Construction blast makes dangerous cliff near home

SHELTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- A Shelton man is living dangerously close to a cliff because of a collapse during a construction project.

It used to be John Wardowski's dream home and yard when he bought it 3 years ago but not anymore.

"I've got a 45 foot death trap outside," said Wardowski.

That's because in 2011, Bishop Management won approval from Shelton's Planning and Zoning Commission to change the property from residential to commercial.

"They're literally studying whether or not my home could fall into this hole," said Wardowski.

Planning and Zoning tells us Bishop failed to do adequate testing and blasted more than twice the regulatory limit several times and that caused the buffer zone to collapse.

Wardowski says now there is loose rock and gravel and his home is on the edge of a cliff.

He says his neighbor even got a $3,000 water bill because the water service line was damaged.

"I mean if I could possibly put into words how much this has increased my anxiety, I would," said Wardowski.

Wardowski has missed many days of work trying to get answers. He says the best he's gotten is the city to stop the work and come up with a plan to build a retaining wall.

"What I want is the property to slope down into their land because right now, it's a 45 foot vertical cliff," said Wardowski.

Wardowski says the situation has gotten so bad, he can't even live in his home. He says he's been told that Bishop Management will offer to buy him out of his home, but he says he hasn't yet received that call.

"I would consider it, yes," said Wardowski.

It's upsetting, because he loves his home.

"Yeah three years later I have cracks and sheetrock going throughout the whole house. I have cracks in windows. I have cracks in ceilings," said Wardowski.