WELLFLEET, Mass. —
Cape Cod Bay Threatens Million-Dollar Home: A Cautionary Tale of Coastal Erosion
The waters of Cape Cod Bay are relentlessly advancing towards a sprawling, brown mansion perched precariously on the edge of a sandy bluff overlooking the beach. The fate of this multimillion-dollar home is sealed, with only the timing remaining uncertain. Erosion has already nibbled away at the concrete footings of the house, leaving massive sliding doors barricaded with wooden slats—mere barriers that could not stop anyone from plummeting 25 feet to the beach below.
The Home Owner’s Dilemma
The homeowner was well aware of the perilous situation. He had already dismantled parts of the house, including the expansive deck, a hot tub area, and the tower containing the primary bedroom, in a bid to stave off collapse. What was a subsequent fractured relationship with the town over the decision?
The homeowner’s legal representative revealed that he had sold the property to a salvage company that claims it cannot provide funds for interventions to save the house. This has escalated tensions between the home’s new owners and Wellfleet officials.
Environmental Concerns Mount
Wellfleet officials express significant worry about the potential impact of the collapsing house on their oyster beds, a vital resource highly esteemed in the New England region. A recent report from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant poignantly highlights the peril: the house could tumble into the bay within three years, with a possibility of collapse occurring even sooner due to accelerated erosion rates.
Such a collapse could introduce detrimental toxins into Wellfleet Harbor, jeopardizing the town’s oyster industry, a cornerstone of its economy outside of tourism. John Cumbler, an environmental history professor and member of the Wellfleet Conservation Commission, echoed these concerns, stressing the risk posed by toxic materials embedded within the house.
The Failed Seawall Attempt
The original owners, Mark and Barbara Blasch, had applied to the commission in 2018 for permission to construct a 241-foot-wide seawall to protect the home from further erosion. However, the commission declined the request, citing possible negative impacts on local ecosystem dynamics and shellfish operations within the Cape Cod National Seashore.
The Blasches challenged this decision through state courts but failed to gain support for their cause. Currently, an appeal to the state’s Superior Court remains pending.
Complicated Transference: The Role of Attorneys
In 2022, John Bonomi, a New York-based attorney, acquired the property for $5.5 million despite the obvious risks ahead. By October that year, Bonomi had reached out to Wellfleet officials with an initial proposal to provide a removal strategy by January. However, this plan never materialized. Instead, Bonomi transferred ownership to CQN Salvage, a newly incorporated company represented by Bonomi’s attorney, Tom Moore.
The town’s conservation agent, Lecia McKenna, questioned the salvagers’ commitment to preventing the house from collapsing. Moore defended CQN Salvage’s stance, asserting that the company offers to work alongside the town without funding the costly removal efforts.
Extended Deadline: Time Is Ticking
The Wellfleet Conservation Commission conceded to a deadline extension of June 1st, giving the town more time to comply with their enforcement order. Nevertheless, McKenna highlighted that the property transfer was yet to be finalized, leaving the status of responsibility ambivalent.
The Fragility of Coastal Living
This situation serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in coastal construction, especially in light of accelerating sea level rise due to climate change. Cape Cod, a geologically dynamic region, has always experienced erosion. However, the current accelerated rate poses significant threats to both infrastructure and natural habitats.
John Cumbler reflected on the precarious nature of building in such environments, emphasizing that the sand movement has long been a constant. Nonetheless, recent measurements underscore the alarming increase in erosion rates—receding bluffs by 54 feet in the past decade—an unprecedented speed unprecedented in the historical records of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.
Conclusion: The Future of Coastal Communities
The imminent collapse of this high-stakes home serves as a cautionary tale for coastal communities worldwide. It highlights the critical need for sustainable building practices that consider long-term ecological impacts and the resilience required to cope with the inevitable forces of nature.
As well as reflecting on past decisions, this situation encourages a reevaluation of current and future investments in coastal real estate, urging stakeholders to prioritize environmentally friendly and robust construction methodologies.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story and let us know your thoughts on the challenges facing coastal residents and developers.
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