A Park City resident who had spent the last several months fighting to keep himself and his neighbors in their affordable Prospector condominiums has died – just a day before he was scheduled to be evicted by Park City Municipal. KPCW’s Leslie Thatcher has more.
64 year old Jeffrey Brueningsen died unexpectedly Tuesday, November 20th after collapsing at his Prospector condo the day before. Brueningsen’s brother Gary told KPCW that Jeff had some ongoing health issues – however the undue stress from fighting his eviction he said certainly didn’t help.
As the last tenant in the building as Park City prepared to go in and renovate the condos, KPCW spoke to Brueningsen about his plans after he had been served the eviction notice. During that interview he told KPCW he had suffered, in his words, “extraordinary mental distress” from the ordeal and that he was “scared to death.”
Brueningsen had lived in Unit 117 since 2006.
Earlier this year, Park City purchased the 23 condos, before they went into foreclosure. Because the city used funds from the transit fund, officials said they would renovate the condos and move in bus drivers.
In March, Brueningsen and his neighbors were notified by Park City officials they had to be out of their condos by November 1st. Calling the eviction, the most shameful black mark that he’s ever seen on the worldwide good reputation of Park City, Brueningsen had refused to move - believing that the city was overstepping its legal authority. He was still living in the condo when he passed. All of his neighbors had since relocated.
Brueningsen was served with the eviction notice on Friday, November 16th. He had three business days to vacate the premises. He told KPCW he believed he was legally entitled to live in the condo through November since he had paid rent for October and had prepaid rent through November – paid as the last month’s rent -- that had been collected when he first moved in.
He says city officials did not answer his phone calls or emails for the last six months and he had quote, “ceased to become a citizen.”
In a statement to KPCW, Park City Mayor Andy Beerman said, quote, “we would like to express our heartfelt sympathy to Jeff’s family and friends. Park City lost a long time community member with an adventurous spirit. Until his unexpected passing, we were actively working with Jeff to help him secure housing.”
Brueningsen grew up in Pennsylvania and was a lifelong skier. He was an adventurer – and had traveled to and skied on - all 7 continents. He was a fill-in training partner and brakeman for four different two-man bobsled teams leading up to the Salt Lake City Olympics. In 2010 he drove his Porsche 944 158 miles per hour at Utah’s Salt Flats and became a member of the 150 MPH Club. He ran for Park City Council in 2001. He has worked as a commercial hot air balloon pilot as well as the defunct All Resort Express and most recently for The Lodge at Deer Valley.
Jeff Brueningsen is survived by his brother, sister-in-law and two nephews. A gathering to honor Jeff will be held Wednesday, November 28th at 6:30 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, at 2350 East 1300 South in Salt Lake City.
