TVA's one-time-only bids frustrate homeowners

Residents of Lakeshore Drive who will soon be displaced by the TVA ash spill cleanup effort say the company's bid to buy their property falls short of fair compensation.

Grady and Carol Langley have lived at their home on Lakeshore Drive for 24 years.

"We've been blessed to live here where we raised our three girls," said Carol Langley. "They could jump on the jet ski and play all day long while I sat on our back porch with a view of the entire lake."

The Langleys said they had planned to stay at their home throughout the cleanup process when TVA originally indicated the lake would be usable in around six months.

"Then it [cleanup predictions] got to between three-to-five years, now it's five-to-eight years, and they just don't know," said Carol Langley. "It is also our understanding that it would make it a lot easier on TVA cleanup crews if the people on our road are able to leave."

The Langleys said TVA indicated it would be nearly impossible for them to live comfortably in their current home once dredging begins in March due to immense nonstop noise levels. The family said the prospect of a non-usable lake, sleepless noise-filled nights, and dangerous roadways choked with heavy equipment makes it necessary to sell their property to TVA and relocate.

"We were basically told we couldn't stay here, but would be made 'whole' again," said Carol. "I didn't want to leave, but I don't really have a choice."

Carol Langley said TVA has been very responsive in some aspects of spill, but lacking in others.

"They were great when it came to finding us a short-term rental home and I think they're doing everything they can to clean up the river," said Carol. "But the offer they made to buy our home does not approach the cost of a comparable property."

"A lot of people on this road are getting offers that can't even buy another lake lot," said Grady Langley. "The offer they made us only covered 3/4ths of the price of a waterfront lot the same size as ours, and that was without a house or dock."

Langley said he spent $25,000 to build the 18-month-old dock in his backyard.

"I had a barge come in to drive the posts extra deep when I built the dock, which is why it is still completely intact when the wave from the ash slide destroyed the docks on both sides of ours." Grady added, "The offer TVA made us listed this dock's value at $5,000 since that's the preset amount they use for all docks on the water."

TVA's bid was a one-time-only offer and non-negotiable, according to the Langleys. The Langleys claim their buying power is additionally hindered since any compensation would be taxed. The manmade TVA disaster does not qualify for tax relief that is frequently made available to victims of natural disasters.

"I'm not saying TVA has been unfair to everyone," said Carol. "From what I understand, they [TVA] started out compensating people very fairly, even buying homes for the full asking price that were listed 'for sale' prior to the spill."

Langley said she feels like TVA should base its compensation on how much it will cost to purchase an identical property elsewhere since the family is leaving due to the spill.

"I don't need the TVA appraiser to tell me my house is 40 years old and would be valued higher if it had new cabinets." Carol continued, "We never planned to leave, this house is completely paid for, and I'll be retired with a house payment based on their offer."

"The appraiser actually told us, 'I hate it for you because y'all are nice people, but this is a one-time-only offer,'" said Grady.

Carol Langley said when they initially told TVA they would listen to offers, it was on the condition they be given first right-to-buy should TVA ever sell the property in the future.

"I'm hoping they do clean it up and we can all move back," said Carol. "They included the right-to-buy like we asked, but it was only if the property is sold within five years from now. TVA would control when it sells, so they could hold it for five years and one day to sell to anyone they please."

Carol said TVA indicated it would not pay for the current rental home beyond six months. Langley said she spoke to a TVA vice president about her frustrations and was told someone might take a second look at the appraisal.

"If we can't stay at our home, we can't afford an equivalent home with their offer, and they won't pay for rental property, where does that leave us?"

Grady added, "We have done our best to trust TVA throughout this process and will keep working with them in good faith, but right now their approach is not making the people on our street 'whole again' as promised."

10 News attempted to contact TVA Saturday for comment. Phone messages were yet to be returned as of this writing.