My grandfather was a civil engineer for the city of Los Angeles. He took levels of the Portuguese Bend area in the late 1920s, and told the city it was slipping, and they didn’t believe him. This was before it was developed. Grandpa was correct.
Thanks t your grandfather for speaking up. Unfortunately city councils ignore good advice & are happy to subdivide n sell th land. But the home owners bear the risk of the bad decision.
its likely not that they didnt believe him. they wanted the property tax dollars those properties could bring every year, and didnt care about how stable that slope was.
A relative was the head of the Los Angeles County Engineer’s unit that reviewed the initial plans for subdividing Portuguese Bend. He complained bitterly until the day he died of the corruption that underlay the approval of the permits that allowed Portuguese Bend to be developed. The engineers who reviewed the plans flatly howled and stomped their feet in protest over the very idea that development might ever be permitted on these parcels, and uniformly slated the permits for rejection at every stage of the process. Graft, bribery, and the influence of organized criminal elements prevailed, however, and the subdivisions were approved and development commenced. All informed parties predicted that someday the entire development area in Portuguese Bend would go to waste, but…oh, well.
I am shocked! Yes, shocked at your suggestion that there was corruption in California. Fortunately that is in the past and corruption in California is no more.
San Pedro native here....my grandmothers mid life career was selling real estate in the Pedro/PV/Rolling Hills /Miraleste area from 64 to the late 70s....she told me back in the day before most of those were built of developer plans and she'd say they were nuts..that it was a matter of time before issues showed up. I do recall also some homes built on some cliffs next to the ocean half on land and the seaside part supported by huge steel pilings at a angle into the cliffside..i recall her saying no bank would write a loan for them ...those were gone long ago
BINGO. They had no idea regarding the real fault lines then. Your grandmother had really good insight. The issues started showing up because the engineers had no idea what they were doing....still don't True that some of the fault lines were not known until several years ago (that go through and surround the Peninsula) but 3 roads dropping into nothing and endless roadwork should have been a screamer. My ex and my son are paving contractors...very familiar with this area = moved here in 74. Seeing it now? wow. There is a LOT that has happened up here....a LOT. Good post.
Look how many decades this moving land has been ongoing. Always that Portuguese Bend area under repair. Moving the road over left or right and in constant move. It was inevitable that big troubles were coming one day.
..years ago..that specific coast line was use to farm..mostly cared over by the Japanese strawberry growers and rows of flowers.. ..that land was “taken”...and...unaffordable homes construction!!! ..in the 70’s it was spectacular... ..spent hours there..admiring the beauty...💜
actually, the Portuguese Bend area was inhabited by mostly Hispanic farmers. True that the Japanese were there as well, however, there are many more things that were/are never spoken about. As for what is going on in the Bend? Well, that has been going on since before the 70's / at least 3 roads dropped off; it has been going on since then.
@@silvyamanquero393 Japanese were put into internment camps During the war.. the native Americans inhabitants lived three thousand years. Relocated San Gabriel ca. Their tribe translates to . Protector of 🌎 and 🌊...
We were married at the Wayfarer's Chapel (affectionately know as the "Glass Church") many years ago. It will be sadly missed. Even back then in 1975 there were signs of distress from the Earth moving!
We've heard nothing but good things about the chapel! It was beautiful. Most unfortunate for the couples who had to cancel their weddings at the venue. Thanks for sharing your memory with us. 😊
PVDS is paved on a weekly basis. The land has been moving at a rate of feet per month before it was moving at inches per month. Thank you for visiting my city and showing everyone the issues that some residents are dealing with for years.
Yeah that road has been a mess for the last 3 years. I used to drive on it everyday, but recently it is filled with bumps and large cracks in the pavement.
My heart is breaking. I moved from Redondo Beach about 7 years ago. I used to drive through these areas all the time for relaxation. This progression is very fast now. Those roads were all very good when I left. The chapel was so beautiful at different times of the day and in different kinds of weather. I am glad to hear they dismantled it to move. My heart goes out to the people losing their homes.
@readheath3860Lol you have no idea what you're talking about and are just puppeting some bullshit you read somewhere. Most of these owners are elderly, boomers, and people who bought post ww2, far from millionaires that can up and move.
The roads only looked good because they were continually paved over. Too much accomodation for these residents, and now it's so bad, they can no longer keep up the facade of how idealic the area is.
San Francisco here, we need a geotechnical report (soil report) for basically very job we do, residential or commercial. For a suburban development like this, taking up this much space, you’d need dozens of borings up here before given any permissions. They either didn’t listen to the reports, or weren’t required to get them. Developers don’t care because they’re only on the hook for the first 10years and this type of settlement is usually going to happen after that…which means the city/county is to blame for allowing this site to be developed. Building departments up here do not mess around. Some of them are very by-the-book. Thankfully the state has gotten serious about settlement and geotechnical concerns overall. Soil doesn’t care about your view, I guarantee you there aren’t any soil engineers living in that neighborhood. -underpinning specialist
My in laws live on Narcissa in Portuguese Bend. The gas was turned off last month, and the sewer and water have been off and on for a few weeks. The power was shut off on Saturday, August 31st. The family is trying to stay in the house with the use of generators, but a mandatory evacuation may be coming soon. They have a beautiful property with a view of Catalina island, and many animals to care for. They have giant tortoise, geese, chickens as well as cats and dogs. It is heartbreaking to think their home may be lost.
I'm glad that they have had plenty of time to realize what is going on with the earth in this area. There is no one to blame except Mother Nature and the people who purchased in the area without first looking at the history and geology reports of the land and faultlines. I am always sad to see people who have made poor decisions in their dwelling location and construction. Hope many people will be able to get something more inland. Hope that with this land history, that the homeowners at least were insured adequately...otherwise I have little sympathy and hope they do not try and burden the CA taxpayers with their poor decisions. Good luck folks
I grew up in San Pedro... we knew a family up on Narcissa, such a beautiful street. I have fond memories of traipsing down the cliff at Abalone to the secluded beach, riding my bike on PV Dr S to Torrance, visiting the Wayfarer Chapel dozens of times and a summer job working at Marine land (now Terranea). It all makes me want to weep.
@@i_inspirebadbehavior I'm 74 and remember they had problems in the 1950's. Developers don't give a damm about the future of the communities they develop, by the time the trouble starts they are lomg gone with there money. Look at all the homes they build in fire areas.....
I just happened upon your video here. My ex-wife had a family member that had a gorgeous house in Portuguese Bend back in the early 70's. I remember visiting there once or twice. They had an indoor swimming pool... very cool! Well, one day a few years later, we got word that the hillside behind the house collapsed and completely destroyed the house! The home was a total loss. So, to answer the question about how long the land has been unstable, yeah, it's been at least since the 50's-60's. I have no idea why all these homes were allowed to be built there. It should have been known at the time. Damn shame.. 😔
Some interesting history near Santa Cruz, CA, as well > My parents bought a home in Boulder Creek which is in the Santa Cruz Mt.'s, and we discovered sea shell fossil's in the sand stone above their property!! The town is about 15 or so miles inland from the ocean so, that area was obviously under the ocean many, many years ago!! Tsunamis happen in that coastal area, too! So, I would suggest buying property at least 25 miles or more inland on a higher elevation from the ocean! The elevation in Boulder Creek is about 500 ft. above sea level. They did sell the property for about $350,000! People will still buy a beautiful place even knowing the risks! It's true that it might not happen for another 100 years or more, but with the earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., you just never know!?
Ummm, the California coastline is basically an accretionary edge of a continental landmass. The sediments that you see are basically sediments that the North American Plate scraped off of the Pacific Plate. If you drive Highway 1, you will see that the type and form of the land structures visible in the road cuts change very quickly, often within just a few hundred yards. You can also see buried streambeds from time to time.
I remember the sliding from when I was a kid in the 70's. We'd drive to the Portuguese Bend area and, ignoring the signs, we'd climb a fence and go spear fishing then have a fire on the beach. It was like we were on a remote island. I understand there is no insurance for slides so the owners are losing their home and the land.
I was born up there in El Prado. No cracks or serious land movements but Portuguese bend was ALWAYS known for having land shifting problems so sorry to hear about chapel. What I really miss is the loss of Marineland
It was always treacherous. I remember going to Marineland in the late 60s and the roads had sizable cracks. As you say, I’m amazed someone built homes there. Good example of doing your homework on the geology.
This was a great video! I’ve always been very interested in this area but never made it up there myself to check it out. You definitely showed how geologically unstable it is. Never knew about that chapel, either. It’s nice that they dismantled it and are trying to maybe reconstruct it somewhere else.
Wow. Thank you so much! I have been really curious about the "Portuguese Bend Slide" as we always called it. And curious about the state of the Wayfarers Chapel, it's very upsetting to see it like that.. in the late 1970's as a teen I was there frequently, visiting a friend who worked there and let us park there for walks. Visiting the lovely chapel was such a sweet thing, and sometimes coming upon a wedding with people celebrating was also inspiring. The views of it and from it will always be in my heart. The landslide is growing in such alarming ways at this point, and I deeply appreciate you two discussing the facts of it having been known since the 1950's, and that the local officials letting more houses be built, more neighborhoods be built with ZERO policies about how to be responsible living in a slide zone( water usage is one of the biggest problems). During my years living there, until 1980, that road that you drove over with the steepest diagonal slope just south of the Chapel, that was the part that was constantly getting repatched. I would venture to say that it's been a monthly update at least since then, because that's how frequently it needed it back then! To know that the area has widened, seemingly, with deep movement causing there to be more beach.. (another video I watched) and not to mention the fact that it's 2 miles farther down the road!! That's truly crazy! PS I love the way you say Palos Verdes, thank you! I loved being a teenager there, so much! I'm sorry for everyone who is impacted by the shifting lands!
Portuguese Bend has been sinking for seventy years. It was caused when they tried to extend Crenshaw Boulevard to the ocean in the 1950s. You should do a story on the townhomes on Peartree Lane in Palos Verdes. That was caused by a leaky pipe and incompetence on the part of the HOA.
I think that story about the redtagged townhomes from July 2023 deserves a lot more attention. The LA Times did a very decent job covering the story but there's a lot more to reveal, especially from the time that hillside was approved for development
The only way to get to those townhomes is on foot. The community is gated but apparently allows pedestrians. The destroyed buildings are still there, I just ran there 5 days ago!
I know of a family who bought a large house in Rancho Palos Verdes in the 1970s - which would now be worth over $3,000,000 -- unsellable. Can't imagine living in an area where the earth is moving - and the gas and electricity shut off. Very Sad.
Thank you guys! I live in Tx now but a native So. Cal, Laguna Beach girl and this is breaking my heart. We have a dear friend who is a civil engineer who did all the land water mgmt work in Laguna Niguel newer subdivisions (1998..) and to hear him describe what the engineers do to direct water is crazy cool. Thanks for the cruise and info. Makes me so homesick. Stay safe. Peace.
Grew up in Torrance below the PV hill and my first job was working at an appliance store delivering and installing all home appliances. Drive this neighborhood hundreds of times 20 years ago doing my job. PV drive was a shit show back then with cracks and re-paving being done. At night that place is pitch black. Can't imagine now. Also we used to go drive out there high asf and there was many places we go to get drunk and stoned. Memories, turned 40 this yera
Born and raised in the south bay and 63 years ago when I was a kid this was slipping and there were VERY few homes up there and the idiots that built in the last 30 years I dont feel a bit sorry for them
@@TeamHarris-f9s sorry but I have zero empathy for greed or stupidity and in this case it is both...they KNEW when they purchased what was going on so ZERO EMPATHY and their greed to have a "ocean view" shows what kind of people that live there.
Thanks for showing that close up. So sad and scary for all around that area. Mother nature does what it wants. Lets hope they don't have a major quake, that might really cause the land to slide even faster. Stay safe.
I have friends who live on Exultant Dr. in RPV! I just drove through Portuguese Bend (landslide area) yesterday. That road is constantly moving & changing... has been for a long, long time. The earthquake that was centered off the peninsulas coast in July didn't help that road, the Chapel, or the residents.
Between landslides, earthquakes, the Santa Anna fires, etc, choosing to live in that area is foolishness. There is nothing that we can do to stop that much land from falling into the sea. It would be better for the state to buy up that land, remove all the houses and other possible contaminates, and turn that area into a park. I’m surprised that the insurance companies still sell homeowners’ insurance in that area.
Many of these homes were purchased for less than $75,000 in the 70s. Property values were over $1 and $2 million per home a year ago. It is not up to the City, State, or federal government to buy up these houses and turn it into a park. That sets prescient in buying up homes destroyed by every fire, every flood, every earthquake, every heavy rain, beach erosion. It is not affordable nor sustainable.
The official geologist's report on the underlying structure of the Portuguese Bend area in the mid 50's warned that cutting into the slope would expose layers of silt and clay that would fail when water intruded into the layers. The developers and county officials were warned about it but decided to go ahead and develop the area anyway (with the help of huge sums of money being spread around)...been on the move to the Pacific ocean ever since...The escarpment at the top of Forrestal Dr. is a good place to find quartz geodes...
in the early 70's I went to PV High near where you were filming. The traffic probs. near the "Glass Church" go back to the late 50's. The road and other infrastructure were always being worked on. But it was a great place to grow up!!
8 days after this video ( today) they’ve now shut electricity to nearly the entire peninsula( 140 homes) and issued an evacuation warning. It’s not an order yet but the whole area is being deemed unsafe due to more rapid movement messing with power and gas lines through the area. Used to work up there before Covid and Palos verdes drive has been a mess since long before I moved to Cali in 2018. But the views are beautiful. Sad to know it’s eventually going to go or be Un drivable. It’s def gotten worse a lot worse the last year or so. Heart breaking for all the elderly and families who’ve lived there for much of their lives. What insurance covers land movement not caused by earth quakes… great video by the way.
Born into an old San Pedro Family. those roads have been in a state of movement for years. Hasn't changed but what has changed was the houses built in the 50s- now.
The Seaview area is parking by permit only, so if you go out there just be aware. Also, that house that you showed in the beginning has been lost its foundation over ten years ago. The sink hole in the street just came up since last winter. The road along PV drive South is where the main slide and that road you drove along is the third road that has been put in place since the slide started back in the 1950's.
From the damage I can see, those homes need to be condemned and the City should have some responsibility for the cost of the damage as they issued the building permits and approved the development. I am sure the sewer lines and fresh water lines will also be failing soon.
I lived north of there in the mid 1950’s northeast of Lunada Bay area. I visited the glass church about 1955. A huge casino/hotel building was demolished shortly after some of the first homes were evacuated and sliding. I am surprised that building has continued while all this is still going on. My “Geology Illustrated” textbook has a good overview about this area and stated that it is a known ancient landslide.
I grew up right across the street from Lunada Bay, 1952-1972 when I left home. Parents remained a number of years and then sold the house. I hope that area remains safe.
I lived in that area in 1950s to 1970s and visited the glass church . And marine land of pacific. Portuguese. Bend has had slides there since 50s .you would drive up and down highway and pipes were above ground .
I really enjoy your content! Unfortunately this is very close to home, being I live in San Pedro. Although very interesting, I really hope and pray those home owners and my neighbors end up all good.🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙 That road you were driving on is constantly moving. I used to drive that road everyday to and from work and literally day to day you notice changes in road. I also noticed changes in beach below. Very interesting to walk down to tide pools and explore.
Pedro’s not safe either. The entire coast is unstable. Up north near the Oregon border they had a tsunami in the 1950’s. In Maui around the same time the ocean came 7 mile inland up hills. I’m finally moving away from the coast.
Thank you so much for your generosity! It would be interesting to speak to someone living in that neighborhood to get their perspective. We have a feeling more will come of this soon!
I grew up in Pacifica, California. The Devil's Slide portion of the highway was a fun drive for our family. Every year it would dip and drop down further. Finally after decades of patching and rebracing it, a new portion was built through a tunnel in the mountain.
I did'nt know about Sunken City thanks some more information I can add to my love for the history of Los Angeles. I create posters on the history of Los Angeles, and film, music, history in America
@@OddityOdysseys 1st timer and new subscriber here! I live in San Pedro and I'm afraid to go over to RPV to check it out, so thank you!!! Can you post where we can send "coffee money" for your road trips? Thank you again!!
@@KeytoLife745 Funny you should ask. We recently set up a Buy Me A Coffee page! You can be the first! Many thanks for subscribing too! buymeacoffee.com/oddityodysseys
For those making crude comments about "too bad, move" etc. I think this is very sad. People are losing their homes. Can't live in their homes because of the damage and damage to their lot property. Can't go in to collect their belongings due to safety issues. What if it was YOUR HOME? Would you still make the same distasteful comments? I doubt it. I know a family, personal friends of ours, who lived in P.V. for DECADES. I don't know if they still own the home or not. The original owners, from the 50s, have passed away but the home was willed to their granddaughter. It breaks my heart to think of it. Their home is not on the streets that have been shown. but their home is in Rancho Palos Verdes. By the way, Palos Verdes is locally pronounced "Palus Verdees." Even the news channels are mispronouncing it.
My sympathy is limited. You KNEW you were buying a home in an area with hazards. Just like people who buy houses in fire zones then go “oh no, I wonder why my house burned down!?” Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, and buying a house in a known landslide area is the epitome of stupid games.
Amazing yet scary! I live up near the Monterey Bay and there many very unstable areas, including in Santa Cruz's fancy West Cliff neighborhood. There's been so much erosion there in the past few years.
Great video! I live in neighboring San Pedro and travel that unstable mile of road most days for work...I wish u filmed a month or two earlier!! It was SUPER CRAZY with earthquake like cracks, dips and small sink holes! Over the last couple of years i've noticed they would reseal the road every few mths, then monthly, then almost weekly in smaller patches. I didn't realize how bad it was in the Dauntless St area etc, great drone footage 👍
5:28……the CONSTANT LAND MOVEMENT sign has been there since the 90’s guys. Have you ever been there before now? Incredibly beautiful and equally unstable since forever. Like most of the ring of fire locations around the world.
Uh, millennia. A million years ago it was ocean. You can see it at Hesse Park. They were dealing with it when they built Portuguese Bend in the 1920’s.
@@glennvastine5713 tell that to the construction worker and his dog who were stuck on a piece of land in the ocean when the Trump golf course was being built and fell into the Pacific. The locals remember that.
@@xopi2521 yep…..Horrible things happen all the time. Like in New Orleans some areas should never be built on but……rich, entitled democrats insisted so there you are. I agree poor construction workers shouldn’t have to die so liberal douches can have oceanfront property but once you start to ignore topographical realities bad s*** happens.
Back in the 80's there were houses surfing down the sides of the hills during heavy rains. Geologists at the time said it was because the only thing holding those hills together was the tree roots of the heavy forestation on the hills. When they cleared a large amount of trees to build it was only a matter of time before all the roots would rot away and the hills would collapse. I don't know if that's true, but it made sense at the time.
Wow! Thanks for sharing this video. Far more informative than kcal news. We are new to CA and love it here despite the fires, shakes and slides. The most informative part of the video was seeing all of the road repairs and even the most recent ones were already damaged. I guess if you live there, you just need to plan for a move out date. The ground is just going to keep moving, no manor of repair or construction can withstand that.
Wow! If you bought here, the property tax must be an eye opener. My mother still lives in the same 4bedroom house, in San Pedro, since 1969, and her property tax is $900 a year. Thank God for Prop 13.
@@user-xj1ew4ps1x we came from WI and the sticker shock is actually the price tag of the home. We pay slightly less in property taxes here than we did "back home" but our home here is 2 1/2 times the price so it is almost like a 50 percent or more cut in the taxes.
I’m sorry you moved here, I’d have stayed wherever you were before because this state is imploding by the day. There’s a reason there’s a mass exodus going on…
@@robdog1245 i was just in WI for some Family stuff. I still love Madison and the surrounding area. Spent most of this trip in western Dane county. It is beautiful there and Madison is becoming better and better. Can't wait to see how the new bus system works. But it is great here too. Great people, so much outdoor activity to do and you can do it all year long. And i can garden all year long too. The opportunity here and the potential for great prosperity just dwarfs WI except for Dane county. But WI does have my Packers and Badgers. Oh, and better beer and cheese curds
According to one of the LA county geological engineers, a lot of this was already known. It’s a landslide that dates back thousands of years, but the rain in 2023 set it off again, it’s nothing new. This is also exactly what’s happening in Big Sur right now, and what happened with Devils Slide and why they had to re route Coast Highway. The ocean will always win, no matter how hard you try to stop it.
The whole area up and down the coast is a subduction zone- it’s all breaking up and being forced under. I used to do some special effects and I did a music video for a band named “third strike” and one of the locations we filmed at was the coastline in and around San Pedro. The ground where we filmed had this pop corn-ish property to it that wasn’t the case 50 feet inland. Put enough weight on it, and it would all fall apart. We had to wear fall harnesses because they (rather foolishly) wanted to film on some precarious pinnacle-looking things for the drummer. Luckily nothing happened, but it was scary trying to do lighted 50 gallon drums (“bum barrels”) near him. In all the jobs I did along the CA coastline, the same thing was encountered- the ground had this pop corn quality like something had shaken it to be that way.
I used to drive my ragtop around there in the 90's. I recall the signs warning of land movement and would notice the changes to the road from one month to the next. It's a shame this area was even developed in the first place. Those who profited from the greed and corruption are long gone but the problems they created are now causing undue stress for thousands of people.
It will never stop. The soil is made up of loose rock and sand. With the last major rain that the area had also, with the dew and moisture in the air it will never dry. It's a lost cause. They have been telling them (I mean people have told the county and city to stop building)
Thanks for showing me the road near Portuguese Bend. It has akways had the land movement sign si nothing new there. That road is the worse I have seen it. I have traveled it many times as I used to volunteer at a therapy riding program in Portuguese Bend. It was located up on Narcissa Drive. No ocean view up there but close to the bottom of the hills. I wonder how the property looks today. I doubt that they are in business anymore. I even leased a horse in this area too and would ride up on the land that is sinking. My trail ride areas I am sure have changed a lot. There are a ton of homes in this gated area. The steep part of the hill has always been there too. It used to be fun to drive but now looks rough. I don't even know if you can even drive up into this area due to the roads. The gates don't even function since losing electricity. I don't know if you can get as the gates maybe closed. I feel bad for the people living in this area. It was such a beautiful area. Been past the other homes too that are 2 miles East. We almost got married at Wayfarer's Chapel but decided it would be too hard for people to find. It was very beautiful.
I grew up just north of RPV. Was always such a beautiful, extremely "high rent" area with multimillion dollar homes. So sad to see it now. Mother Nature taking back what is hers.
The week of June 28th 1992 I was staying with friends in their home in Rancho Palos Verdes. Their home was only two streets away from the cliffs going into the Pacific Ocean and we had two earthquakes on the 28th. I was concerned about the whole street sliding into the ocean because even at that time it was know that the whole hillside was slowing sliding. This is such a beautiful neighborhood but fighting mother nature will eventually be a losing battle. I also was able to visit Glass Chapel during this visit and it was amazing.
I was living with my 2 young sons (Age 3 yrs. and the other was 5 months) at the huge apartment complex next to the then recently closed down "Marineland" Park. We had just moved to that apartment from Pittsburgh, 3 weeks before the June 28th 1992 double quake. Do you remember it was followed by the wildfires from the top of Rancho Palos Verdes, straight down to our apartment bldg.? It was unreal: earthquakes, wildfires, rodents running everywhere + still enduring the aftermath of the LA riots up by Del Amo Mall. We were looking to buy a home on Albero Court, not far from the Portuguese Bend. It was 1 of 4 model homes built then. We lasted from June 1992 to Jan. 1993, then we moved back to the mid-west. I was So Shocked to read your comment, @NortheastAndRetired, because you were RIGHT THERE near myself & my young Sons, on that creepy day in 1992! Is it too late to say to you, "Hi Neighbor, from 32 yrs ago!" ☺
@@HelenTudor-Douglas I got goosebumps reading your reply as it brought back so many memories. In a very wild coincidence I was visiting my friends in Rancho Palos Verdes from Pittsburgh PA. Talk about being neighbors as that is definitely a wild coincidence. My flight back home was later that morning from LAX to PIT and there were so many detours getting to the airport because all the bridges had to be inspected because of the quakes. I know what you went through and happy to hear you were safe. One of my biggest regrets in life is the earthquakes that day deterred me from actually moving to Southern California and I should of never done that. My next visit I stayed with a friend in his eighth story condo building in Los Feliz and the parking garage was under the building. Every time we went down to the garage to drive somewhere I had flashbacks of that day. Thank you for your reply and in some way I feel better that someone else knows how stressful and scary that day was.
I am so very sorry for the people in these neighborhoods. I remember visiting the tide pools, there was a road in constant motion outside this area. The road always needing pavement. This is huge. I haven’t seen any mention of energy from faults or old Volcano fields off shore.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to the locals as this land has been moving since the 1940’’s. My great Aunt’s boss owned a home on the cliff their in I think the 50’s that went into the ocean with several others. A friend told me he and his wife planned to buy a house in that neighborhood about 15 years ago and the land Survey even then showed it was unstable. Thankfully they could pull out of the deal they were about to make. Even I remember movement of the land in the 70’s and even during Covid locked down I would drive theHill as we refer to it and thought the dip was buckling, which you thought was new land movement. It’s always to my knowledge had had some sort of cracks and buckling on it. I won’t drive that part of PV anymore. For me it’s just to dangerous. BTW the first house shown in this video I believe was one of the first red tagged.we have since had a few good earthquakes at 4.2-4.6 near us in the last month, which I’m sure doesn’t help. Wayfarers Chapel was built by Frank Loyd Wright, Junior, and is considered a mid century modern landmark. With much discussion instead of trying to fix it, which the board wanted to do more people suggested it be taken apart and moved to the safer part of the hill. Lots of areas on the hill shouldn’t have been built on but I seriously doubt the homes you looked at will be in the ocean. They will be unlivable possibly forever. Sadly most insurance doesn’t cove this type of land movement and they are losing everything.
Oh wow! I went hiking there last year and it was so incredibly beautiful that I was trying to go again this year but the trail has been closed every time I checked up on it. Now I know why. Crazy!
Spent my childhood into adulthood at Portuguese Bend, went to Ladera Linda the elementary school up above. PV Drive Southbwas fixed back in 1988 but didnt last too long
I performed so many concerts and weddings at the chapel. The view was spectacular. My good friends used to live in one of the neighborhoods that are sinking. Bought in the 60’s, sold during pandemic for millions, it’s heartbreaking to witness this.
I grew up in Palos Verdes, and we would go and visit the Chapel and the slide area in the 60's. I was 5 in 1960. The Chapel was always special marker of where the land began to move into the ocean. It is a real shame to see that they have closed the Chapel - heartbreaking. It was inevitable but still very sad. Hopefully they can slow the earth movement down enough so the Chapel could reopen???? Wishful thinking, I know, but still.
Just drove that today. Portuguese Bend has been like that for years.....roadwise. Its all the houses around it thats moved so much quicker due to rains. Theres also another old landslide area on other side too.
When Crenshaw Blvd. was planned to continue to the coast, the dynamite used at the top of the hill set the original landslide in motion. This landslide is reported to be the largest in north America.
*_It's moving at the rate of a foot a week??? On top of the occasional California earthquake? That's crazy. I don't even want to think about what it'd be like to sell one of the homes up there. Wow, wild story...._*
Have you two done any videos on Catalina Island (formerly Pimu)? There's an airport "in the sky" with a nature center that talks about the native island people, rare animals, and unbeatable views. I think you could make a whole series on the island alone.
We've been to Catalina to visit, but not to film. You're right, there is SO much to explore there and we'd love to return one day to make some episodes.
@@OddityOdysseys allegedly one of the mines on catalina goes to the underworld and other other tunnel systems . Avalon means afterlife in King arthur mythology
As a resident of this neighborhood, this feels really disrespectful for you to almost try and promote this area as a tourist attraction- “the next Sunken City.” We are still living in our homes and the situation changes day-by-day.
back in the 70's i took a class from a geologist who worked for the county in the 50's. he reported that the area was not stable and would fall into the ocean within 10 years. most of his track maps that he produced did exactly that.
I grew up and spent 40 years in and around PV. We used to party at sunken city back when you could. It’s been moving for a long time, but this is the worst in recent memory. The homes you explored should have never been built. People got greedy. Really greedy.
![F.HERO Ft. JSPKK x ลำไย ไหทองคำ x M-PEE - ไม่สนิทบิดหมด (Thai Riders Anthem) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kPJZ0UihBfk/mqdefault.jpg)
My grandfather was a civil engineer for the city of Los Angeles. He took levels of the Portuguese Bend area in the late 1920s, and told the city it was slipping, and they didn’t believe him. This was before it was developed. Grandpa was correct.
@@carolinejohnson845 smartest generation ever???
Those poor filthy rich people :(, good on your grandpa for calling it out.
Thanks t your grandfather for speaking up. Unfortunately city councils ignore good advice & are happy to subdivide n sell th land. But the home owners bear the risk of the bad decision.
its likely not that they didnt believe him. they wanted the property tax dollars those properties could bring every year, and didnt care about how stable that slope was.
THESE TWO R Farrrrr To Arrogant for me. Nope by 🙋
Mother Nature always wins
She laughs at your silly little carbon taxes.
I'm 70 now this was my childhood..since 1954❤
with plentiful help from man.....
This is not mother nature ---- this is stupidity about those who don't know engineering....this has been going on for several decades.
That's why I don't care about "man made climate change"
A relative was the head of the Los Angeles County Engineer’s unit that reviewed the initial plans for subdividing Portuguese Bend. He complained bitterly until the day he died of the corruption that underlay the approval of the permits that allowed Portuguese Bend to be developed. The engineers who reviewed the plans flatly howled and stomped their feet in protest over the very idea that development might ever be permitted on these parcels, and uniformly slated the permits for rejection at every stage of the process. Graft, bribery, and the influence of organized criminal elements prevailed, however, and the subdivisions were approved and development commenced. All informed parties predicted that someday the entire development area in Portuguese Bend would go to waste, but…oh, well.
I am shocked! Yes, shocked at your suggestion that there was corruption in California. Fortunately that is in the past and corruption in California is no more.
Next homeless shelter
Was Nancy Pelosi involved? 🤔
How would that be possible? Bentonite clay was involved. Try watching the video, or making an effort to learn something, anything@@prairiehills416
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
San Pedro native here....my grandmothers mid life career was selling real estate in the Pedro/PV/Rolling Hills /Miraleste area from 64 to the late 70s....she told me back in the day before most of those were built of developer plans and she'd say they were nuts..that it was a matter of time before issues showed up.
I do recall also some homes built on some cliffs next to the ocean half on land and the seaside part supported by huge steel pilings at a angle into the cliffside..i recall her saying no bank would write a loan for them ...those were gone long ago
Amazing what some people will do to live away from others - exclusivity has a cost.
BINGO.
They had no idea regarding the real fault lines then. Your grandmother had really good insight.
The issues started showing up because the engineers had no idea what they were doing....still don't
True that some of the fault lines were not known until several years ago (that go through and surround the Peninsula) but 3 roads dropping into nothing and endless roadwork should have been a screamer.
My ex and my son are paving contractors...very familiar with this area = moved here in 74. Seeing it now? wow.
There is a LOT that has happened up here....a LOT.
Good post.
next homeless shelter
Look how many decades this moving land has been ongoing. Always that Portuguese Bend area under repair. Moving the road over left or right and in constant move. It was inevitable that big troubles were coming one day.
Don't Believe This. .. This is all video that has been doctored by professionals..... 😮
..years ago..that specific coast line was use to farm..mostly cared over by the Japanese strawberry growers and rows of flowers..
..that land was “taken”...and...unaffordable homes construction!!!
..in the 70’s it was spectacular...
..spent hours there..admiring the beauty...💜
It was ONE farming family--the Ichibachis. They grew the best strawberries I've ever tasted. I grew up there.
My husband’s family farmed there too. Great grandma buried her valuables somewhere before they were taken to poston.
actually, the Portuguese Bend area was inhabited by mostly Hispanic farmers.
True that the Japanese were there as well, however, there are many more things that were/are never spoken about.
As for what is going on in the Bend? Well, that has been going on since before the 70's / at least 3 roads dropped off; it has been going
on since then.
My dentist's aunts owned the strawberry fields before they were robbed by the government in WW2 and put in camps in, I believe, Colorado. So sad.
@@silvyamanquero393 Japanese were put into internment camps
During the war.. the native Americans inhabitants lived three thousand years. Relocated San Gabriel ca. Their tribe translates to . Protector of 🌎 and 🌊...
I JUST googled the landslide to see what the update was. This is the best footage! Thanks guys!!
Appreciate you checking it out!
We were married at the Wayfarer's Chapel (affectionately know as the "Glass Church") many years ago. It will be sadly missed. Even back then in 1975 there were signs of distress from the Earth moving!
We've heard nothing but good things about the chapel! It was beautiful. Most unfortunate for the couples who had to cancel their weddings at the venue. Thanks for sharing your memory with us. 😊
Hope the chapel gets rebuilt soon in a stable location. The building was one of my favorite spots to stop at with my family
and people kept buying homes.
My parents were married at Wayfarer's Chapel in 1961.
Truth. Glad you have the memory.
PVDS is paved on a weekly basis. The land has been moving at a rate of feet per month before it was moving at inches per month. Thank you for visiting my city and showing everyone the issues that some residents are dealing with for years.
Yeah that road has been a mess for the last 3 years. I used to drive on it everyday, but recently it is filled with bumps and large cracks in the pavement.
Inches per month was already bad enough - that areas been a train wreck for 40+ years.
My heart is breaking. I moved from Redondo Beach about 7 years ago. I used to drive through these areas all the time for relaxation. This progression is very fast now. Those roads were all very good when I left. The chapel was so beautiful at different times of the day and in different kinds of weather. I am glad to hear they dismantled it to move. My heart goes out to the people losing their homes.
@readheath3860 Why do you hate the rich? Weird.
@readheath3860Lol you have no idea what you're talking about and are just puppeting some bullshit you read somewhere. Most of these owners are elderly, boomers, and people who bought post ww2, far from millionaires that can up and move.
The roads only looked good because they were continually paved over. Too much accomodation for these residents, and now it's so bad, they can no longer keep up the facade of how idealic the area is.
That was the most illuminating video I have seen so far of the land sliding into the ocean. Didn't realize it had been happening for 70 years.
Actually you detailed it better than the TV/news. Great reporting job.
San Francisco here, we need a geotechnical report (soil report) for basically very job we do, residential or commercial. For a suburban development like this, taking up this much space, you’d need dozens of borings up here before given any permissions. They either didn’t listen to the reports, or weren’t required to get them. Developers don’t care because they’re only on the hook for the first 10years and this type of settlement is usually going to happen after that…which means the city/county is to blame for allowing this site to be developed. Building departments up here do not mess around. Some of them are very by-the-book. Thankfully the state has gotten serious about settlement and geotechnical concerns overall. Soil doesn’t care about your view, I guarantee you there aren’t any soil engineers living in that neighborhood.
-underpinning specialist
My in laws live on Narcissa in Portuguese Bend. The gas was turned off last month, and the sewer and water have been off and on for a few weeks. The power was shut off on Saturday, August 31st. The family is trying to stay in the house with the use of generators, but a mandatory evacuation may be coming soon. They have a beautiful property with a view of Catalina island, and many animals to care for. They have giant tortoise, geese, chickens as well as cats and dogs. It is heartbreaking to think their home may be lost.
I pray they move to a safer home that's sturdy. I do miss san pedro calif home still
It's an unwinnable war. California is breaking into the sea, the government is hiding it. They should relocate before it's a forced relocation.
I'm glad that they have had plenty of time to realize what is going on with the earth in this area. There is no one to blame except Mother Nature and the people who purchased in the area without first looking at the history and geology reports of the land and faultlines. I am always sad to see people who have made poor decisions in their dwelling location and construction. Hope many people will be able to get something more inland. Hope that with this land history, that the homeowners at least were insured adequately...otherwise I have little sympathy and hope they do not try and burden the CA taxpayers with their poor decisions. Good luck folks
I grew up in San Pedro... we knew a family up on Narcissa, such a beautiful street. I have fond memories of traipsing down the cliff at Abalone to the secluded beach, riding my bike on PV Dr S to Torrance, visiting the Wayfarer Chapel dozens of times and a summer job working at Marine land (now Terranea). It all makes me want to weep.
🙏🙏Everyone, their Ainimals, and Wildlife stay Safe and All get the help They need🙏🙏
I was raised in the south Bay Area, that part of PV has had slide problems as far back as I can remember ( I am 81 )
Indeed!
@@i_inspirebadbehavior I'm 74 and remember they had problems in the 1950's. Developers don't give a damm about the future of the communities they develop, by the time the trouble starts they are lomg gone with there money. Look at all the homes they build in fire areas.....
what would you expect from a previous landfill.
I just happened upon your video here. My ex-wife had a family member that had a gorgeous house in Portuguese Bend back in the early 70's. I remember visiting there once or twice. They had an indoor swimming pool... very cool! Well, one day a few years later, we got word that the hillside behind the house collapsed and completely destroyed the house! The home was a total loss. So, to answer the question about how long the land has been unstable, yeah, it's been at least since the 50's-60's. I have no idea why all these homes were allowed to be built there. It should have been known at the time. Damn shame.. 😔
Was family okay?
Some interesting history near Santa Cruz, CA, as well > My parents bought a home
in Boulder Creek which is in the Santa Cruz Mt.'s, and we discovered sea shell fossil's
in the sand stone above their property!! The town is about 15 or so miles inland from
the ocean so, that area was obviously under the ocean many, many years ago!!
Tsunamis happen in that coastal area, too! So, I would suggest buying property at least
25 miles or more inland on a higher elevation from the ocean! The elevation in Boulder
Creek is about 500 ft. above sea level.
They did sell the property for about $350,000!
People will still buy a beautiful place even knowing the risks! It's true that it might not
happen for another 100 years or more, but with the earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.,
you just never know!?
Ummm, the California coastline is basically an accretionary edge of a continental landmass. The sediments that you see are basically sediments that the North American Plate scraped off of the Pacific Plate. If you drive Highway 1, you will see that the type and form of the land structures visible in the road cuts change very quickly, often within just a few hundred yards. You can also see buried streambeds from time to time.
I remember the sliding from when I was a kid in the 70's. We'd drive to the Portuguese Bend area and, ignoring the signs, we'd climb a fence and go spear fishing then have a fire on the beach. It was like we were on a remote island. I understand there is no insurance for slides so the owners are losing their home and the land.
Remember the nude beach on either side of Inspiration point?
I was born up there in El Prado. No cracks or serious land movements but Portuguese bend was ALWAYS known for having land shifting problems so sorry to hear about chapel. What I really miss is the loss of Marineland
Yes, I had lunch at Terranera a few weeks ago and I wondered what Marineland sold that property for. It’s hard to believe Marineland was ever there.
Marineland exists still in our minds. Wonderful place, we had such fun going there.
@@Saibikoho yes. … beautifully said !!
It was always treacherous. I remember going to Marineland in the late 60s and the roads had sizable cracks. As you say, I’m amazed someone built homes there. Good example of doing your homework on the geology.
My heart goes out to those people.
My grandparents lived at 4112 Exultant in PV. They sold it and the new owners just completely renovated it. It’s stunning! I pray their home is safe!
Well that's useless! Prayers don't do nothing
Were your grandparents, the Saki family?
This was a great video! I’ve always been very interested in this area but never made it up there myself to check it out. You definitely showed how geologically unstable it is. Never knew about that chapel, either. It’s nice that they dismantled it and are trying to maybe reconstruct it somewhere else.
Wow. Thank you so much! I have been really curious about the "Portuguese Bend Slide" as we always called it. And curious about the state of the Wayfarers Chapel, it's very upsetting to see it like that.. in the late 1970's as a teen I was there frequently, visiting a friend who worked there and let us park there for walks. Visiting the lovely chapel was such a sweet thing, and sometimes coming upon a wedding with people celebrating was also inspiring. The views of it and from it will always be in my heart. The landslide is growing in such alarming ways at this point, and I deeply appreciate you two discussing the facts of it having been known since the 1950's, and that the local officials letting more houses be built, more neighborhoods be built with ZERO policies about how to be responsible living in a slide zone( water usage is one of the biggest problems). During my years living there, until 1980, that road that you drove over with the steepest diagonal slope just south of the Chapel, that was the part that was constantly getting repatched. I would venture to say that it's been a monthly update at least since then, because that's how frequently it needed it back then! To know that the area has widened, seemingly, with deep movement causing there to be more beach.. (another video I watched) and not to mention the fact that it's 2 miles farther down the road!! That's truly crazy! PS I love the way you say Palos Verdes, thank you! I loved being a teenager there, so much! I'm sorry for everyone who is impacted by the shifting lands!
Portuguese Bend has been sinking for seventy years. It was caused when they tried to extend Crenshaw Boulevard to the ocean in the 1950s. You should do a story on the townhomes on Peartree Lane in Palos Verdes. That was caused by a leaky pipe and incompetence on the part of the HOA.
I think that story about the redtagged townhomes from July 2023 deserves a lot more attention. The LA Times did a very decent job covering the story but there's a lot more to reveal, especially from the time that hillside was approved for development
The only way to get to those townhomes is on foot. The community is gated but apparently allows pedestrians. The destroyed buildings are still there, I just ran there 5 days ago!
@@Drewcardello you probably started at Highridge Park. It’s a nice walk.
@@pvdoug yes. That's the one
I know of a family who bought a large house in Rancho Palos Verdes in the 1970s - which would now be worth over $3,000,000 -- unsellable. Can't imagine living in an area where the earth is moving - and the gas and electricity shut off. Very Sad.
Proposition 13 was passed in 1978. Chances are they’ve paid WAY reduced taxes over the years. If they can’t sell now at a MUCH higher price - karma.
People are going through so much and you decide to show up and start recording like it’s an amusement park 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Was so happy to see your video today ❤. However, so sad what is happening in the area 😞. Will be praying for everyone that is affected by this 🙏
Thank you guys! I live in Tx now but a native So. Cal, Laguna Beach girl and this is breaking my heart. We have a dear friend who is a civil engineer who did all the land water mgmt work in Laguna Niguel newer subdivisions (1998..) and to hear him describe what the engineers do to direct water is crazy cool. Thanks for the cruise and info. Makes me so homesick. Stay safe. Peace.
Grew up in Torrance below the PV hill and my first job was working at an appliance store delivering and installing all home appliances. Drive this neighborhood hundreds of times 20 years ago doing my job. PV drive was a shit show back then with cracks and re-paving being done. At night that place is pitch black. Can't imagine now. Also we used to go drive out there high asf and there was many places we go to get drunk and stoned. Memories, turned 40 this yera
Born and raised in the south bay and 63 years ago when I was a kid this was slipping and there were VERY few homes up there and the idiots that built in the last 30 years I dont feel a bit sorry for them
We must have empathy.
However, anyone still "braving it" up there is extremely foolish. There is now much deeper movement. Their time is running out.
@@TeamHarris-f9s sorry but I have zero empathy for greed or stupidity and in this case it is both...they KNEW when they purchased what was going on so ZERO EMPATHY and their greed to have a "ocean view" shows what kind of people that live there.
Remember Marineland?
@@jeeper5264 Banks should not have financed it. Insurers should not have insured it.
@@user-mz6qu3hz6m YEP 100%%% totally agree....
Just found your channel. I really enjoyed this video. Can't wait to "binge watch"! 👍👍😂
Thanks for showing that close up. So sad and scary for all around that area. Mother nature does what it wants. Lets hope they don't have a major quake, that might really cause the land to slide even faster. Stay safe.
Thank you for uploading the video and giving all the heads up related to Portuguese Bend. God Bless you!
I have friends who live on Exultant Dr. in RPV!
I just drove through Portuguese Bend (landslide area) yesterday. That road is constantly moving & changing... has been for a long, long time.
The earthquake that was centered off the peninsulas coast in July didn't help that road, the Chapel, or the residents.
Between landslides, earthquakes, the Santa Anna fires, etc, choosing to live in that area is foolishness. There is nothing that we can do to stop that much land from falling into the sea. It would be better for the state to buy up that land, remove all the houses and other possible contaminates, and turn that area into a park. I’m surprised that the insurance companies still sell homeowners’ insurance in that area.
Why should taxpayers foot the bill? The area's instability was documented years before residential development took off in the 1960s.
Many of these homes were purchased for less than $75,000 in the 70s. Property values were over $1 and $2 million per home a year ago. It is not up to the City, State, or federal government to buy up these houses and turn it into a park. That sets prescient in buying up homes destroyed by every fire, every flood, every earthquake, every heavy rain, beach erosion. It is not affordable nor sustainable.
I like the park idea. Not sure about buying up the land though.
The official geologist's report on the underlying structure of the Portuguese Bend area in the mid 50's warned that cutting into the slope would expose layers of silt and clay that would fail when water intruded into the layers. The developers and county officials were warned about it but decided to go ahead and develop the area anyway (with the help of huge sums of money being spread around)...been on the move to the Pacific ocean ever since...The escarpment at the top of Forrestal Dr. is a good place to find quartz geodes...
Oooh....I think I know what I'm going to do in the near future!😊
I was looking into this last month on google map. Thanks for this video!
That is pretty sad to see. Can't imagine what these people must go through. Good luck to all of them.
They are ridiculously wealthy, they will be alright!
@@rokanrollannie1they'll just move into their other house.
Portuguese Bend landslide has existed for thousands of years. It was activated in 1956 during construction of an extension for Crenshaw.
So interesting! Those poor home owners. So sad for them.
in the early 70's I went to PV High near where you were filming. The traffic probs. near the "Glass Church" go back to the late 50's. The road and other infrastructure were always being worked on. But it was a great place to grow up!!
8 days after this video ( today) they’ve now shut electricity to nearly the entire peninsula( 140 homes) and issued an evacuation warning. It’s not an order yet but the whole area is being deemed unsafe due to more rapid movement messing with power and gas lines through the area. Used to work up there before Covid and Palos verdes drive has been a mess since long before I moved to Cali in 2018. But the views are beautiful. Sad to know it’s eventually going to go or be Un drivable. It’s def gotten worse a lot worse the last year or so. Heart breaking for all the elderly and families who’ve lived there for much of their lives. What insurance covers land movement not caused by earth quakes… great video by the way.
Hi!!! Thanks for the video!!! 👍🏻😃👍🏿🇨🇦🇵🇭🇺🇲
Born into an old San Pedro Family. those roads have been in a state of movement for years. Hasn't changed but what has changed was the houses built in the 50s- now.
Thank you for the update! I could literally drive out there to satiate my curiosity but I'm super thankful you did it for me. It's nuts to see!
The Seaview area is parking by permit only, so if you go out there just be aware. Also, that house that you showed in the beginning has been lost its foundation over ten years ago. The sink hole in the street just came up since last winter. The road along PV drive South is where the main slide and that road you drove along is the third road that has been put in place since the slide started back in the 1950's.
From the damage I can see, those homes need to be condemned and the City should have some responsibility for the cost of the damage as they issued the building permits and approved the development. I am sure the sewer lines and fresh water lines will also be failing soon.
I lived north of there in the mid 1950’s northeast of Lunada Bay area. I visited the glass church about 1955. A huge casino/hotel building was demolished shortly after some of the first homes were evacuated and sliding. I am surprised that building has continued while all this is still going on. My “Geology Illustrated” textbook has a good overview about this area and stated that it is a known ancient landslide.
I grew up right across the street from Lunada Bay, 1952-1972 when I left home. Parents remained a number of years and then sold the house. I hope that area remains safe.
I lived in that area in 1950s to 1970s and visited the glass church . And marine land of pacific. Portuguese. Bend has had slides there since 50s .you would drive up and down highway and pipes were above ground .
I am in my 60's. I grew up there. It was sinking when I was a child. Nothing new.
To the right if the Steep part was the Nude Beach for many years and in the other side is Abalone Cove
Such a scary situation, truly shows why it's needed to scope out the land of any potential future disasters like this.
Don’t think I would even drive through that area. Too scary…
I felt that ride with you both. I am in NC and appreciate your tour and perspective.
I really enjoy your content! Unfortunately this is very close to home, being I live in San Pedro. Although very interesting, I really hope and pray those home owners and my neighbors end up all good.🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙 That road you were driving on is constantly moving. I used to drive that road everyday to and from work and literally day to day you notice changes in road. I also noticed changes in beach below. Very interesting to walk down to tide pools and explore.
Pedro’s not safe either. The entire coast is unstable. Up north near the Oregon border they had a tsunami in the 1950’s. In Maui around the same time the ocean came 7 mile inland up hills. I’m finally moving away from the coast.
This is so unfortunate for those living there. I wonder what the insurance situation is in a case like this. Thanks for another great video!
Thank you so much for your generosity! It would be interesting to speak to someone living in that neighborhood to get their perspective. We have a feeling more will come of this soon!
I grew up in Pacifica, California. The Devil's Slide portion of the highway was a fun drive for our family. Every year it would dip and drop down further. Finally after decades of patching and rebracing it, a new portion was built through a tunnel in the mountain.
I did'nt know about Sunken City thanks some more information I can add to my love for the history of Los Angeles. I create posters on the history of Los Angeles, and film, music, history in America
Coffee stipend for your next AM venture from Silver City NM!
THANK YOU!!! Much appreciated and will definitely be put to good use. 😊 We hope you have a great rest of your weekend!
@@OddityOdysseys 1st timer and new subscriber here! I live in San Pedro and I'm afraid to go over to RPV to check it out, so thank you!!! Can you post where we can send "coffee money" for your road trips? Thank you again!!
@@KeytoLife745 Funny you should ask. We recently set up a Buy Me A Coffee page! You can be the first! Many thanks for subscribing too! buymeacoffee.com/oddityodysseys
Thanks for the insightful video!
For those making crude comments about "too bad, move" etc. I think this is very sad. People are losing their homes. Can't live in their homes because of the damage and damage to their lot property. Can't go in to collect their belongings due to safety issues. What if it was YOUR HOME? Would you still make the same distasteful comments? I doubt it. I know a family, personal friends of ours, who lived in P.V. for DECADES. I don't know if they still own the home or not. The original owners, from the 50s, have passed away but the home was willed to their granddaughter. It breaks my heart to think of it. Their home is not on the streets that have been shown. but their home is in Rancho Palos Verdes.
By the way, Palos Verdes is locally pronounced "Palus Verdees." Even the news channels are mispronouncing it.
My sympathy is limited. You KNEW you were buying a home in an area with hazards. Just like people who buy houses in fire zones then go “oh no, I wonder why my house burned down!?” Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, and buying a house in a known landslide area is the epitome of stupid games.
Well it's a Spanish names so I would say the Spanish pronunciation would be more correct than the white people pronunciation
And you wonder why crude comments are posted.
Palos Verdes is a Spanish word. They’re actually pronouncing it correctly.
Palohs verdes that's how you pronounce it and it literally means green sticks
Amazing yet scary! I live up near the Monterey Bay and there many very unstable areas, including in Santa Cruz's fancy West Cliff neighborhood. There's been so much erosion there in the past few years.
Great video! I live in neighboring San Pedro and travel that unstable mile of road most days for work...I wish u filmed a month or two earlier!!
It was SUPER CRAZY with earthquake like cracks, dips and small sink holes!
Over the last couple of years i've noticed they would reseal the road every few mths, then monthly, then almost weekly in smaller patches.
I didn't realize how bad it was in the Dauntless St area etc, great drone footage 👍
My family moved to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1959. As long as I can remember Portuguese Bend had been slipping. 🙄
Holy rock and roll. Wowza! That is severe! 😮
I feel bad for the home owners. Watching your whole neighborhood you grew up in your entire life, sink into the ocean. Wow .
5:28……the CONSTANT LAND MOVEMENT sign has been there since the 90’s guys. Have you ever been there before now? Incredibly beautiful and equally unstable since forever. Like most of the ring of fire locations around the world.
I recall that sign when I'd drive around there in the 90's.
Uh, millennia. A million years ago it was ocean. You can see it at Hesse Park. They were dealing with it when they built Portuguese Bend in the 1920’s.
@@xopi2521 well……it won’t be ocean for awhile yet.
@@glennvastine5713 tell that to the construction worker and his dog who were stuck on a piece of land in the ocean when the Trump golf course was being built and fell into the Pacific. The locals remember that.
@@xopi2521 yep…..Horrible things happen all the time. Like in New Orleans some areas should never be built on but……rich, entitled democrats insisted so there you are. I agree poor construction workers shouldn’t have to die so liberal douches can have oceanfront property but once you start to ignore topographical realities bad s*** happens.
Thanks for your informative video! They don’t show you these things on the news. I live in the Fresno area. I feel so bad for these home owners 😢.
Looks to be a nice area with a lot of locations sinking ,will definitely made property values drop like crazy.
Cheap houses on my side of the peninsula are stil going for $1.9 million
Back in the 80's there were houses surfing down the sides of the hills during heavy rains. Geologists at the time said it was because the only thing holding those hills together was the tree roots of the heavy forestation on the hills. When they cleared a large amount of trees to build it was only a matter of time before all the roots would rot away and the hills would collapse. I don't know if that's true, but it made sense at the time.
Wow! Thanks for sharing this video. Far more informative than kcal news. We are new to CA and love it here despite the fires, shakes and slides. The most informative part of the video was seeing all of the road repairs and even the most recent ones were already damaged. I guess if you live there, you just need to plan for a move out date. The ground is just going to keep moving, no manor of repair or construction can withstand that.
Wow! If you bought here, the property tax must be an eye opener. My mother still lives in the same 4bedroom house, in San Pedro, since 1969, and her property tax is $900 a year. Thank God for Prop 13.
@@user-xj1ew4ps1x we came from WI and the sticker shock is actually the price tag of the home. We pay slightly less in property taxes here than we did "back home" but our home here is 2 1/2 times the price so it is almost like a 50 percent or more cut in the taxes.
I’m sorry you moved here, I’d have stayed wherever you were before because this state is imploding by the day. There’s a reason there’s a mass exodus going on…
@@user-xj1ew4ps1x my parents bought in 1962 and still there. God bless Prop 13.
@@robdog1245 i was just in WI for some Family stuff. I still love Madison and the surrounding area. Spent most of this trip in western Dane county. It is beautiful there and Madison is becoming better and better. Can't wait to see how the new bus system works. But it is great here too. Great people, so much outdoor activity to do and you can do it all year long. And i can garden all year long too. The opportunity here and the potential for great prosperity just dwarfs WI except for Dane county. But WI does have my Packers and Badgers. Oh, and better beer and cheese curds
Thank you for sharing nice video. 👍👍👍👍
According to one of the LA county geological engineers, a lot of this was already known. It’s a landslide that dates back thousands of years, but the rain in 2023 set it off again, it’s nothing new.
This is also exactly what’s happening in Big Sur right now, and what happened with Devils Slide and why they had to re route Coast Highway. The ocean will always win, no matter how hard you try to stop it.
Also, there used to be 5-8 drops on the Coast highway that would shift and drop and ride within just a few weeks. It was a fun ride.😂
The whole area up and down the coast is a subduction zone- it’s all breaking up and being forced under.
I used to do some special effects and I did a music video for a band named “third strike” and one of the locations we filmed at was the coastline in and around San Pedro.
The ground where we filmed had this pop corn-ish property to it that wasn’t the case 50 feet inland. Put enough weight on it, and it would all fall apart. We had to wear fall harnesses because they (rather foolishly) wanted to film on some precarious pinnacle-looking things for the drummer. Luckily nothing happened, but it was scary trying to do lighted 50 gallon drums (“bum barrels”) near him.
In all the jobs I did along the CA coastline, the same thing was encountered- the ground had this pop corn quality like something had shaken it to be that way.
I used to drive my ragtop around there in the 90's. I recall the signs warning of land movement and would notice the changes to the road from one month to the next. It's a shame this area was even developed in the first place. Those who profited from the greed and corruption are long gone but the problems they created are now causing undue stress for thousands of people.
It will never stop. The soil is made up of loose rock and sand. With the last major rain that the area had also, with the dew and moisture in the air it will never dry. It's a lost cause. They have been telling them (I mean people have told the county and city to stop building)
Coastal Commission ok’d it.
Thanks for showing me the road near Portuguese Bend. It has akways had the land movement sign si nothing new there. That road is the worse I have seen it. I have traveled it many times as I used to volunteer at a therapy riding program in Portuguese Bend. It was located up on Narcissa Drive. No ocean view up there but close to the bottom of the hills. I wonder how the property looks today. I doubt that they are in business anymore. I even leased a horse in this area too and would ride up on the land that is sinking. My trail ride areas I am sure have changed a lot. There are a ton of homes in this gated area. The steep part of the hill has always been there too. It used to be fun to drive but now looks rough. I don't even know if you can even drive up into this area due to the roads. The gates don't even function since losing electricity. I don't know if you can get as the gates maybe closed. I feel bad for the people living in this area. It was such a beautiful area. Been past the other homes too that are 2 miles East. We almost got married at Wayfarer's Chapel but decided it would be too hard for people to find. It was very beautiful.
She sounds really sincere.
I grew up just north of RPV. Was always such a beautiful, extremely "high rent" area with multimillion dollar homes. So sad to see it now. Mother Nature taking back what is hers.
The week of June 28th 1992 I was staying with friends in their home in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Their home was only two streets away from the cliffs going into the Pacific Ocean and we had two earthquakes on the 28th.
I was concerned about the whole street sliding into the ocean because even at that time it was know that the whole hillside was slowing sliding.
This is such a beautiful neighborhood but fighting mother nature will eventually be a losing battle. I also was able to visit Glass Chapel during this visit and it was amazing.
I was living with my 2 young sons (Age 3 yrs. and the other was 5 months) at the huge apartment complex next to the then recently closed down "Marineland" Park. We had just moved to that apartment from Pittsburgh, 3 weeks before the June 28th 1992 double quake. Do you remember it was followed by the wildfires from the top of Rancho Palos Verdes, straight down to our apartment bldg.? It was unreal: earthquakes, wildfires, rodents running everywhere + still enduring the aftermath of the LA riots up by Del Amo Mall. We were looking to buy a home on Albero Court, not far from the Portuguese Bend. It was 1 of 4 model homes built then. We lasted from June 1992 to Jan. 1993, then we moved back to the mid-west. I was So Shocked to read your comment, @NortheastAndRetired, because you were RIGHT THERE near myself & my young Sons, on that creepy day in 1992! Is it too late to say to you, "Hi Neighbor, from 32 yrs ago!" ☺
@@HelenTudor-Douglas I got goosebumps reading your reply as it brought back so many memories. In a very wild coincidence I was visiting my friends in Rancho Palos Verdes from Pittsburgh PA. Talk about being neighbors as that is definitely a wild coincidence. My flight back home was later that morning from LAX to PIT and there were so many detours getting to the airport because all the bridges had to be inspected because of the quakes.
I know what you went through and happy to hear you were safe. One of my biggest regrets in life is the earthquakes that day deterred me from actually moving to Southern California and I should of never done that.
My next visit I stayed with a friend in his eighth story condo building in Los Feliz and the parking garage was under the building. Every time we went down to the garage to drive somewhere I had flashbacks of that day. Thank you for your reply and in some way I feel better that someone else knows how stressful and scary that day was.
I am so very sorry for the people in these neighborhoods. I remember visiting the tide pools, there was a road in constant motion outside this area. The road always needing pavement. This is huge. I haven’t seen any mention of energy from faults or old Volcano fields off shore.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to the locals as this land has been moving since the 1940’’s. My great Aunt’s boss owned a home on the cliff their in I think the 50’s that went into the ocean with several others. A friend told me he and his wife planned to buy a house in that neighborhood about 15 years ago and the land Survey even then showed it was unstable. Thankfully they could pull out of the deal they were about to make. Even I remember movement of the land in the 70’s and even during Covid locked down I would drive theHill as we refer to it and thought the dip was buckling, which you thought was new land movement. It’s always to my knowledge had had some sort of cracks and buckling on it. I won’t drive that part of PV anymore. For me it’s just to dangerous. BTW the first house shown in this video I believe was one of the first red tagged.we have since had a few good earthquakes at 4.2-4.6 near us in the last month, which I’m sure doesn’t help. Wayfarers Chapel was built by Frank Loyd Wright, Junior, and is considered a mid century modern landmark. With much discussion instead of trying to fix it, which the board wanted to do more people suggested it be taken apart and moved to the safer part of the hill. Lots of areas on the hill shouldn’t have been built on but I seriously doubt the homes you looked at will be in the ocean. They will be unlivable possibly forever. Sadly most insurance doesn’t cove this type of land movement and they are losing everything.
Oh wow! I went hiking there last year and it was so incredibly beautiful that I was trying to go again this year but the trail has been closed every time I checked up on it. Now I know why. Crazy!
Spent my childhood into adulthood at Portuguese Bend, went to Ladera Linda the elementary school up above. PV Drive Southbwas fixed back in 1988 but didnt last too long
The differences between January, when I saw it last, and now is amazing.
awww those houses are beautiful, even the neighborhood itself,
I performed so many concerts and weddings at the chapel. The view was spectacular. My good friends used to live in one of the neighborhoods that are sinking. Bought in the 60’s, sold during pandemic for millions, it’s heartbreaking to witness this.
Thank you for sharing! We live here but on the other side of the hill.
Love the content y’all 👏🏼❤️
I grew up in Palos Verdes, and we would go and visit the Chapel and the slide area in the 60's. I was 5 in 1960. The Chapel was always special marker of where the land began to move into the ocean. It is a real shame to see that they have closed the Chapel - heartbreaking. It was inevitable but still very sad. Hopefully they can slow the earth movement down enough so the Chapel could reopen???? Wishful thinking, I know, but still.
Much appreciate your video.
Just drove that today. Portuguese Bend has been like that for years.....roadwise. Its all the houses around it thats moved so much quicker due to rains. Theres also another old landslide area on other side too.
When Crenshaw Blvd. was planned to continue to the coast, the dynamite used at the top of the hill set the original landslide in motion. This landslide is reported to be the largest in north America.
*_It's moving at the rate of a foot a week??? On top of the occasional California earthquake? That's crazy. I don't even want to think about what it'd be like to sell one of the homes up there. Wow, wild story...._*
They’re still selling like crazy. That’s a tiny part of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Have you two done any videos on Catalina Island (formerly Pimu)? There's an airport "in the sky" with a nature center that talks about the native island people, rare animals, and unbeatable views. I think you could make a whole series on the island alone.
We've been to Catalina to visit, but not to film. You're right, there is SO much to explore there and we'd love to return one day to make some episodes.
@@OddityOdysseys allegedly one of the mines on catalina goes to the underworld and other other tunnel systems . Avalon means afterlife in King arthur mythology
As a resident of this neighborhood, this feels really disrespectful for you to almost try and promote this area as a tourist attraction- “the next Sunken City.” We are still living in our homes and the situation changes day-by-day.
back in the 70's i took a class from a geologist who worked for the county in the 50's. he reported that the area was not stable and would fall into the ocean within 10 years. most of his track maps that he produced did exactly that.
I grew up and spent 40 years in and around PV. We used to party at sunken city back when you could. It’s been moving for a long time, but this is the worst in recent memory. The homes you explored should have never been built. People got greedy. Really greedy.
Happy Saturday Fam miss you both my favorite oddity fam forever in my haurt 💛🩵🩷
Hey Andy-Fam! See you back at Hyrule soon!
@OddityOdysseys cant wait i have my notifications on ready to go will it be the same channel as last year