A family whose property sits high on a hill above the West C-Train line says their land began dropping away when construction started on the new transit line.

Nick and Michelle Fatica, who live on Christie Park Hill in southwest Calgary, can point out an area in their backyard where the land begins to drop off.

"There's cracks in the yard. When we're out playing with the kids, your foot gets caught in cracks," said Michelle Fatica.

Their home backs onto a hill above 17th Avenue S.W. and the new West LRT line, also known as the Blue Line.

"It has been dropping since the west LRT started construction and it's getting worse and worse. And we're not sure what to do," added Nick Fatica. "We're very concerned, you know having part of your property falling away, especially with our children playing in the backyard. It's not safe."

He says the city did come out for a first-hand look.

"When they first get here their eyes are like, wow that's interesting, and then after the fact, when they call us on the phone, everything is all right."

After they were told the problem was caused by a rotting fence, the couple spent $3,500 to obtain two independent engineering reports which determined there is something else going on.

"Hopefully it will never turn into a major landslide but that's a lot of land if that should happen," said Michelle Fatica.

A city spokesperson says the city will not comment on an issue involving an individual homeowner.

The Fatica backyard in July 2011, before it began to slump. (Submitted by Michelle Fatica)