Mudslides and Moratoria Seattle is a city built on unstable bluffs and vulnerable valleys. The layers of clay and till deposited by glaciers several millennia ago make uncertain footings for today's homes. Over the past 150 years we've developed expectations of placing our homes and businesses where views are the most spectacular. And we demand that our engineers and architects, builders and planners enable as many of us as possible to achieve these vistas. I've spent many hours this winter driving and walking through neighborhoods where there's been flood or landslide damage.
Some patterns quickly emerge.
First, this winter's slides occurred primarily on slopes with a known history of instability. You don't have to be a geologist to recognize the marks on the landscape. And if there's a question, the City's maps show where old slides occurred. Second, over the decades Seattleites have built their homes without improving the streets. In the suburbs, new subdivisions aren't approved without paved streets, curbs and gutters for drainage, and ample access for fire and garbage trucks.