Aftermath of devastation: Landslide severely damaged homes in Boise foothills in 2016

Residents in the Terra Nativa subdivision abandoned their multiple million-dollar homes and were condemned after a destructive landslide.

[@JaneDoe-vi5yc]

$257,000 split by everyone? That's nothing!

[@bloodorangemoon]

The report has got to be wrong, that whole lump sum wouldn't even cover one of the homes lost

[@leiag201]

That's what I said

[@JaneDoe-vi5yc]

@@bloodorangemoon Yes, it has to be a typo. That would pay for one person's roof.

[@jtpalooki7757]

Heck, the city building officials, and perhaps the mayor got more than that in bribes!

[@blkcoupequattro]

More like 2.57mil each that's the nice part of town... lol

[@priola7587]

Geology. This was a terrific news report explaining the complicated permitting process. Kudos to this reporter. This is a classic situation. Speaking as a recovering planner.

[@jimmiller5600]

A'murikan -- " we don't need no stinking government rules " Also A'murikans -- " why didn't you keep this from happening? "

[@aliannarodriguez1581]

@@jimmiller5600Yeah, lots of people on KZbin complaining about how we need to get rid of building regulations so housing can be built more cheaply. A lot of those people say they are builders. Which is scary.

[@madameclark3453]

Complicated permitting process in Idaho? 🫢 try Los Angeles.

[@jimmiller5600]

@@madameclark3453 Oh yeah. It took my community decades to wash out the NIMBYs from Government. And then ditch massive R1 zoning deserts. Now we're tossing up mixed use developments all over. Places people can live, work and shop by walking or biking (at least a lot of the year). Lotsa jobs. Lotsa housing. Only problem is that visitors see the solution and then want to move in!

[@basspig]

257 thousand dollars would be barely enough compensation for one home let alone the whole neighborhood as a whole period That's an insulting settlement period

[@kitkat5339]

I’m betting there’s a lot more but it’s hidden by an NDA with the developer. That money was only what they settled with the city.

[@stevenbrady440]

There's nothing insulting about it probably. The city likely thought it did not legally owe the money. So they offered nothing more then the cost it would take to defend the lawsuit. It’s called offering the cost of defense. Moreover, as servants of the taxpayers, they have a duty not to pay for things they don’t legally owe. Unfortunately, we see that more and more where questionable settlements are made on some civil rights cases. Where arguably politicians are seeking favor with certain groups and allow exorbitant settlements to take place.

[@basspig]

@@stevenbrady440 if the city knowingly allowed the development, then not only are the developers responsible, but so is the city.

[@jonnawyatt]

Owners at fault too. Look into the suitability of the land you are building on.

[@stevenbrady440]

@@basspig you said it right there. Knowingly. And if they didn’t know… And it also depends on the local laws that would apply. Which neither you nor I know. But given that the city settled for $250,000 approximately, both sides apparently thought the city had viable defenses. It’s also possible other recoveries were made, and few damages left over. The unpaid damages weren’t significant enough to proceed. And there was a nondisclosure agreement attached. There’s no way to know the whole picture. People think there is some strict liability standard here and it isn’t. And $250,000 to defend the case is right about the cost of defense probably. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

[@montanamtngirl]

They never should have allowed them to build the homes there. How did they not know that was an existing landslide area, The city is to blame as well as pure Greed by the developer.

[@moa3008]

I would think that the city engineers would know that there were existing landslides where those expensive homes were built.

[@SmittyAZ]

Tell Californians to NOT build in certain locations?

[@carefulconsumer8682]

Were the engineers who got the contract related to the city politicians who approved the project? Asking for a friend.

[@ChaiLatte13]

I'm seeing in my own town that these engineering firms cover for one another and cover for the townships they are hired for. They rubber stamp these things. Municipalities have immunities and they hide behind them.

[@briankleinschmidt3664]

They do know. It's one of the best paleolithic sites in the world because of the landslides.

[@danlowe8684]

It appears the city engineer is still fighting...

[@LTV_inc]

I retired from a city, I was a Mechanical Engineer but I worked with a lot of Civil Engineers and geologists. One thing I learned is that if a slide starts and is substantial you can’t stop it, you can slow it down but you will never stop it. It’s something most people never investigate when buying a home. 😊

[@geneticdisorder1900]

It’s the same with elevation and where the water table is, can’t tell you as a plumber going on 41 years. Developers don’t like to bring in backfill, so they have this cheap solution of “ just throw a sump pump in the basement “. A customer of mine just spent $1880.00. On a battery back up pump .

[@robertonestaj1329]

But they should have know the history of that hillside being prone to shifting.

[@brendaechols5929]

I thought once this happen, you can no longer build on it

[@dandorris8531]

I'm amazed what Idaho allows. There is a new development going in on south star road just before Chinden road. I have been watching it since they first started moving dirt. The land that's below the canal is completely saturated from groundwater. They keep pulling the dirt back and pushing the same dirt back over where they moved it from. Standing water all the time and it increases every time they Pull the dirt back. The land is developed and roads are paved ready for homes. I feel sorry for the people who buy homes there as the underside of there home will eventually full of water. How Idaho approves this is amazing. Buyers beware and do your homework water table is very high.

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

Put up signs around the area warning people?

[@crownofhair]

My state is losing itself to outside interest and greed 💔

[@joeshmooo5327]

Looks like that poor fella got punched out

[@jimedge8301]

Probably talking , when he should of been listening.😂

[@albertlabrouche159]

So why do the city and county have a permitting process, except to collect fees, if there is no culpability?

[@Zebrahead6000]

Holy cow! Good point!

[@bleebleeblahblah]

8 years ago and it STILL making the news😅

[@urbexandbrokenthings4806]

the lawyer didnt understand his own insurance policy. there is an irony there

[@jimmiller5600]

I have a relative with PhD in Engineering. We often ask him questions about quantum physics, biology, sewing, baking, etc., all prefaced with "well, since you have a PhD.........". We normally get back obscenities, like we should.

[@aliannarodriguez1581]

@@jimmiller5600😂

[@xlandros]

I don’t understand why people would even want to live in such expensive homes, that are so close to each other. I’d rather have 10 acres to myself with a modest home on it, or even a shack, rather than live so close to other people.

[@e1bo]

I don't understand why people live in shacks with their large barren land, and not live in a nice expensive home. Spoiler alert, people are different with different tastes, who would have thought?

[@julieb7785]

They might be expensive, but they looked to be slapped together with flimsy materials.

[@RonaldSchwartz-sd9ft]

@@e1boGuess who is gonna eat who when the bottom drops out of America.

[@frisco61]

Their houses are so big they never see their neighbors.

[@jip230]

I'm not a geologist or engineer, but I am looking at the air photo shots as part of this report and I can clearly see the remnants of past landslides in the background of the homes! This was clearly an area with a lot of geological activity and I guess the home buyers didn't know what to look for - but the evidence is clearly right there in the background pictures!!! Anytime you're buying something terraced or in the hills and mountains, it's best to pay for a fully independent geologic report AND review any photos very carefully. You can't really hide signs of past landslides in an area

[@jimdarhower4945]

🤓🤓🤓

[@chriscockrell9495]

Rich people want to live in pretty but sketchy areas. Life is risky.

[@georgia777]

Don't slam ''rich'' people. This massive lost hits even the wealthy hard. This is the dishonesty of the developer and the city to okay the land. For these people who have lost their homes, this is heartbreaking and many there have lost everything and can't afford to build another house.

[@user-pp2ze4yq3m]

@@georgia777 -- "Don't slam rich people"? You mean those narcissistic bass turds who don't give a spit about anyone except themselves? And now we working class types who live in mobile home parks where the space rent just keeps going up and UP are supposed to feel sorry for them? Sorry . . . ain't never gonna' happen! :(

[@mrmrmrcaf7801]

@@georgia777 Are you blind, you didn't see those McMansions? 🤣

[@minimaladjacent]

@@georgia777 ppl w such mcmansions have several homes and other options... they weren't homeless. greedy capitalists. these aren't the first ones to have this issue. if they read their insurance they could have brought it up then- red flag

[@nightowl6260]

Unbelievable corruption. Geologists know exactly is going on with unstable landscape.The developers have a responsibility--they are negligent because they either did not hire geologists or ignored their report.

[@willymaykit1482]

The buyer is the stupid one.

[@cwalton56]

Mr. Wise, the developer of the Mesa area, told me 30 years ago much of the Boise foothills area was unstable, not suitable for home developement.

[@cliffordtrosper6638]

when they were building in the 1990,s the ground was shifting too much but here comes the out of staters and $$$$$

[@ShineOnBenevolentSun]

Is the Quail Ridge development sliding off the foothills?

[@ChubbyUnicorn]

Great, so the citizens had to cover the costs of wealthy developers paying off experts. It's easy to find engineers to sign off on projects for cash and legislators who'll allow every inch of land to be sold for development.

[@Kittycat822]

I lost my home in a slide also. I was going to sue the developer and everyone all the way down. The soils engineer was at fault. Like you said no coverage for earth movement. The soils engineers said they recommended peer and pile but slab on grade was also acceptable. The lawyers told me we would win hands down but after I pay him I wouldn’t have enough money to fix the home. So I walked away and filed bankruptcy. It caused my divorce. I lost my life savings. My neighbors got their homes fixed by the builder but had to disclose the homes issues so it was a huge loss to them.

[@mikoda92]

🤣🤣🤣

[@schanychamemphis1327]

so sorry.

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

How thorough are the soil density and stability analysis and testing performed prior to the go-ahead to foolishly build in locations such as that?

[@kennethrobinson7647]

Something to be said about buying homes that are on flat ground.

[@steven4315]

I thought the fact that homeowner's insurance did not cover earth movement was well known.

[@dodobono452]

Buildings on a steep hill side is totally a great spot to build a giant mc mansion.

[@victormuller4462]

House construction is the US is a shame, all facade that are built with poor material not made to last, built just like movie sets. People rather pay $1M for a 5000sf home with poor foundation slab, with walls made of wood sticks and gypsum that dissolves with water than $1M for a 2000sf built out of brick and concrete with ceramic roof. Disgusting....I lived abroad and houses built out of brick and mortar lasts for more than a century without major issues.

[@skypilotace]

I will never understand the utter stupidity of building houses on hills, mountainsides, and cliffs. It is sheer oblivion on the part of those who do not understand geology.

[@tuomasholo]

You have to be kidding if they feel they can still develop those foothills. Yeah right.

[@PandoraBear357]

It's like building on cliffs and rivers that routinely collapse every few decades. You'd think after so many times, people would stop thinking they're gonna be the special ones who are exempt from the chronic problems everyone else had.

[@harryberry474]

Multiple million dollar homes and they got $257K to split between how many homes lost? I looked it up and that money was indeed correct and it involved 10 homes! That's ridiculous. I read another article and it stated these were multi million dollar homes. Ouch

[@jimjimgl3]

Regulations? Who needs 'em.

[@TonyRoam]

& the Homeowner insurance company told em they’re not covered for ground slides 🤨

[@TheBandit7613]

Insurance never covers ground movement.

[@andyroo9381]

@@TheBandit7613 So does that mean if there is an earthquake, your house is NOT covered?

[@TheBandit7613]

@@andyroo9381 that's right. No earthquake coverage. I do have an earthquake policy but that only covers an actual earthquake not a sinkhole or other ground movement. Those sinkholes in Florida are always bad for the homeowners. They can lose their houses with no compensation. Insurance companies just suck. I'm in Nevada so my insurance is quite cheap. No tornadoes, hurricanes, hail, blizzards ect. I can't imagine Florida.

[@rbfarrell1]

Who the hell needs a house that big? I could easily afford one but why? To impress other people.?

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

In reality they are not that big once you get moved in.

[@stevenbrady440]

@@FynnOliverEmonSill in what universe aren't these homes gigantic?

[@stevenbrady440]

Exactly right. People don't think about the rooms they use in their houses right now. How many of them just sit empty? Houses this large? 80% will sit unused. And in the meantime these areas have to be cleaned, insured, maintained, heated, cooled, taxes paid on them, and all for what? And in the meantime you're sitting out in the middle of nowhere. Want to do anything or see someone? Then get in your car… every single time. It's an extravagant waste of time, money, energy, emotional energy.

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

@@stevenbrady440 a friend of mine had a 5000 square-foot house, you’d be surprised at how big it’s not

[@stevenbrady440]

@@FynnOliverEmonSill I've had a $1 million plus home with 3500 ft.² and a 4 car garage. It's a ridiculous amount of space. Sorry.

[@CanTho2022]

The entire neighborhood gets only $257,000…???? That’s NOTHING…

[@billl1127]

How can the city be blamed? If the developer provides the proper engineering evidence then that's all the city is confirming. They are not re-doing the analysis themselves.

[@nunya2954]

Because the City have "their hired architechs look at it and they signed off on it, that is how. Apparently the hired gubment architech didn't bother doing due diligence and checking OLD INFORMATION ON THAT LAND BLOCK.. So they got SUED.

[@billl1127]

@@nunya2954 Incorrect. The city does not completely re-do all the calculations and analysis that the original engineers did anymore than the DMV inspects my car brakes during re-registration.

[@MCtravler]

The city paid a total of $257,000 to be split among all those home owners? And they’re satisfied?

[@reecom9884]

For any hillside development projects, geotechnical engineering and geological investigations are critical to protect the properties from potential landslide hazards. Geotechnical engineers analyze slope stability for all types of landslides (surficial, deep-seated and earthquake-induced). Either no Geotechnical engineers were employed on the housing development or the slope stability analysis was grossly inadequate.

[@markadler8968]

There is a subdivision in Sechelt British Columbia Canada where the exact thing happened and the homeowners were left owing money on properties that were condemned.

[@sparkyobrian6417]

we had two geophysical surveys done on a lot in a new subdivision we bought. turns out it was a reclaimed hillside and we resold the lot to the orig relator who didnt care.

[@Dave_9547]

At 5:12 in the video, you see an overview showing a road near the top of the hill above the homes. This road cut allows water to penetrate the slope instead of running off. Then they cut the toe of the slope and steepened it from the natural condition. These sort of things often lead to land slippage. Whether that was a factor in the land movement or not, I don't know, not having read the engineering reports.

[@jasoncrandall73]

It's just grassy hills. No mountain rocks. No mature trees. 🤷

[@user-uo4qg6lp7x]

The saddest part was all of that beautiful material and craftsmanship work being demolished 😢 I sure hope it was repourposed and not dumpped in a landfill.

[@cgschow1971]

There was some salvaging from what I remember, but the area was unstable, so time was limited. Mostly windows and interior items.

[@Automedon2]

So are they going to be removed or left to be a permanent blight on the landscape? I think I know the answer.

[@tangobayus]

Grading the side of a hill to make level lots is not a good idea. A similar thing happens in Albuquerque NM when they level the land over dry arroyos. The rains come and the houses move.

[@fredhinck9685]

The developer is at fault. Probably long gone.

[@TheFitDragon]

How do you prevent this, it's never guaranteed you will avoid this

[@Catchmyvib2]

That’s what people say that built their homes on the edges of cliffs. The house should never have been built there. There’s no one to blame except ones on ignorance.

[@tigergreg8]

It can't be that nice to live there, to put your home in danger.

[@vegasmitch1472]

Those were some Beautiful Homes. it's Amazing this doesn't happen more often!

[@GrandmaBev64]

This is happening in St George Utah and Southern California too. Colorado has empty homes built on an old uranium mine. We are short millions of homes, but we need regulations and accountability. People should not be allowed to build wherever they want for a reason. Regulations are not made to hinder us. They are made to keep us safe. Just thinking about the moment is not a good idea. We need to work on long-term ideas and solutions. What are we leaving for our grandchildren?

[@richard09able]

The whole review process should be reviewed

[@mikeprice4103]

Now their mobile homes

[@jimmiller5600]

The developer terraced wide lots & streets, disturbing a hillside that was probably stable. If they'd put in a narrow road and a single row of mobile homes it might have actually worked.

[@bobjons7]

If you build on a hill…expect movement.

[@meatpopsicle1567]

Those aren't houses. They're barns in a typical McMansion subdivision.

[@mauibuilder1239]

Note to self: Do not build a home in Boise Foothills, specifically North Alto Via Court.

[@sct4040]

Key word is Foothill. Never put a house on the bottom of a hill.

[@5DNRG]

$257k!?!? Split among homeowners....WOW! Homes must be cheap as heck in ID!

[@DavidKing-om2fn]

No house trailers were lost thankfully.

[@paullake1114]

The city just saw Property Tax $$$$$$$$$$$$, when they approved the construction

[@Hardworkandrealestateprofits]

What a nightmare

[@jasonbogdovitz7357]

Those houses are built in the middle of the hill in the valley. It’s kind of common sense what’s gonna happen?

[@troymitchell1747]

Another engineer done gone.

[@ChhhhNotEven]

Mr. Lawyer convinced the neighbors to settle on the 257k split and he took the big check.

[@DemPilafian]

The engineering work should be the responsibility of the developer not the city. The city is there to make sure the paperwork is properly submitted by correctly certified engineers. The risk of lawsuits should keep developers honest. The government sets the regulations but the actual engineering work should be done by private companies.

[@terry_willis]

Did any of them have a home loan? If so, did the bank/lender absorb any of that loss?

[@garylawrence7547]

People settled for $250,000? That’s peanuts.

[@EthanLomas]

10 years salary for that lawyer LOL

[@berthogendoorn2133]

I wish the Sechelt, BC homeowners were able to settle their lawsuit, it appears they will not be able to recoup their million dollar homes that are essentially worth $1.00

[@jimda4910]

The state of California has way too many rules about building however one rule I do agree with is their soil compaction requirements. I lived in the Salt Lake City area working construction and I saw a problem after problem after problem with their lack of soil compaction.

[@sydwelglobal1439]

Satellite images of the ground can detect possible issues with land slides!

[@macbook802]

The owners paid the county to approve the plans and inspect the construction process. Why does the burden not fall on the inspectors?

[@Tchild2]

Yeah, they essentially got nothing. 257K split to compensate for million dollar homes and a few hundred thousand in pools and landscaping work, means the homeowners lost everything...so did the banks that underwrote the home loans.

[@mrcpaddler]

If you're in the "field", you can see the red flags - whether its fractures in slope surfaces or lack of mature vegetation or inconsistent gradients or scarps or maybe erosion . I often marvel at certain developments - and bet myself as to how soon the problems will manifest.

[@vorismanns5994]

Even the property below that property is at risk for erosion and water run off 😮

[@stevenbrady440]

The reason for the low settlement with the city was probably because it didn't think it legally owed the money. It will pay something even though it believes legally it owes nothing. That's not unusual. They will pay what they would’ve paid to defend the case. It's called offering the cost of defense. With regard to the other entities involved, probably not enough insurance to go around. And it's not worth going after the companies individually because they can declare bankruptcy. One reason why purchasing from a national builder can be a good idea. They have the assets… No, it's not greedy attorneys.

[@ronp-eb9bh]

Good Lord. Didnt they have actual engineers and geologists out there who know the characteristics of the land? What a total waste of homebuilding resources. Prayers to the former homeowners.

[@ginadelsasso288]

Were they not able to relocate the homes? I have seen three story buildings cut into fours and hauled to another state. Surely they could have salvaged something from these homes. Light fixtures, toliets, materials? Did all of that just get thrown away too? Those clay tiles on the roofs are super expensive and could have been taken off to put on another home.

[@teddyupshaw6838]

So what engineer approve building on that soil need his license stripped

[@benjaminperez6620]

When I see these developments on graded land, I always think of this scenario.

[@kaythegardener]

Building McMansions does have consequences!! Too bad, so sad, but they are hardly homeless, like millions of other people in the USA!! Just think of the hundreds of people who lost their homes just the last week to tornadoes!!

[@994pt4]

WOW...who thought that would be a good place to build a house! LOOKS RISKY FROM THE GET GO!!!

[@jimmythepirate494]

The "city's role in this" is to collect boatloads of money and not question the issuers of that money. That was the beginning of all the failures there after. The only entities not involved with any wrongdoing are the homeowners and the landslide!

[@remasterlinux]

This is not isolated. It is happening in California right now. A developer hauls takes earth from one part of the development and uses it to created level building lots. I have seen as much as 100 feet high build and then they put homes on it. As long as proper drainage is used it all stays but, under ground water flow causes sinking and slides.

[@mray8519]

Definition of stupid: building homes on hillsides without any soil testing by an engineering firm.

[@tabithan2978]

Don’t buy a home at the bottom of a hill! Anywhere!

[@jackjohnson9449]

I'm sure the landslide must have been stated in the Soils and Geology report.

[@sky173]

Pro tip... don't build on a big, steep hill.

[@Brian-pz3wh]

Perfect example that greed is not good, not at all.

[@redbarchetta8782]

This happens a lot more than you think. Builders either are not hiring geologists, or they are getting ones that lie about the ground under them.

[@samezidrovibes]

Why are developers getting the okay to build in these areas?? Just like in Utah. So messed up.

[@thePersonGuise]

Township is actually fully responsible here. They designated the land as residential and applied the lot and block numbers for the sole purpose of receiving property tax revenue. Then they approved the permits (collected prolly around $40K/house in fees). Why no geological slope analysis? Somebody knew, prolly the Indians had tall tale "don't put Teepee here".

[@RobertWilliams-mk8pl]

You're nuts. But, you're right "don't put Teepee here".

[@karryhardman8735]

It's interesting if you use a pc and search, your county/state followed by USGS hazard map

[@y_i_fly6256]

In a sense you can tell why there’s landslides in this area. Lack of vegetation, trees, bushes and large rock formations. Also water rolls downhill. So where’s the ability for the water to travel other than the soil it sits in? Geologists and engineers got it wrong, they’re human and made an error, it happens. Lessons learned, hopefully they’ll make a study of the area so that this doesn’t happen again.

[@nightreader1264]

I get my homeowners and read the whole policy- a little at a time.

[@ossoduro7794]

Terra Instabile would've been a more appropriate name for the development.

[@imawaylonfan1]

Geotech of record?

[@harperwelch5147]

Don’t they have to get geologic evaluations before getting building permits?

[@brc9064]

no one questioned building a home on a hill-no one questioned the structure of the land the house was going on- people depend on others for information instead of doing their own homework

[@ejohnson3131]

More than a landline, this seems like tectonic plate shifting.

[@timdafler3223]

Test homes for how to build better and maybe field check officials who sign off on projects that should not happen…we’re the builders from California

[@briankleinschmidt3664]

I tell you what happened, they built their home under those hills. Those hills the archeologists covet for their frequent landslides. . .

[@markmacintyre3422]

Municipalities and other code regulators are in a tough place here….The city coughed chump change, but was the developer ever held financially liable through the litigation? The problem: Even if the elevated slide risk had been identified pre-construction, any attempt restrict building would result in a “takings” claim and expensive litigation. Classic “Rock & Hard Place” scenario….

[@mhick3333]

In california need a geologist engineer team to explore and plan and inspect projects like this

[@marcspencer800]

Why do we have inspections and have to apply for permits if the people approving them and signing off of them have no accountability

[@SScott-nr9vl]

Deforestation you need trees to prevent landslides.