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A multi-million dollar Cape Cod mansion is on the brink of collapsing into the ocean, posing a direct threat to Wellfleet, Massachusetts's prized oyster industry and serving as a stark warning for coastal property owners. The property's impending failure, driven by rapid bluff erosion, highlights the complex intersection of private property rights, environmental protection, and economic sustainability. With a town-mandated deadline of June 1 for action, the situation underscores the growing risks associated with climate change and rising sea levels for waterfront real estate.
The primary concern is the potential contamination of Wellfleet Harbor. A report prepared for the town by a coastal processes specialist from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant concluded that the 5,100-square-foot home could fall into the bay within three years, if not sooner. The structure contains fiberglass insulation and other toxic materials that, if released into the water, could devastate the local oyster beds. These oysters represent the town's major industry outside of tourism and take years to mature. The collapse would litter the harbor with harmful debris, endangering this vital economic and ecological resource.
In 2018, the original owners sought permission to build a 241-foot-wide seawall—a structure designed to prevent erosion—to protect their property. The Wellfleet Conservation Commission rejected the proposal, a decision backed by the National Seashore Administration. The denial was based on concerns that the seawall could have unintended consequences on the beach below and affect nutrient levels in the bay, given the property's "critical location" within the Cape Cod National Seashore. This case illustrates the regulatory hurdles homeowners can face when proposed solutions may negatively impact protected coastal environments.
New York City attorney John Bonomi purchased the cliffside home in 2022 for $5.5 million, aware of the erosion risks. The bluff was eroding at a rate of 3.8 to 5.6 feet per year. Bonomi took precautionary measures, including dismantling part of the structure. However, after initially engaging with the town, Bonomi subsequently sold the property to a salvage company. The company has expressed willingness to cooperate with the town but has stated it will not fund the estimated $1 million cost of removing the house. The town has decreed that action must be taken by June 1, but a clear, funded resolution remains uncertain.
The broader context of this crisis is accelerating environmental change. An analysis of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that the sea level around Cape Cod has risen at an accelerated rate in recent decades. Furthermore, the erosion rate of the cape’s bluffs over the past decade has outpaced official projections from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. This situation in Wellfleet is emblematic of the challenges faced by coastal communities along the East Coast.
For prospective buyers of coastal property, this case offers critical lessons:
