Nantucket Erosion Battle: Vandalism Targets $18M Bluff Defense
A conflict has erupted in Siasconset, Nantucket, between wealthy homeowners attempting to save their cliffside properties from erosion and local year-round residents who believe nature should take its course. The tension escalated after a vandal slashed a 947-foot sand-filled tube barrier designed to protect the bluff, causing approximately $18 million in damage with potential repair costs of another $2 million. This incident has intensified the dispute, leading to a $10,000 reward for information regarding the perpetrator. The affected enclave on Baxter Road includes homes owned by prominent figures such as members of the Hearst and Soros families. While preservationists argue for protecting valuable real estate, locals express indifference to the destruction of these expensive summer homes, highlighting a deep societal divide over coastal management and property rights.
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Nantucket Erosion Battle: Vandalism Targets $18M Bluff Defense
A conflict has erupted in Siasconset, Nantucket, between wealthy homeowners attempting to save their cliffside properties from erosion and local year-round residents who believe nature should take its course. The tension escalated after a vandal slashed a 947-foot sand-filled tube barrier designed to protect the bluff, causing approximately $18 million in damage with potential repair costs of another $2 million. This incident has intensified the dispute, leading to a $10,000 reward for information regarding the perpetrator. The affected enclave on Baxter Road includes homes owned by prominent figures such as members of the Hearst and Soros families. While preservationists argue for protecting valuable real estate, locals express indifference to the destruction of these expensive summer homes, highlighting a deep societal divide over coastal management and property rights.
WSJ.com : U.S. News