Luxury Cape Cod Home Faces Imminent Collapse Due to Coastal Erosion

The precariously perched house threatens local oyster beds and raises questions about climate change and shoreline development.

A 5,100-square-foot luxury home in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, is at risk of collapsing into Cape Cod Bay within three years, with erosion accelerating due to rising sea levels.
The town of Wellfleet is concerned about the potential environmental impact, including toxic debris damaging critical oyster beds in the harbor, a key part of the local economy.
The house, built in 2010, has changed ownership multiple times, with the current owner, a salvage company, refusing to fund its removal.
Efforts to build a seawall to protect the property were rejected by local and federal conservation authorities due to environmental concerns and doubts about its effectiveness.
The Wellfleet Conservation Commission has extended the deadline for action to June 1, but the future of the property remains uncertain as erosion continues to threaten the bluff.