Found a beautiful home at a great price... can see IESI landfill though! (Bethlehem: real estate, rent)

[NiceGuyJon]

Now as far as landfills go it's not much of an eyesore honestly, in fact the whole area is beautiful. My concern is if I can see it, will I be able to SMELL it. We have just viewed the home in January which is not a prime stink month. Sure the air smelled clean in the winter, but will it be a different story in the summertime?

Anyone live near this landfill that can give me some insight? REALLY don't want to let this home pass me by out of unfounded paranoia, but at the same time don't want to regret making a purchase and having to live with it summer after summer.

Thanks!

[PacoMartin]

Old and New articles

Originally Posted by Landfill Water Caused Smell :December 11, 1992|The Morning Call

Investigators from the state Department of Environmental Resources believe an odor reported by residents near the Bethlehem landfill and sewage treatment plant Wednesday night was caused by leachate from the landfill. The leachate, a liquid byproduct caused by rain water percolating through decaying organic matter in landfills, is collected and treated at the sewage plant several miles away.The odor disappeared shortly after leachate pumping was halted about 10 p.m. Wednesday, DER's Ed Schoener said yesterday. "It was a hydrogen sulfide-type odor," he said, "To the best of our knowledge, it came from the leachate." Schoener said treating the leachate at the sewage plant is the proper procedure, but that something apparently went wrong, causing the odor. "That was the first time that ever happened," said city Public Works Director Wendell Sherman. "We're still trying to figure out for sure what might have caused it" and how to prevent the odor in the future, Sherman said. Schoener said the leachate was being pumped into a sewer line when the problem arose, and that the city could opt for truck transport for the short term if it recurs.

Lower Saucon Township landfill wants to expand Applebutter Road location

[NiceGuyJon]

Thank you very much for your response. I did come across a similar article, but that seems to be referring to a one-time occurrence. I am concerned with whether the smell will be something we will be experiencing regularly. Thank you again!

[Gettingouttahere]

I have no firsthand knowledge of this landfill or its odors, but I would imagine that property values are negatively affected by its proximity, which is probably why it's such a great buy for you. I would wait; maybe rent in the area if you really like it, just to see if you still like it after a year. A house in an area that turns out to have a major strike against it will be an albatross.

[NiceGuyJon]

Good advice, thank you. We have until mid-June to find a house... well that's not entirely correct, we have until mid-June to have a place closed and ready for us to move into! So realistically we have until about April/May to find a place... of course that's after the wedding in March

I think you are right, that we need to just keep looking. Looks like we have our work cut out for us!

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by NiceGuyJon

Thank you very much for your response. I did come across a similar article, but that seems to be referring to a one-time occurrence. I am concerned with whether the smell will be something we will be experiencing regularly. Thank you again!

The older article seemed to be about a one time event. The second article and more recent article was more about ongoing concerns especially with expansion.

There are so few homes out there that it is difficult to find someone who knows firsthand. I don't know if you are talking about Steel City or Sherry Rd. Even driving by probably isn't sufficient to determine if there is an intermittent problem.

Frankly, I think you can only get an honest answer by being a little dishonest. I would use the Northampton County property records and find out who the neighbors are on the street. At least one of them will have a landline with a publicly available phone. I would use some information in an article to pose as some official and question them about problems they have had in the past. Unfortunately, if you say you are thinking of moving into the street, there sense of preserving real estate value will probably keep them from being honest.

I would not pretend to be a government official, but you can always say you are doing a survey for an ecological magazine. Just keep in mind that this person may be a future neighbor.

[NiceGuyJon]

Well in that vein couldn't I just knock on my potential next door neighbor's door and flat out ask him? He knows the house next to him is on sale...

[toobusytoday]

NGJ, What Paco is saying is that it's very much to the neighbors advantage to talk up the area because there's nothing worse then a vacant house next door.

I have to say that location is extremely important in buying a home. Well, you know the Real Estate saying, "What are the three most important things about buying a home? Location, location, location." A house within view of a landfill will be extremely hard to sell and yes, the smell could be just horrid and you may hear the noise of excavation. And what if they expand?

I would really think about that.

[karen_s]

This is just my experience. I live approximately 2 miles from the Waste Management Landfill in Pen Argyl, PA. It is not nearly as bad of a stench as it used to be, but if the cloud ceiling is pretty low, you can smell it. If the humidity is very high, you can smell it. If the wind is blowing the right way, you can smell it. If all 3 of the above combine, it smells pretty bad. And I'm in the next town over. My neighbors and I have christened it "Eau d'garbage" If you contact the DEP about it, the contact person sends you a canned response, and all expansions are always approved....just food for thought, have lived here for over 40 yrs now.

[NiceGuyJon]

You guys are great. I have been trying to talk myself into it, and the old lady has known better the whole time. Thank you all so much for the insight, time to keep looking!