The developer of The Palisades is denying accusations circulating on social media that the luxury hillside project caused Wednesday morning’s landslide along Marine Corps Drive in East Hagåtña. A video posted to Reddit titled “the palisades development is 100% responsible for the landslide. I hope they are held accountable” claims construction activity directly led to the collapse of a section of the cliff, triggering traffic disruptions and road closures.
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Tasi Vista Development, the company behind The Palisades, said the erosion was unrelated to their construction site. Company representative Eduardo Calvo said project engineers inspected the area and found “no erosion on any of The Palisades lots.” He added that the development includes “underground infrastructure designed to withstand severe weather,” along with “interim drainage and supplemental containment systems” installed months ago under Guam Environmental Protection Agency oversight.
Instead, Calvo attributed the slide to an “aged concrete drainage pipe from an old stormwater system” that he said burst under pressure from heavy rainfall. The failure, he said, released “excessive water and sedimentary debris onto Marine Corps Drive,” contributing to the slope erosion below the project area. Calvo did not specify whether the drainage pipe belongs to GovGuam but said the failure was unrelated to Palisades construction activities.
Despite the company’s defense, GEPA issued a Stop Work Order at the construction site Wednesday afternoon. Calvo said Tasi Vista had already begun draining temporary ponding basins before the order was issued and would “work to meet the other requirements” while continuing to monitor site conditions. The Guam Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Public Works have not yet released their findings on the cause of the erosion.