Multimillion-dollar homes teetering on the edge of cliffside in Southern California have been deemed safe to live in, despite a landslide knocking out mud and debris along the structure.
Historic storms that inundated the Golden State earlier this month caused a landslide that put three mansions in Dana Point at risk of falling into the Pacific Ocean.
The landslide saw a huge portion of cliff fall at the foot of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9 million, four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, 82-year-old Lewis Bruggeman, records show.
‘The house is fine, it’s not threatened and it will not be red-tagged,’ Bruggeman told KCAL. ‘The city agrees that there’s no major structural issue with the house.’
Dana Point City Manager Mike Killebrew said, ‘Currently the city has confirmed that there is no imminent threat to that home.’
Multimillion-dollar homes teetering on the edge of cliffside in Southern California have been deemed safe to live in
Lewis Bruggeman (pictured), owner of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9 million, four-bedroom behemoth, said: ‘The house is fine, it’s not threatened and it will not be red-tagged’
Historic storms that inundated the Golden State earlier this month caused a landslide that put three mansions in Dana Point at risk of falling into the Pacific Ocean
‘The city’s geotechnical engineer and a building sector went out to the site to assess the situation, as well as talk with the homeowner who owns the residence and slope where the failure occurred.’
California has been experiencing one of its wettest Februarys on record as flood, mudslides and storm warnings battered the state.
While officials said the Dana Point cliffside properties are safe to live in, some experts feel lots of work will need to be done to keep them safe from future storms.
‘That’s going to need major, major work to stabilize that property,’ Kyle Tourjé, executive vice president of Alpha Structural, a Los Angeles engineering firm, told The Washington Post.
‘We’re seeing more damage, and I think we will continue to see more significant damage. Between back-to-back years of heavy saturation, these houses, these properties … they just can’t take this kind of beating.’
The trio of homes above, a symbol of status in the affluent region, sat at its precarious place next to the Ocean Institute – another popular tourist attraction.
The missing cliff face slipped off right next to a $12.8 million residence, that one owned by 66-year-old contracting mogul Guy Yocom, immediately to the right – set on a slightly lower perch of cliff that luckily stayed in place.
A third home set further to the right, valued at $13million and belonging to local producer Marketta Karsikko-Gassel, 80, looked to be in better sorts, though at just a few feet away – and a few hundred feet above the sea – is still on unstable ground.
The Dana Point collapse is merely the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks.
The Dana Point collapse is merely the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks. Pictured: a collapse in San Clemente
There were landslides along oceanfront bluffs in San Clemente (pictured) a few miles away prompted closures of the town’s beach trails, mostly in the north end of town
California has been experiencing one of its wettest Februarys on record as flood, mudslide and storm warnings battered the state
More rain is forecast for the area early this week. The National Weather Service predicts there is a chance of light rain and mountain snow starting in the afternoon Monday into early Tuesday
On that same day, 13 miles south along the Pacific Coast, part of a cul-de-sac on Avenida Columbo dropped about five feet following a mudslide that sent mud and debris at least 150 feet below.
There were landslides along oceanfront bluffs in San Clemente a few miles away prompted closures of the town’s beach trails, mostly in the north end of town.
Stairs leading down to the coastal path at Dije Court, El Portal and Lasuen Beach were added to the list of closed access points last week, due to continuing instability of the area.
More rain is forecast for the area early this week. The National Weather Service predicts there is a chance of light rain and mountain snow starting in the afternoon Monday into early Tuesday.
They estimate total rainfalls of a quarter inch or less in the Los Angeles area and advise mud and rock slides will be possible.