Saving threatened historic buildings on Cape Cod is focus of new research project

CAPE COD, Mass. — Cape Cod is known for its dramatic ocean views, but all that beautiful water could undermine its future.

Many of the state’s oldest and most historic buildings are located there and are now threatened by rising waters associated with climate change.

Sandwich Town Hall has stood near the corner of Main and Water streets since 1834. It’s one of the oldest municipal buildings in use in the state.

Brendan Brides, the town’s building commissioner, says the building is now facing an increased threat from flooding.

“About nine months ag, we had a pretty serious storm and ended up with six inches of rain falling and the water filled right up above the storm wall,” said Brides. “It got so bad we had to have the fire department in to pump water out of there, so we were concerned.”

Brides said water often rises several feet off the basement floor and that the situation has gotten worse over the last 10 years or so.

Although town hall sits about a mile inland, it is near several small waterways. When the wind and the water come ashore, the small streams are overwhelmed, and the water comes right up -- and into -- the building.

It’s a scenario playing out across the Cape these days.

“We’re recognizing that into the future, there’s going to be a lot more flooding, and a lot more potential damage to these historic properties,” explained Sarah Korjeff, a historic preservationist and planner at the Cape Cod Commission.

The Commission is now working on a project with the Army Corp of Engineers to survey properties across the Cape.

“They’re helping us with identifying the best ways of adapting historic properties, to protect them from flood risks, and at the same time, to preserve the character of these significant buildings,” Korejeff added.

In addition to Sandwich, properties in Provincetown and Woods Hole are being analyzed.

“One of the main goals of the project is to help people understand that there are a range of options for them to protect their historic buildings,” said Korejeff. “We don’t want to see demolitions. We don’t want to see major changes to historic buildings that change the character.”

It’s that character that makes Cape Cod so special and makes the stakes so high with this project.

When asked what the best cast scenario is for saving these properties, Korjeff replied “In some areas we’re talking about elevating buildings, and other areas we’re talking about adapting them with flood proofing techniques, and in some others, we’re going to be talking about possibly needing to relocate them.”

Saving these buildings will be a big effort particularly as conditions worsen.

The final report is expected to contain both short-term and long-term recommendations for the properties, as well as cost estimates.

Korjeff believes these buildings tell the story of Cape Cod and that story needs to be preserved for future generations.

“For every building we lose, we lose a little piece of that story.”

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