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

  • Manchester Grand List: Crumbling Foundations Decrease Home Values

    Hartford Courant — Manchester’s grand list shows the ongoing valuation impact of defective foundations on the municipal tax base. A pattern repeated across affected towns. https://www.courant.com/community/manchester/hc-news-manchester-grand-list20210127-ijo7eyeqszekjndhr7hckoc34a-story.html

  • GAO Report: Extent of Defective Concrete Not Fully Known, Federal Options Limited

    U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO-20-649) — significant federal documentation of the crisis. The full extent of affected homes remains unknown; federal tools to help are limited. https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-20-649.pdf

  • USGS Publishes Pyrrhotite Fact Sheet and National Distribution Map

    USGS — pyrrhotite occurs in rocks across many areas of the United States. Scientific and geographic context for understanding why certain regions are affected. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20203017

  • Massachusetts: $350 Million Needed for Homeowner Help

    MassLive — the problem extends into Massachusetts; the scale of need is documented at $350 million. A useful comparison point as Connecticut continues its own relief effort. https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/01/massachusetts-estimates-350m-needed-to-fix2000-homes-with-crumbling-foundations.html

  • World’s Lessons on Concrete — International Advocates Visit CT

    Journal Inquirer — global context for the crisis; international advocates with experience in pyrrhotite contamination visit Connecticut to share what other countries have learned. https://www.journalinquirer.com/connecticut_and_region/world-s-lessons-onconcrete/article_99c5aeb0-e917-11e9-85b9-d791d2ccb8a6.html

  • Concrete Chief to Stay On; Progress on Replacements

    Journal Inquirer — CFSIC leadership update and program progress report as repairs continue across the affected region. https://www.journalinquirer.com/connecticut_and_region/concrete-chief-to-stayon/article_a20917de-e399-11e9-9607-f522b2cae62.html

  • Massachusetts Study: Financial and Economic Impacts of Crumbling Concrete

    State of Massachusetts — a formal study documenting the financial and economic impacts on affected homeowners and communities. The problem is not confined to Connecticut. https://www.mass.gov/doc/crumbling-concrete-stakeholder-working-group-final-report/download

  • Funding Failures Prompt Early Exit of Foundation Program Leader

    he outgoing superintendent of the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company gave an exclusive interview to NBC Connecticut Investigates Funding Failures Prompt Early Exit of Foundation Program Leader – NBC Connecticut

  • Comprehensive Crumbling Foundation Bill Approved

    Journal Inquirer — landmark legislation: buyer protections, low-interest loans, condo eligibility, and cost-effective repair methods. A major step forward for affected homeowners. https://www.journalinquirer.com/politics_and_government/crumbling-concretevictory/article_183e5c6c-8872-11e9-9471-8b2a5920ccda.html

  • Crumbling Foundation Repairs To Halt Until State Pays Up

    WSHU — a funding gap threatens to pause the repair program. A reminder of how dependent this relief effort is on consistent state appropriations. Crumbling Foundation Repairs To Halt Until State Pays Up