The three multimillion-dollar properties perched atop a Dana Point cliff edge boast some of the most magnificent views in Orange County: unobstructed panoramas of the crystal blue Pacific, boats moored in the harbor, and, on a clear day, Saint Catherine.
But back-to-back storms have raised new concerns about homes on the aptly named Scenic Drive. The same sheer cliff that drops below properties, giving them the illusion of being at the edge of the Earth, has withered under the atmospheric river precipitation that hit Southern California last week. A part of the cliff leading to the houses on top of the cliff was washed away by the torrent.
But although their position appears precarious, none of the homes have been evacuated or deemed too dangerous to occupy, even with more rain forecast, officials said.
Dr. Lewis Bruggeman, who owns the home just above the slide area, told KCAL-TV Channel 9 that his home “is not threatened and will not be red-tagged.”
“The city agrees that there are no major structural issues with the house at this time,” he told the station. Bruggeman did not respond to a request for comment from The Times on Tuesday.
The slide wiped out the vegetation that had recently stood behind Bruggeman's home, a 9,700-square-foot complex estimated to be worth nearly $16 million, leaving only sandy soil. On Tuesday, there were piles of rocks and dirt on the shoreline.
An aerial view of three large homes in Dana Point after a cliff gave way following recent heavy rains. A Google Earth satellite image shows the cliff before the landslide. (Photo by Allen J. Schaben; photo animation by Lorena Elebee / Los Angeles Times)
The city's geotechnical engineer and a building inspector visited the home to evaluate the slope failure, according to Dana Point officials.
“The engineers who already inspected the house said there was no damage and there is no imminent threat to the structure, which is really good news,” said Mayor Jamey Federico. “Frankly, it looks a lot scarier than it really is.”
The entire property, including the entire bluff to the high tide line, is privately owned, he added.
Many cities in southern and coastal Orange County have a long history of landslides, particularly during wet weather.
In Laguna Beach, a 1978 landslide destroyed more than 20 homes in Bluebird Canyon. The same area fell again in 2005, destroying 17 homes.
After a winter of heavy rain in 1998, several houses slid down a hillside below Via Estoril in the Niguel Summit neighborhood of Laguna Niguel. Homeowners said their properties had shown signs of movement for months before collapsing downhill.
More recent slides in San Clemente have damaged the historic Casa Romantica and periodically disrupted train service between Orange and San Diego counties.
Last week's storm dumped 7.5 inches of rain on Dana Point. The city has received about 9.5 inches since Jan. 1, said Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.
Heavy rains caused more than 500 landslides in the city of Los Angeles alone and damaged more than 45 homes and buildings.
And there's more wet weather on the horizon.
Based on current models, Orange County is likely to see more rain from the system entering the region this weekend than other areas like San Diego, although forecasters say it's too early to say exactly how powerful the storm will be.
“There is a possibility that this could be another bout of prolonged rain,” Oswant said.
Steve Viani, a civil engineer who has experience with landslides, said tarps should be placed on bare soil on the Dana Point property and pipes should be installed in gutters and downspouts to carry water away from the building's foundation before from this weekend's storm.
Prolonged rain on bare soil could further damage the slope, he said, adding that it could “give way at any time.”
Visitors walked along the adjacent Dana Point Headlands nature preserve Tuesday morning, many of them unaware of the damage to the cliff, which is only visible from the ocean.
Billy Prescott, 56, who spent 25 years living in Dana Point before moving to Idaho, said he expected mudslides and ground movements along the coast, particularly during El Niño years.
“It's just Mother Nature,” he said. “You don't always win by facing it.”
