According to Wikipedia, Radon is a colorless, naturally occurring radioactive noble gas that is formed from the decay of radium.

“Radon is a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide. Radon gas from natural sources can accumulate in buildings and reportedly causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States alone. Radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, and radon-induced lung cancer is thought to be the 6th leading cause of cancer death overall. (Wikipedia.com)”

1. upon being notified by a prospective buyers’ agent of this finding, Grubb Properties immediately: communicated this fact with residents through their respective homeowners associations and directly with tenants and owners of the commercial spaces on the property; engaged one of the nation’s premier experts on radon to advise us on causes, solutions and implications; and initiated tests of the units we owned at 1315 East, all the commercial spaces on the property, and all other residential and commercial properties we own in Charlotte;
2. nationally-recognized experts retained by Grubb Properties and the two homeowners associations report that current radon levels – while slightly in excess of EPA recommendations –

i.      vary over time;                                                           

ii.      are well below levels commonly experienced elsewhere in the US; and                                                           

iii.      represent an “extremely minimal” health hazard even if a resident stayed in his/her condominium – without opening a door or window – 24 hours a day for a five year period. 

1. radon levels – which occur naturally at minimal levels virtually everywhere – are well below EPA recommended maximums in all shops, offices and garage spaces at Latta Pavilion;
1. EPA guidelines state that some sort of remediation should be investigated if levels above 4.0 pCI/l are detected.  The average home across the nation experiences radon levels around 1.3 pCI/l and tests in the restaurants, shops, offices, garage and medical practices at Latta Pavilion yielded levels at or below 0.5 pCI/l.
2. The Business Journal has indicated that they will note this fact in a correction in this Friday’s issue.

1. experts agree that the source of the radon is known – it is the building materials;

1. experts agree that the solution to the problem, regardless of which building materials represent the source, is known – it is increasing outside airflow in the building through one of several alternative methods;
1. We are working closely with both homeowners associations to determine feasibility and desirability of alternative methods (direct outside venting into the units; incremental fresh air flow through existing ductwork; etc.);
2. Homeowners will incur no cost for the implementation of the agreed upon solution;
3. Until an agreed upon solution is in place, residents have been advised and it has been demonstrated that opening a window as little as 1”-2” introduces sufficient additional air flow to mitigate the problem and reduce the presence of radon to levels below EPA guidelines;

1. Grubb Properties suspended sales of our 11 remaining condos at 1315 East immediately once elevated radon levels were identified;
1. We closed our sales office;
2. We removed our listings from MLS;

1. realtors and potential buyers have been informed about radon levels throughout the process prior to any contracts being written/finalized;
1. given full disclosure, re-sales at Latta Pavilion have continued in the months since radon was detected with buyers from other markets understanding the relatively slight elevation in radon levels, the predictability of a solution, and the lifestyle and economic value Latta Pavilion and 1315 East continue to represent.

1. All other Grubb Properties projects have since been tested for radon; none show radon levels in excess of normal and acceptable EPA guidelines.