Editor:
As a “caring” community, how can we turn our backs on the people of Seawatch? They have lost all the equity in their homes. How would you feel if the earth under and around your home was opening up in sinkholes? The extreme emotional stress Seawatch residents have suffered for seven years plus must have contributed to severe illnesses.
It has now gotten so bad that all but four must pack purchases, children, activity equipment, garbage, etc., in and out on foot to and from the entrance. This is a city block for some, their only road judged too hazardous for vehicles – and yes, that includes emergency vehicles. The homes are worthless anyway, but the people should not be treated as worthless. For most Seawatch residents, these properties are their primary assets, their homes, the place where family and dreams are built.
We are prepared to accept a homeowners’ tax increase to compensate these terribly unfortunate members of our community for the loss of all value in their homes. Likely $5 per household for +/- 20 years. Later buyers (after the first fix) paid much less. Would you join us in offering this to our municipality?
These homes were purchased in good faith, with buyers unaware of the devious covenant the district had entered into with the developer intended to absolve the district of any responsibility for problems they were aware might arise.
The minimum we feel the municipality should do is ante up two-thirds of what each paid for their home so they can at least get a residence that won’t slowly (or quickly) disappear below them. These homeowners, when sitting on solid ground, can then sue the many insured parties who are now fighting against them for the balance of their costs and repay the municipality if they achieve payouts that cover most or all their costs.
These are families of Sechelt. They need to be treated with dignity by the District of Sechelt, which failed them, and is still leaving them with overwhelming stress.
Penny and John Lyle, Sechelt