Protected Park
Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC
In 2023, we partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) to acquire two at-risk homes in Rodanthe, NC, located on the beach at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore boundary.
Project Details:
Project Years: 2023
Parcel Size: 0.5 acres
Project Cost: $731,000
Park Trust Role: Fund and Contract Appraisals
Funding Source: Donors
Overview
Due to significant erosion that removed what was once a 500-foot beach, two houses were dangerously exposed to direct wave action. The properties faced imminent risk, especially during storms when ocean waters are higher. Several neighboring houses had already collapsed into the park, leading to debris and sewage contamination for miles along the beach and ocean.
As hurricane season approached, the NPS came to us asking for assistance in funding and expediting two property appraisals required to complete this critical acquisition. Using our real estate expertise and knowledge specific to national parks, we cut the appraisal process time by more than half, playing a pivotal role in the timely acquisition and, ultimately, the protection of the Rodanthe shoreline and park. The appraisal process was the critical first step before the NPS could acquire the properties.
On September 29, 2023, the NPS closed on the purchase of the at-risk properties using resources from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, established by Congress in 1965, which uses earnings from offshore oil and gas leases — not taxpayer dollars — to protect lands, waters, and historic sites. NPS is moving forward with removing the houses to mitigate the inevitable environmental impact.
Why This Place Matters
Cape Hatteras National Seashore draws more than 3 million visitors annually and boasts unique historic structures and maritime history. It is home to nesting sea turtles and sea and shorebirds. The potential collapse of the houses jeopardized visitor safety, public health, and threatened wildlife habitats. The success of this project proved to be a useful technique to deal with the impacts of climate change on national parks and other public lands and secure the legacy of important landmarks for future generations.
Significance of the Acquisition:
- Helped mitigate the ongoing challenges of having threatened oceanfront structures impact visitor safety, public health, and wildlife habitat at the Seashore.
- It supported beach restoration and maintained public beach access.
- The purchase and removal of the properties prevented further pollution and scattered debris along the beaches and in the water.
- Protected the safety of wildlife, the visiting public, and park employees.
- Removed threat to nesting and feeding wildlife.
