Home / Environment / Eroding Eastham Home Faces Demolition
Eroding Eastham Home Faces Demolition
5 Jun
Summary
- Town began demolishing house on edge of eroding bank.
- Owner bought discounted oceanfront home knowing risks.
- Demolition is halfway complete to prevent environmental disaster.
In Eastham, Massachusetts, a house at 157 Brownell Road is undergoing demolition by town officials. The structure is mere feet from an eroding coastal bank, prompting emergency action to prevent its collapse into the ocean. This follows a court order allowing the town to remove the home and its infrastructure.
The property owner, David Moot, purchased the oceanfront home in late 2023 for $395,000, acknowledging the erosion risk. He expressed a desire to enjoy the property despite the precarious situation. However, significant erosion, exacerbated by winter storms, has brought the bluff's edge dangerously close to the house.
Demolition began recently and is now approximately halfway complete. Town officials initiated the process to avert environmental hazards like sewage and debris entering the sea. The town plans to stabilize the site after removal, potentially seeking to recover demolition costs through a lien on the property.
