A landslide in Seahurst Park has the City of Burien concerned enough to pay at least $24,000 to hire a geotechnical engineering firm to evaluate it for repair. While nowhere near as bad as the recent, tragic and fatal mudslide in Oso, the small Seahurst slide – which was discovered in March – is clearly threatening the sidewalk, road and underground utilities in the park: SeahurstSlide1 SeahurstSlide2 SeahurstSlide3

(Photos courtesy Burien Parks)

The erosion is happening between SW Seahurst Park Road and the creek, below the lower end of the upper parking lot. “The purpose of the geotechnical investigation is to obtain information necessary for developing potential mitigation options,” according to an announcement in the April 7 City Manager’s Report. “Once the report is complete and a design solution selected, the Administration will need to proceed with the necessary mitigation/slope stabilization in a timely manner.” The actual cost of full design, permits, and construction is expected to be more; however, these costs are unknown at this time. A budget amendment ordinance will be presented to the Burien City Council at a later time. Here’s the April 2 memo from Parks Director Michael Lafreniere to Interim City Manager Craig Knutson (click image to see larger version): SeahurstLandslideLetter]]>

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9 replies on “Landslide in Seahurst Park has City of Burien concerned”

  1. Well for goodness sakes, let’s make sure this is considered before you allow Emerald Pointe on the Sound to come in and take all those trees out on that very very steep slope they are planning to build that complex on. That is such a bad idea for the exact reason of landslides.

    1. Hey Angela, Just so you and the rest of concerned Burien citizens will know, Neighbors of Seahurst Park is still very much alive and we DO monitor the City file on a regular basis for the permit activity for Emerald Pointe on the Sound. I checked with COB near the beginning of April, and they informed me that there is nothing new in the file, and in fact has had very little activity for about the last year. The permit to clear the land was issued March 11th, 2013.

  2. Yes,Trees are there for a good reason. Landslides happen all the time along Burien’s Marine Shoreline and it costs the citizens millions of dollars because city dishonors it’s wetlands and critical areas. Development needs to happen, but not in wetlands.
    Wetlands are meant to show us the beauty and art of nature.
    There are so few beautiful spots left that stir our emotions, influence happiness, and thereby make life worth living. All efforts should be toward preserving these wetlands with love, stewardship, and above all an appreciation of its intangible values. The trees are not only works of Art but they stabilize banks and clean the air and water. What a wonderful gift they are!

    1. I love products sourced from trees, such as toilet paper and the newspaper I put in my birdcage. Like they say in Eastern Skagit county logging country – “earth first, we’ll log the other planets later” and don’t forget the classic – ” wipe your arse with a spotted owl” Hey, anybody want to use my chainsaw to improve their view, it runs great!

  3. That spot has been sliding for well over a year. Nobody (official) has noticed it before? Well, I guess the construction budget just got a little bigger… Nature happens..

    1. I agree, it looks like it did last summer just with a little bit more missing. Frankly I think this is another example of what is wrong with America, to much thinking and not enough doing over what is a simple problem. A few dump trucks of large rock from the local quarry dumped over the side would solve the problem for less then it takes to do the research that will most likely come up with the same solution.

      1. Wasn’t there a lot of large rocks removed from the lower part of the park for beach restoration? Where’d those end up?

  4. $24,000 for the geotech study! Seems just like a small retention wall with adequate drainage is needed. But I’m guessing it will be over 100k when all is said and done.

  5. This seems a little expensive but if they do it cheap and it happens to fail then all the people around there will be a little upset and want to go on a sue fest or the groups that tend to complain about what ever the city doe’s will go on big rant over how it was done ether way

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