Fissure Concerns Swallow Land Sales

The East Valley Tribune reports that the earth fissure that opened up in an area straddling Hunt Highway has cooled some land sales there and prompted buyers and real estate agents to research fissures. In e-mails and phone calls to the Tribune, agents and sellers said buyers were reneging on offers after learning of the cracks.

Ray Harris, a research geologist for the Arizona Geological Survey, said the known fissure zone straddles Hunt Highway in Chandler Heights, so people buying in Queen Creek proper or far outside the zone probably needn't worry. Southeast Valley real estate agencies are working to educate their agents about the huge land cracks caused by subsidence that occurs when groundwater is pumped out of aquifers.

The Arizona Department of Real Estate is also investigating the fissures. One of its priorities is developing reliable and updated information on fissure locations, said Mary Utley, spokeswoman for the department. There is a public meeting on the fissure issue scheduled for 6 PM tonight at the Southeast Regional Library, 775 N. Greenfield Road in Gilbert. More...