BOISE - We now know the details of a settlement reached between some homeowners in the foothills... and the City of Boise.
The homes in the Terra Nativa subdivison ended up shifting and sliding two years ago, making them unsafe to live in.
The settlement is confidential between the city and the homeowners, but KTVB received it Friday afternoon after filing a public records request on Wednesday.
It states that the City of Boise will pay the owners of five homes - which looks to be five couples - a total of $257,500. The money will be paid to a trust and be divided among the homeowners.
Also in the agreement, the city agrees to demolish the homes on North Alto Via Court and provide topsoil stabilization. The city has secured Ideal Demolition to complete the work. Payment, the agreement says, will not exceed $57,700.
Under this settlement - that all parties have agreed to - the lawsuit that was filed in June of 2016 by the homeowners is dismissed.
Also, the settlement states it is not an admission of liability. City of Boise spokesperson Mike Journee, echoes that, telling KTVB that the settlement is not an admission of negligence.
Journee also said, although he is unsure where the money is coming from right now to pay the settlement and demolition, that the city decided to settle to protect taxpayers. He said attorney fees would continue to add up, and the sliding houses are a big liability for the public and for first responders. The city just wanted to get them down and stabilize the land.
Journee said work is expected to start as early as next week. And in the contract with Ideal Demolition, it should be done in 30 days from the start date - because "time is of the essence."