SAN ANTONIO A northeast side neighborhood is getting results after years of living next to a crumbling retaining wall that put homes and lives in danger.

A News 4 Trouble Shooter investigation more than a year ago revealed the wall was being held up by railroad ties, but Feather Ridge homeowners faced an uphill battle to get it repaired or replaced.

After that investigation aired, the city and CPS Energy agreed to build a new wall one that can withstand decades of heavy rain.

Its the Fort Knox protecting the neighborhood off Judson Road near I-35.

Its an engineering feat, homeowner Mitch Marszalek says.

Its also the scenic view out the backyard.

And its beautiful, homeowner Judy Brice says.

But a beauty you can only appreciate if you saw what was there before.

"It was crazy, Marszalek says. It was like the Grand Canyon back here."

Neighbors called it a death trap, worried with each heavy rain that it would collapse.

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Getting Results: railroad-tie retaining wall replaced

Posted on March 7, 2013, Thursday

MARUDI: The Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has allocated RM200,000 to construct a retaining wall along the riverbank at Long Ikang longhouse.

This is to address the problem of soil erosion along a stretch of 200 metres, which began a few months ago.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan, who visited the area on Tuesday, called on the longhouse folk affected and the village security and development committee to work closely with the district office on the project.

If there is poor monitoring, then the government would be wasting money on uncompleted projects, he said.

The Baram Member of Parliament said he has personally discussed the problem of soil erosion affecting Orang Ulu longhouses by the Baram River with Minister of National Resources and Environment Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas.

He added that RM900,000 has been allocated to the Kuala Tutoh longhouse for a retaining wall along the riverbank there.

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Retaining wall to be built at Long Ikang

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The Darga Project 2012 - Retaining Wall

February 25, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 A 50m-long retaining wall collapsed during heavy rain at the site of a bungalow construction in Taman Nusa Tropika, Ukay Perdana today.

A motorist passing the area, Belinda Muhamed Hassan, 38, said it happened about 3pm while she was returning home to Bukit Antarabangsa.

It was raining heavily. While passing the location, I saw the retaining wall at the bungalow house which was under construction suddenly collapsed and there was a loud noise.

Luckily, the wall did not collapse on the road, she said when contacted by Bernama. Belinda said she also saw workers at the site scurrying for safety.

She said the incident caused traffic congestion in the area as part of the road was covered with dirt and debris, as well as water from a pipe, which burst, nearby.

A survey by Bernama at the location, saw workers at the construction site clearing the area. Attempts to contact the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council were futile. Bernama

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Ukay Perdana retaining wall collapses after downpour

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Structural defect has been identified to be the factor for the collapse of the retaining wall at the site of a bungalow construction in Taman Nusa Tropika, Ukay Perdana here yesterday.

As such, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Corporate Planning Department director Rosliza Mohd said the developer had been issued with immediate notice to stop the construction work.

"Cleaning activities are still ongoing at the site and we have asked the developer to repair the retaining wall immediately," she told Bernama when contacted here today.

She said the developer must also submit a technical report on the structural defect of the collapsed 50-metre long retaining wall.

"We have also asked the developer to prepare a temporary drainage system to ensure that the surface water drainage system in the construction site will not affect the environment," she said, adding that the incident was the first in the area.

-- BERNAMA

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Structural Defect Causes Collapse Of Retaining Wall In Ukay Perdana

Tuesday, 26 February 2013 19:12

KUALA LUMPUR: Structural defect has been identified to be the factor for the collapse of the retaining wall at the site of a bungalow construction in Taman Nusa Tropika, Ukay Perdana here yesterday.

As such, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Corporate Planning Department director Rosliza Mohd said the developer had been issued with immediate notice to stop the construction work.

"Cleaning activities are still ongoing at the site and we have asked the developer to repair the retaining wall immediately," she told Bernama when contacted here today.

She said the developer must also submit a technical report on the structural defect of the collapsed 50-metre long retaining wall.

"We have also asked the developer to prepare a temporary drainage system to ensure that the surface water drainage system in the construction site will not affect the environment," she said, adding that the incident was the first in the area.

- Bernama

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Structural Defect Caused Collapse Of Retaining Wall In Ukay Perdana

Retaining wall underpinning in Holland Park
Structural support and underpinning with hollow core concrete blocks.

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Retaining wall underpinning in Holland Park - Video

real estate

Dear Real Estate Adviser, My next-door neighbor has a sloping driveway with an 8-foot-high retaining wall that's 1 foot away from my property. The wall desperately needs repair in several places. Who's responsible if the wall collapses and some of my property spills into his driveway: him or me? -- Nat

Dear Nat, That's a little hard to say without more detail, but it is apparent this is a mutually beneficial wall that could use your collective attentions. In even a semi-perfect world, such a safety object should be maintained and repaired by both of you. However, while it holds back part of your property, the wall is technically on your neighbor's property and that makes this issue a little muddy, much like your neighbor's driveway will be if the thing finally gives way.

Of course, you'd probably prefer that your neighbor shoulder all those expenses. He just may be thinking the same about you. So for conversation's sake, let's ponder the legalities. First off, do you know who originally built the wall and why? If it was the neighbor or the previous owner, that certainly implies ownership and responsibility, particularly if the neighbor made a modification to his driveway necessitating the wall. Sometimes, though, such walls are the product of a previous civil agreement between neighbors. Ideally, this would be noted on your deed, title document or survey. Other times, the responsibility for such a "party wall" lies in the title documents of a homeowners association or planned unit development if your neighborhood happens to fall under either structure.

I might add that if either of you has done something to impact the wall's structural integrity since it was first constructed, or if the roots from your trees are pushing into the wall, that would carry weight, too, in more ways than one.

One thing is for sure: It doesn't benefit either of you to keep playing this game of chicken for an accident-in-waiting. Once you've looked into the background of the structure, I suggest an open discussion with the neighbor, assuming you're on decent terms. Tell him you're aware the wall is on his property but that you would be willing to help rectify the situation by footing a percentage of the repair costs. You might even volunteer to line up bids on repairs or reconstruction of the wall if that will provide momentum.

If your neighbor can't or won't pony up to at least split the cost, then you might look into options that would force his hand, assuming you're not content to pay for it all yourself. First, though, talk with your property insurer to get the lowdown on its coverage and liability guidelines in such situations, given the constraints of your policy. They've seen such scenarios before. You might suggest to your neighbor to do the same with his insurer.

If he still doesn't budge, talk with city code enforcement on the sly to see if the compromised wall was properly permitted or if it's subject to any building ordinances regarding dangerous property conditions. Oftentimes, however, the city will punt in such situations and say it's a private matter that you'll need to resolve with your neighbor or through an attorney.

Meanwhile, that wall is becoming increasingly unstable. Don't let it be a divider with your neighbor. Heed this old quote that some attribute to Sir Isaac Newton: "We build too many walls and not enough bridges." Here's hoping Newton's law of gravity doesn't take its course before you resolve the situation! Good luck.

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Who has to fix neighbor's retaining wall?