Chagrin Highlands Estates is a subdivision located north of Route 422 in northeast Solon. It is near the picturesque Chagrin River. During a visit to Chagrin Highlands, I saw this colonial home that was located almost entirely below the street level. A sloping driveway lead to the home on a quiet, private and treed sloping lot.
Mat Foundation Credit: Pacific Housing Systems-Click to enlarge
Potential issues at Chagrin Highlands-Click to enlarge
At a public meeting in City Hall, a member of the Solon Planning Commission referred to the safety issues involving the slopes of Chagrin Highlands. The member stated that several homes in Chagrin Highlands have severe foundation problems. He said that a few homes in the Chagrin Highlands subdivision were lost over the slopes about a decade ago!
A mat or a structural grade beam foundation are good options for consideration under these unstable slope conditions. Further, it would prudent to evaluate the need to install a backwater valve in homes located on slopes in Chagrin Highlands.
Remember, in most home transactions, buyer beware applies.
I am a Civil Engineer from Louisiana State University. The compound word, Americaneer, is a combination of the words, American and Engineer.
[...] family home owners from Solon’s well heeled subdivisions (Signature of Solon, Thornbury, Chagrin Highlands) took the shortest route to the Solon City Council and Planning Commission. A rental occupancy [...]