Residents seek help from Bluffdale as developers go bankrupt

(South Valley Journal) A house is not a home for certain Bluffdale residents who bought property from developers that are now struggling to stay in business.

Since the economic downturn, several planned subdivision projects have stalled due to funding issues, making it difficult for people who have already bought property to build their homes and move in.

“Asherwoods, Ponderosa, Hidden Dreams are all being foreclosed on and a number more might be headed that way,” said Vaughn Pickell, Bluffdale community development director. “It’s difficult for the city, taxpayers, everyone, because partially-completed projects sometimes turn into eyesores because no one is taking care of them.”

Margaret Woolf has shown up at the last few Bluffdale City Council meetings to plead her case to the council members. Woolf is paying more in taxes on the undeveloped property she owns in the Ponderosa subdivision than she’s paying to live in her current home because the undeveloped property is not considered her primary residence, she said.

“I bought this lot about a year and a half ago,” she told the council. “I’m asking for your help in getting the Ponderosa subdivision completed to the point that I can build a house on my lot.”

Original Article