first thing I notice on here are the major visible cracks in the outside wall. Shows to me that there is major settling or shifting of the building. There are big gaps within the cracks also.
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