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CARLSBAD, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The City of Carlsbad surprised residents by reaching a settlement four weeks into a trial regarding a devastating landslide that damaged at least eight homes on Trieste St., just east of El Camino Real.
The settlement, totaling $7 million, is to repair the homes and millions more to stabilize the failing hillsides over the past four years.
“It was less of the number and more about the city actually saying they are going to fix the slope and that they were going to do the right thing so that the properties were secured,” said Philip Kunka of Naumann Law Firm.
Exhausted and anxiety-ridden homeowners expressed relief that the agreement revived their property values.
“I am relieved that we are at the beginning of a resolution, but I do know that for us really, we are just at the beginning of the fix phase,” homeowner Nansea DePretis said.
Cory Kelsey, whose backyard was partially affected by the landslides, blamed the city’s neglect for the damage.
The settlement includes $7 million in damages for homeowners and an estimated $5 million for hillside repairs. Attorneys and neighbors are questioning why the city didn’t address the problem earlier.
“I always thought they would hop to it and make the fix, but after a while it became clear they were just going to wait,” said William Naumann of Naumann Law Firm.
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