San Francisco — Contrary to reports in Melody Maker and a smattering of gossip columns, Bob Dylan's $2-million-plus Malibu mansion is not falling into the Pacific – at least not yet. According to Chris Charlesworth in the February 19th issue of Melody Maker, "The house . . . is built atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, but the cliff is gradually eroding due to the pressure of the waves. According to reports here, the house will gradually slip into the sea."

"That's impossible," responded Dave Towbin, architect for the house. "That house can't slip; it's built on normal earth, not sand. It's not on the beach side, it's across a road from the beach. It does have a tremendous view of the ocean, though." Were the house, which has been described as "an eclectic version of an East Coast stick-and-shingle house . . . basically American Victorian and Mediterranean, and pure New Mexico inside," to fall into the Pacific, it would have to carry with it a swimming pool that one building inspector has described as a "lake. It has bridges and boulders."

"If that house goes into the ocean," maintains architect Towbin, "it means all the coast of California is going."

This story is from the April 7th, 1977 issue of Rolling Stone.

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