Georgia homeowners say warehouse blasts shake windows, crack walls

Near Stonecrest Industrial Parkway in DeKalb County, Georgia, homeowners say blasting tied to a warehouse development has become a regular jolt, shaking windows and glasses and raising worries about possible changes beneath their homes.

They say no one warned them beforehand, and the repeated explosions are fueling resentment toward a huge industrial project encroaching on their neighborhood.

Here's what to know

Stonecrest has already approved the 1.9-million-square-foot Swift Creek Logistics Center, and residents on the unincorporated DeKalb County side of the site told WSB-TV that crews have continued blasting as they clear the property.

Homeowner Montoya Turner said the activity feels alarmingly close to home, stating, "We've got explosive detonation right here in our backyard." She said the blasts are so powerful that "You'll hear the glasses and windows shake."

What residents say bothers them most is that the blasting became routine without any warning. Homeowner Kim James said, "We had no knowledge."

Even though homeowners say they hear and feel the blasts almost every day, Stonecrest officials say they haven't received formal reports of property damage.

More background

By the time nearby residents say they understood what was happening, Stonecrest had already signed off on the project, even though the impact is reaching into a neighboring unincorporated part of DeKalb County.

James said neighbors noticed surveyors in the area and tried to get answers. "We actually tried to ask them, 'Hey, what's going on?' Silence," she said, according to WSB-TV. 

Inside their homes, some residents say they now see changes they suspect are connected to the blasting, including cracks in walls and floors that no longer feel level. James described the sensation: "All of a sudden, you feel the lumps."

Beyond the shaking, residents told WSB-TV that land clearing has brought more raccoons and opossums into the neighborhood. They also worry the project could hurt property values and further change the area's character.

What's being done?

The Deshong Estates HOA says it has little power to halt the warehouse development, but it wants officials and the developer to put together a home-protection plan for nearby residents.

Turner said any such plan should involve government help and a way to assess possible damage. "Can we get some government officials to help protect us and our homes and determine how much damage is being done?" she asked.

According to WSB-TV, Stonecrest says it has not received formal property-damage complaints, and the developer did not respond to requests for comment.

Where can I learn more?

These stories examine instances where residents elsewhere have raised similar concerns when heavy industry or construction moves close to homes. 

• In Richmond, California, residents warn a refinery flood risk could magnify neighborhood harm.

• Washington, D.C., sued a construction company over actions that threatened residents and polluted waterways.

• In Istanbul, residents rallied after a luxury housing project raised fears about earthquake safety.

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