Abalone Shore Community Campus

A community-driven alternative for 0 Clipper Road

The Opportunity

A 1.56-acre vacant lot sits at the corner of Clipper Road and Palos Verdes Drive South. A developer has proposed 16 townhome units on a site that sits directly above the Portuguese Bend landslide complex — one of the most active geological hazard zones in Southern California.

We believe this land should serve the public interest, not private development on unstable geology.

The Campus Vision

Fire Station 53

LA County Fire's nearest station is 4+ miles away on winding roads. Station 53 would cut emergency response times from 12+ minutes to under 4, serving Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove, and the Palos Verdes shoreline.

PVPLC Welcome Center

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy manages 1,600 acres of preserves but has no visitor facility on the south coast. A welcome center here would serve as an educational gateway to the Portuguese Bend Reserve.

Annie's Heritage Garden

A community garden honoring the Japanese-American farming families who cultivated Portuguese Bend for decades. Named for Annie Ishibashi, whose family farmed these slopes before internment in 1942.

Why Not 16 Townhomes?

1

Active Landslide Zone

The site overlies the Portuguese Bend landslide complex. Building 16 residential units on known unstable geology creates liability for residents and the city.

2

Fire Safety Gap

The area has no local fire station. Adding residents without adding fire infrastructure increases risk for the entire Portuguese Bend community.

3

Heritage Erasure

This land was farmed by Japanese-American families for decades. Townhomes erase that history. A heritage garden preserves it.

4

Conservation Priority

The site borders the Portuguese Bend Reserve. Public use as a conservation gateway aligns with the Coastal Commission's priorities for this area.

Funding Strategy

FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Fire Station 53
California Coastal Conservancy Conservation + Welcome Center
National Trust for Historic Preservation Heritage Garden
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Heritage Garden
Community land acquisition fund Site purchase

Support the Campus

Are you a resident, neighbor, or community member who wants to see fire safety, conservation, and heritage honored on this site?