Don’t let Verizon fool you by calling these structures DAS Utility poles, THEY ARE CELL TOWERS that will radiate hundreds of watts of microwave radiation in all directions.
There is a general perception that property values in communities with cell towers drop.
“Perception is everything,” “If the public perceives it to be a problem, then it is a problem. It really does affect property values.”
Here are some studies to back up that analysis. If Verizon gets their way, Verizon gets a cell tower in our community and we all lose property value.
94% of people surveyed would not buy or rent a home next to a cell tower:
In terms of decreased property values, here is some evidence:
1. The Appraisal Institute, the largest global professional membership organization for appraisers with 91 chapters throughout the world, spotlighted the issue of cell towers and the fair market value of a home and educated its members that a cell tower should, in fact, cause a decrease in home value.
The definitive work on this subject was done by Dr. Sandy Bond, who concluded that “media attention to the potential health hazards of [cellular phone towers and antennas] has spread concerns among the public, resulting in increased resistance” to sites near those towers.
Percentage decreases mentioned in the study range from 2 to 20% with the percentage moving toward the higher range the closer the property.
These are a few of her studies:
a. “The effect of distance to cell phone towers on house prices” by Sandy Bond, Appraisal Journal, Fall 2007, see attached. Source, Appraisal Journal, found on the Entrepreneur website, http://www.prres.net/papers/Bond_Squires_Using_GIS_to_Measure.pdf
Sandy Bond, Ph.D., Ko-Kang Wang, “The Impact of Cell Phone Towers on House Prices in Residential Neighborhoods,” The Appraisal Journal, Summer 2005; see attached. Source: Goliath business content website, http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-5011857/The-impact-of-cell-phone.html
Sandy Bond also co-authored, “Cellular Phone Towers: Perceived impact on residents and property values” University of Auckland, paper presented at the Ninth Pacific-Rim Real Estate Society Conference, Brisbane, Australia, January 19-22, 2003; see attached. Source: Pacific Rim Real Estate Society website, http://www.prres.net/Papers/Bond_The_Impact_Of_Cellular_Phone_Base_Station_Towers_On_Property_Values.pdf
2. Industry Canada (Canadian government department promoting Canadian economy), “Report On the National Antenna Tower Policy Review, Section D — The Six Policy Questions, Question 6. What evidence exists that property values are impacted by the placement of antenna towers?”; see attached. Source: Industry Canada http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08353.html website,
3. New Zealand Ministry for the Environment, “Appendix 5: The Impact of Cellphone Towers on Property Values”; see attached. Source: New Zealand Ministry for the Environment website, http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/nes-telecommunications-section32-aug08/html/page12.html
4)Another piece from the NYTimes on property values:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/realestate/29Lizo.html?_r=2&ref=realestate
5) As you can see in this recently NY Times article, Palo Alto residents really don’t like having cell towers in their community (even though they are the cradle of wireless technology). What do these tech people know that the rest of the population doesn’t?
6) This community in Berkeley recently did the same thing. They flooded the planning commission with 187 pages of emails against the tower and the application was denied.
7.) Here is an excellent study in The Appraisal Journal that shows cell tower installations negatively impact property values.
8.) NY Times article on how realtors have a hard time selling homes next to cell towers:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/realestate/29Lizo.html
This community woke up one morning to find cell phone companies putting up towers right in their front yards.
9.) This is what the National Association of Realtors has to say on this issue:
http://www.realtor.org/field-guides/field-guide-to-cell-phone-towers
10.) Nolo Press article noting successful litigation against cell phone tower installations related to declining property values:
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/emf-radiofrequency-exposure-from-cell-32210-2.html
11.) Excellent summary of various press articles from around the country related to declining property values around cell towers:
https://sites.google.com/site/nocelltowerinourneighborhood/home/decreased-real-estate-value
12.) Study using the mapping software GIS to show that property values were higher on average away from cell phone tower installations:
http://www.prres.net/papers/Bond_Squires_Using_GIS_to_Measure.pdf
13.) New Zealand study showing that property values decrease after cell phone tower installations:
New Zealand Study on Declining Property Values Around Cell Towers
