A voluntary buyout program worth $42 million is being offered to property owners impacted by the Rancho Palos Verdes landslide, according to a Monday announcement from the city and government.
According to the city’s press release, qualified citizens can apply to get a “fair market value for their properties based on pre-disaster appraisals.”
In order to qualify for the program, property owners must request a voluntary property inspection from the city by email to [email protected] by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.
Applications for the program must be submitted to the city by Friday, November 8 at 4:30 p.m.
The program’s guidelines and application procedures are available to interested homeowners at www.rpvca.gov/1782/Voluntary-Property-Buyout-Program.
In an attempt to shield the neighborhood from potential redevelopment hazards, the city stated that the properties they purchase through this buyout will be permanently transformed into open space and deed-restricted.
For months, the area’s infrastructure was devastated, homes were ruined, and roads were split by the constant ground movement.
This program was announced after residents voiced their concerns and requested assistance following a summer of gas and electricity outages. A state of emergency was declared for the region by Governor Gavin Newsom in September.
With the first round of shut-offs starting in July, gas was turned off indefinitely to more than 200 households and power was first cut off in early September.
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However, after residents had been without gas and electricity for months, officials declared on October 26 that electricity will be restored in some regions.
The “worsening land movement,” according to local officials, is making it dangerous to continue delivering natural gas service.
To assist residents impacted by the Greater Portuguese Bend landslide in moving to safer regions, the city launched the voluntary buyout program in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
