What is this structure behind the houses? (Round Rock: section 8, school)

[innuen6o]

Thanks everyone! I've done a lot of "behind the keyboard" research and it seems that the consensus is that a detention pond can increase, decrease, or doesn't affect property value. Go figure.

I do like it since it's private. No neighbors behind you. I don't like the idea of being knee deep in water!

California earthquakes vs Texas floods/tornadoes.

Go figure.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

Those people paid a lot premium to back to green and not another neighbor.

AND...if the house faces east or north, they got taken to the cleaners!!!!

[BoxOChocolates]

If you are coming from Southern California, detention ponds are infinitely more tame versions of debris basins.

[innuen6o]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

AND...if the house faces east or north, they got taken to the cleaners!!!!

Excuse my ignorance, but why is an east or north facing house bad? First time homebuyer after being a renter in NorCal.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by innuen6o

Excuse my ignorance, but why is an east or north facing house bad? First time homebuyer after being a renter in NorCal.

Not bad per se; but it seems some developers are charging a premium for homes facing east or north. There is another thread on just that subject.

[CptnRn]

Rainfall intensities are so much worse here in Texas than many parts of the country, it has become common to design rainwater collection, sedimentation filtration and detention ponds into most residential and commercial developments, to help minimize the flooding downstream.

To clarify, often times these ponds are designed to both allow sedimentation - the run off can collect so that sediment can settle out of it; filtration - filter the water thru sand beds to help clean it before it is released (i.e. filter out oil, etc from street runoff); and detention - delay the runoff and release it into the drainage streams at a more controlled rate to reduce flooding.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by cBach

Yes it's a stormwater detention pond. The good news is that they have it, which means somebody planned for flooding. The bad news is that you need it. What this would indicate to me is that there may be a risk from flooding in this area.

I would not choose any homes that have a backyard to this area. The homes on the other side of the street would be fine, however.

It has nothing to do with flooding. It's all about slowing the runoff to allow the water to seep into the water table.

I've lived across the street from one and we were on top of a hill with ZERO chance for flooding.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by innuen6o

Thanks everyone! I've done a lot of "behind the keyboard" research and it seems that the consensus is that a detention pond can increase, decrease, or doesn't affect property value. Go figure.

I do like it since it's private. No neighbors behind you. I don't like the idea of being knee deep in water!

California earthquakes vs Texas floods/tornadoes.

Go figure.

You shouldn't worry. A detention pond has nothing to do with flooding. They are required by local laws to slow water runoff.

And only a few hundred out of 30 million people get flooded or even see a tornado. The average annual death toll from tornadoes in Texas is FOUR.

[Trainwreck20]

Thanks everyone! I've done a lot of "behind the keyboard" research and it seems that the consensus is that a detention pond can increase, decrease, or doesn't affect property value. Go figure.

Well, the value IS tied into the buyer - sometimes people with young kids will view it as a negative, due to the fact that there will sometimes be relatively deep water in the pond, which could be an attraction (and hazard) to young kids. Others will want the open space.

It has nothing to do with flooding. It's all about slowing the runoff to allow the water to seep into the water table.

The COA requires the ponds to essentially make rain run off at the same rate from the property (or development) as prior to building/developing. The main purpose is to reduce runoff velocity and allow the solids to settle out before reaching a waterway. If the velocity is too high, then there is a lot of turbidity created (in the short-term) and a lot of sedimentation (in the long-term). The increase 'soak in' is a side benefit, in most cases. The flood control aspect is not part of the design (with some exceptions), but happens naturally as you reduce the flow velocity.

[wintersbone]

Its not there because the area floods more. Its to offset the area that got covered with concrete to try and have a place for it to go where the water might have normally soaked in but cant now.