Complaint Review: Wareham Development

In June of 2003 we purchased a loft at The Terraces at Emerystation in Emeryville, CA from Wareham Development. We were really excited and had great plans of how to furnish the loft and call it home. We should have known after our walk through that the small cosmetic defects and severe lack of attention to detail was the signs of larger issues, but nothing severe was found at the time.

We moved in and started to enjoy our home, but noticed additional pits in our windows. We submitted our claims to Wareham Development after much struggle they started to work replacing our windows. During the yearlong process of getting our windows replaced, another horror occurred. January 1, 2004 while trying to sleep we heard drips. At first we thought it was the heavy rain hitting the windowpanes, but upon closer inspection we discovered water was dripping high above our bank of windows. Once reported, Wareham Development told us it would be "sealed". We hoped this would be the end of the issue, but others in the building also complained of leaks and yellowing (mold) of their walls.

Owners began to bring their concerns to the HOA board, which unfortunately was primarily made up of members of Wareham Development. In fact Geoff Sears of Wareham Development made light of the situation with statements of "it was a 100 year storm" and "I have more mold in my shower".

After much hem and haw, unanswered letters from Rich Robbins (President of Wareham Development), and heated discussions on August 8, 2004 we moved to a hotel, the same week the last or our damaged windows were replaced, mold abatement began on our unit.

To this day our unit is exposed down to the studs, awaiting repair. Many broken promises by Wareham Development to make temporary fixes until the building could be fixed have diminished and the situation was turned over to their insurance policy. Still living at a hotel and pending litigation we wait. While we wait to live in our home Wareham Development continues to build new projects, in fact Mr. Robbins even said the following in a fluff piece news article:

"Robbins also is facing perhaps his strongest opposition yet on the project, which would block the northward views of people who bought condos in his Terraces project and perhaps cast shadows on other neighbors. He is quick to catch the irony in the fact that his developments brought in residents who now oppose his developments but believes the situation is good for Emeryville and for his company because it will stymie what he regards as low-quality work from would-be competitors. "I get bullets in my back", Robbins said. But "as a long-term holder, I don't want to see crap put up. I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm not a fan of Pulte and that cheap-s--- housing."

(((link redacted)))

Displaced
Emeryville, California
U.S.A.

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