Imagine you just moved to Centralia a month ago from near Olympia. You and your spouse are senior citizens, looking for a house in a quiet neighborhood to enjoy your retirement.
You sign the paperwork with both the two real estate buyer and seller agents present, along with the homeowner. You pack up and move in.
A month later, you’re abruptly awakened by loud noises just feet from your house. Contractors are cutting down trees in your front yard and knocking over your fence. Your dog tries to escape — you grab him, bring him back inside, and immediately question the contractors about what’s going on.
They inform you they’re clearing land for the widening of North Scheuber Road, from Galvin Road to Mt. Vista, and claim that the homeowner was given a letter about this project. Clearly, this couple never received that letter, as they had just moved in — and neither the brokers nor the previous owner disclosed that this major construction would begin in the immediate future. In fact, the previous owner had told some neighbors he was selling the home because of the upcoming roadwork. But he told the new owners he was simply moving to Vermont. When the new homeowner mentioned this to the contractors, they brushed off her concerns. And when she asked about her damaged fence, they told her it was her problem, not theirs.
Welcome to Centralia.
What’s truly tragic is that the new markings for the road show it will run a mere 6 feet from the side of their house — and perhaps only 5 feet from the front. I live just around the corner on Oakland Avenue, with my section of the road scheduled for construction next year; I can hardly wait for that adventure. I spoke yesterday with the new homeowner, who shared her story through tears.
What was meant to be a peaceful retirement in Centralia has become a nightmare.
The city and county must do a better job of transparency on this multi-year construction project and deal with sensitive issues in a constructive manner.
These are our homes, not projects.
Steven Craig
Centralia
