Issaquah, Wash. — Concerns of a massive mudslide are mounting in an Eastside community.
Work on a controversial housing development came to a standstill after part of the hillside gave way in the rain.
90 homes are set to be built next year on the side of Cougar Mountain in Issaquah.
But construction along Talus Drive came to a halt Friday after ground beneath it, gave way.
Nearby resident John Spaid captured emergency repairs Friday night.
It’s adding his concerns about the project in general.
"This entire slope could let loose,” said pointing at the hillside. “And there's nothing to hold it back.”
Friday's movement was enough to cause part of the road to buckle at Talus Drive and Shangri-La Way Northwest.
Dozens of large concrete barriers and tons of large rocks were hauled in to create a temporary retaining wall.
Spaid points out the project's lack of vegetation compared to surrounding homes like his.
There have also been previous small mudslides in the area.
One slide in December 2010 was captured on video and posted to YouTube.
“This project is highly unstabilized,” claims Spaid. “They didn't phase it. They all did it all at once and here we are the very wettest season and we don't know what's happening under the soil," said Spaid.
“There's no immediate safety concern,” reiterated Autumn Monahan, assistant to the city administrator. “We're in the monitoring phase at this point to just check back and make sure but we've noticed there's no further movement since the actions have been taken."
Monahan says geotechnical monitoring has been taking place, but a cause for the movement is not yet known.
Asked if the city can change what is approved to go on the plot of land given the movement, Monahan responded: “It depends on how far the development has been approved."
The city and the developer, Triad Associates, are working together on the next steps.
"We're very very concerned and we want as many eyes on this as possible including the city," said Spaid.
KIRO 7 reached out to Triad Associates but did not hear back.
The city says it’s monitoring utility lines and that residents should expect road closures in the area.
KIRO
