
WELLFLEET, Mass. — The picturesque Big Brown House, located on a sandy bluff above Cape Cod Bay, is facing an unavoidable threat from erosion, and its downfall appears imminent. The concrete foundations of the multimillion-dollar residence are now alarmingly close to the encroaching waters, with massive sliding doors that once opened to what was a spacious deck now closure-barriered to prevent accidental falls into the 25-foot drop to the beach below.
The current owner was aware of the risks and took steps to remove the deck and other parts of the house, including a small tower that housed the main bedroom. However, work came to a halt, resulting in a standoff with local authorities. The owner has since sold the property to a salvage company, as confirmed by an attorney representing him, who claims that the company is unwilling to fund any remedial actions.
Local officials are increasingly concerned that the predicted collapse of the home could have devastating effects on fragile oyster beds in Wellfleet Harbor, where farmers cultivate oysters considered highly valuable in New England. A report commissioned by the town cautioned that if no interventions occur, the 5,100-square-foot home could plunge into the bay within three years—potentially even sooner.
This situation underscores the vulnerability of coastal construction in the region, particularly as climate change accelerates sea level rise. “The cape has always been dynamic,” remarked John Cumbler, a retired environmental historian who is now a member of the Wellfleet Conservation Commission. “Sand movements are a constant factor.”
The house, constructed in 2010 on Cape Cod’s bay side, hit the spotlight in 2018 when its original owners, Mark and Barbara Blasch, sought permission to erect a 241-foot-long seawall to combat erosion. However, the volunteer board of the conservation commission turned down the request, expressing concerns that a seawall could alter natural beach dynamics and questioned its effectiveness for preserving the house.
Given that the property lies within Cape Cod National Seashore, the National Seashore Administration supported the decision to reject the seawall due to the area’s ecological significance, including vital habitats and shellfish operations. The Blasches’ appeal to the state district court was unsuccessful, and a further appeal to the Superior Court is currently in process.
In 2022, under uncertain circumstances, attorney John Bonomi purchased the house for $5.5 million. His legal representatives have chosen not to comment on the developments surrounding the property.
A report conducted for Wellfleet last year by Bryan McCormack, a coastal processes specialist affiliated with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant program, estimated that the erosion rate of the bluffs is between 3.8 to 5.6 feet annually. The same report projected that the structure could potentially collapse within a three-year timeframe—if not sooner—posing a danger to Wellfleet Harbor, the home of the town’s famed oysters that take multiple years to mature.
“The house contains substantial amounts of fiberglass insulation and other toxic materials,” stated Cumbler. “If those materials were to enter Wellfleet Harbor due to a collapse, it could jeopardize our oyster industry, which is crucial to the local economy aside from tourism.”
In a meeting last October, Bonomi acknowledged the precarious situation of the house and promised to provide a plan by January detailing how they would address the issue. However, this plan, intended to be unveiled at a January meeting, did not materialize, as Bonomi’s attorney later informed the commission that the house had been sold to CQN Salvage, a company established just a few months prior. The attorney emphasized that while CQN Salvage is prepared to assist the town, they will not be financing any remediation efforts.
The ownership details of CQN Salvage remain murky, with no officials listed in the incorporation records for New York state. When questioned about the future plans at a January meeting, Bonomi’s attorney informed the commission that a bare minimum estimate for removal would be no less than $1 million.
In a tense exchange, Lecia McKenna, Wellfleet’s conservation agent, confronted Moore, asking if there were plans to allow the house to be lost to the sea. Moore replied he would seek alternatives to prevent such a disaster.
A decision was made to extend the compliance deadline to June 1 while the town grapples with the fate of the house. McKenna highlighted at the meeting that the property deed has not yet been officially transferred.
At this stage, Wellfleet is left merely observing the situation unfold. Observers noted that, during a recent visit to the site, 20 mph winds stirred the bluffs, causing sand to cascade downward. Data show that sea levels at nearby Falmouth have risen approximately 11 inches over the past 90 years, and this rate is hastening as further analysis indicates that between 1995 and 2024, levels around Cape Cod are rising approximately 0.16 inch per year quicker than in previous decades.
Despite the challenging factors posed by climate change and erosion linked to rising sea levels, McCormack emphasized that attributing erosion specific to one property is complex. He noted, however, that the bluffs have receded by 54 feet since 2014, and recent erosion rates have surpassed historical averages documented by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.