A multimillion-dollar home in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, is in imminent danger of collapsing due to severe erosion. The property owner has sold the home to a salvage company that refuses to contribute to its stabilization. Officials fear the house's collapse could damage oyster beds in Wellfleet Harbor, jeopardizing a key part of the local economy.
A home perched on the edge of a sandy bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay in Wellfleet , Massachusetts , faces imminent collapse due to relentless erosion. The once-grand multimillion-dollar residence, with its expansive deck and hot tub, now bears the scars of time. Massive sliding doors, once offering a panoramic view of the bay, are barricaded by flimsy wooden slats, serving as a desperate attempt to prevent anyone from venturing onto the precipice and falling 25 feet to the beach below.
The owner, aware of the impending doom, had attempted to mitigate the damage by removing sections of the house, including a small tower housing the primary bedroom, before abandoning the project and entering a contentious standoff with the town.He has since sold the property to a salvage company, which, according to his attorney, refuses to contribute financially to any stabilization efforts. Wellfleet officials harbor deep concerns about the potential consequences of the house's collapse, particularly the threat it poses to the delicate beds in their harbor where oyster farmers cultivate prized shellfish, a cornerstone of New England's culinary scene. A report commissioned by the town paints a grim picture, projecting that if no action is taken, the 5,100-square-foot home could tumble into the bay within three years, possibly sooner.The impending disaster serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of coastal communities in the face of climate change-driven sea level rise, which has accelerated erosion along the Cape in recent years. John Cumbler, a retired environmental history professor and member of the Wellfleet Conservation Commission, aptly describes the situation: 'The Cape has always been moving,' he says. 'The sand is moving.' The original owners, Mark and Barbara Blasch, initially sought permission to construct a 241-foot-wide seawall to counter the relentless erosion. However, the commission, comprised entirely of volunteers, rejected the proposal, citing potential ecological disturbances and uncertainties about its effectiveness in preserving the house. The National Seashore Administration also supported the rejection, citing the property's location within the Cape Cod National Seashore and its proximity to critical habitats and shellfish operations.The Blasches appealed the decision in state district court, but their efforts were unsuccessful. An appeal to the state's Superior Court remains pending. Despite the looming threat, a New York attorney, John Bonomi, purchased the house in 2022 for $5.5 million. His legal representatives declined to comment on the unfolding situation.A report prepared for Wellfleet by Bryan McCormack, a coastal processes specialist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant, estimates an alarming erosion rate of 3.8 to 5.6 feet per year. The report predicts a collapse within three years, possibly sooner. Furthermore, it warns that debris from the house, which contains significant amounts of fiberglass insulation and potentially hazardous materials, could contaminate Wellfleet Harbor, jeopardizing the town's thriving oyster industry.Cumbler emphasizes the severity of the potential environmental impact: 'The house has a lot of fiberglass insulation in it. It has toxic material in it,' he says. 'If that toxic material gets into Wellfleet Harbor, which is where the currents will take it, it could endanger the oyster industry in Wellfleet, our major industry outside of tourism.' Bonomi initially pledged to present a plan to mitigate the risks, but his attorney, Tom Moore, informed the town that Bonomi had sold the property to CQN Salvage, a recently incorporated company, and that they would not be funding any stabilization efforts.Moore's statement leaves Wellfleet officials grappling with a complex dilemma. The town's conservation agent, Lecia McKenna, expressed the urgency of the situation, questioning Moore about their intentions during a January commission meeting. The commission, faced with an increasingly dire scenario, extended the deadline for compliance with its enforcement order to June 1. However, the ownership of the property remains unclear, as the deed transfer has yet to be finalized.For now, Wellfleet can only watch helplessly as the house teeters precariously on the edge of the eroding bluff, its fate hanging in the balance. Recent visits to the site reveal a relentless assault of wind and waves, further accelerating the erosion process. The outcome remains uncertain, but the potential consequences are far-reaching, threatening not only the house itself but also the delicate ecosystem and economic livelihood of the town
Erosion Climate Change Sea Level Rise Coastal Hazards Oyster Industry Cape Cod Wellfleet Massachusetts
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