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City of Ann Arbor SSWWEP - Citizens Advisory Committee Coordination — City of Ann Arbor

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2.76 -C- Is it the position of the City that it is acceptable to devalue these homes?

Posted by Lori Byron on 22 Dec, 2013
Category: Category 2 - about potential recommendations

Frank Burdick’s Log Number: 7
Submitted by: Burdick log
Category (1,2,3): 2
Status: Closed
Estimated date to address: 

Q. The current failure of many FDD sump pumps has caused NEW flooding in basements. Flooding is something that must be disclosed on Real Estate Disclosure forms. In addition, formally usable square footage in these home's basements have now been rendered unusable due the uncertainty of the operation of the sump pump and the inherent potential for unforeseen flooding. Is it the position of the City that it is acceptable to devalue these homes? 

[CITY] A. The 2013 FDD survey includes questions about flooding that may have occurred after the FDD and sump pump installation. This information will help us determine the extent of this issue. After we have that information, we can make a determination about a course of action. We confirmed with the City's Assessor that a sump pump by itself does not have an impact on the assessed value of a home. 

Comments

Lori Byron on 8 Jan, 2014:

The 2013 FDD survey includes questions about flooding that may have occurred after the FDD and sump pump installation. This information will help us determine the extent of this issue. After we have that information, we can make a determination about a course of action. We confirmed with the City's Assessor that a sump pump by itself does not have an impact on the assessed value of a home. 

Frank Burdick on 14 Jan, 2014:

This response does not answer the question:   Is it the position of the City that it is acceptable to devalue these homes? 

Frank Burdick on 18 Jan, 2014:

In addition, the City Attorney has questionably stated that the Sump pumps ADD VALUE to the home.  Does that mean that the Assesors office can INCREASE taxes on a home for this new added value?

Please provide the names and titles of any and all City Staff that provide responses to any a and all of the questions to the Log.

As per the remaining question regarding "devalued homes," the real estate market will determine this.  Is it the position of the City that it is acceptable to devalue these homes?