Crumbling Foundations in Eastern Connecticut

Eastern Connecticut is the epicenter of the concrete foundation disaster. The economic, financial, municipal, and human costs are profound.

The presence of the mineral pyrrhotite in locally quarried aggregate contaminated concrete poured primarily between 1983 and early 2013 in thousands of buildings, mostly houses, across the region and into Massachusetts.

The destructive process is irreversible. Repairs prove ineffective. Replacement of the foundation is costly but the only currently effective solution.

Insurers denied homeowner claims. FEMA declined assistance. Lenders were leery of underwriting affected homes. Homeowners formed grassroots organizations to advocate for assistance and share information.

Official assistance efforts developed, slowly at first. The State of Connecticut Insurance Department warned insurers not to cancel insurance based on such a claim. US Representatives Joe Courtney and John Larson, with the support of US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, obtained income tax relief for homeowners. The Connecticut Department of Housing and the Capitol Region Council of Governments offered towns and homeowners pertinent information.

The effects extend beyond the plight of homeowners. Assessors adjust property assessments to reflect the loss, reducing municipal tax revenues. Buyers find alternatives. Sellers either replace the foundations or wait in place.

The Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company, Inc. (CFSIC) was created specifically to address this crisis. As the primary source funding claims for foundation replacement, it is financed by taxpayers and a surcharge on homeowner insurance policies. Its site is frequently updated with timely messages.

This page is an archive of news coverage, state and federal developments, and resources for affected homeowners. Updated occasionally, by me, a working appraiser who has followed the crisis since it emerged. Please feel free to send corrections or suggestions.

Renée

News & Updates

  • CFSIC Responds to Rumors: The Sunset Date — Myth vs. Reality

    CFSIC addresses questions circulating about the program’s future and timeline. Worth reading for anyone with a pending claim or an affected property in the pipeline.

  • Last $100 Million Set for Release; End May Be in Sight

    CFSIC — the Bond Commission is set to release the final $100 million, with an additional $55 million from the Healthy Homes Fund. Program director Maglaras now estimates affected homes closer to 3,700 than the 35,000 once feared.

  • Grassroots Help Forming for Massachusetts Homeowners

    Massachusetts homeowner coalition — a parallel effort to Connecticut’s experience is now organizing. Massachusetts residents are beginning to build the kind of advocacy network that took years to develop here. https://www.massracf.com

  • 1,000th Home Fixed — and the Road Ahead

    WSHU — CFSIC reaches 1,000 repaired homes, a significant milestone. Commentary on the scope of remaining work makes clear the program still has far to go. https://www.wshu.org/connecticut-news/2024-10-15/ct-homes-crumbling-foundationsreplaced

  • Tolland Receives $1 Million State Bond for Firehouse Repairs

    CT Insider / Journal Inquirer — hard-hit Tolland receives state funding for municipal building repairs, a reminder that the crisis affects public infrastructure, not only private homes. https://www.ctinsider.com/journalinquirer/article/tolland-state-bond-million-firehouserepairs-18192443.php

  • Please Don’t Waive Home Inspections

    NBC Connecticut — the concrete crisis remains a focus of lawmakers. A critical reminder: in a competitive market, waiving inspections on a property in an affected area carries real risk. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/investigations/crumbling-foundations/concrete-crisisremains-focus-of-lawmakers/2983089

  • UConn Receives $4 Million Grant for Defective Concrete Research

    NBC Connecticut — UConn funded to continue work on preventing, detecting, and reducing the impact of defective concrete. Research matters for long-term solutions. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/investigations/crumbling-foundations/uconn-receivesgrant-to-continue-work-with-crumbling-concrete/2946169

  • Rebuilt Birch Grove Elementary School Opens in Tolland

    Yahoo News — school reconstruction completed after pyrrhotite foundation replacement. A visible sign of progress in one of the hardest-hit communities. https://news.yahoo.com/finishing-touches-put-birch-grove-200900714.html

  • Ten Towns with Most Claims; State Funding Boost

    MSN — a $24.1 million state funding boost accompanies release of the list of ten most-affected towns. Useful data for understanding where the crisis is concentrated. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/ct-crumbling-foundation-relief-efforts-get2410-million-boost/ar-AAKI6Qw

  • Connecticut’s First Condo Buildings Lifted for Foundation Replacement

    WTNH — a milestone: the first condominium buildings in Connecticut are lifted for pyrrhotite removal in Willington, opening the door for condo owners who had long been excluded from relief. https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/tolland/connecticuts-first-condo-lifted-forpyrrhotite-removal-in-willington