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The dismantling of Wayfarers Chapel is being completed
Workers dismantle the historic Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes on on May 17, 2024, after landslides shift the terrain causing irreversible damage to the chapel and surrounding lands.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Topline:
The final support beams at the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes were being removed Monday as part of the historic building's disassembly process. The project was completed in just over a month.
Disassembly process: The wooden beams, glass fixtures and steel mullions were moved to a secure location in Rancho Palos Verdes to prevent further damage while officials contemplate the chapel’s future. As each element is carefully removed, it was cataloged before being taken to storage. The painstaking process will allow the Wayfarers Chapel to be reassembled to much of its former glory.
Why disassembly was necessary: City officials say the land where the chapel is located has been moving around 7 inches a week for the past few months. Compare that to the period of October 2021 to October 2022, when the land moved at a rate of around 0.08 inches a week.
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What’s next for the chapel: Crews will next assess the grounds to see if the church can be reconstructed on the original site.
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