Can New-Design Breakwaters Save Seabreeze Apartments?

WADs waiting at the Cape Charles harbor for deployment off the north beach. (Wave photo)

BY KAREN JOLLY DAVIS
Cape Charles Wave

August 28, 2012

Massive concrete pyramids line the south dock of Cape Charles harbor, waiting to be deployed along the town’s northern waterfront. They’re called WADs—wave attenuating devices. And these WADs are probably the first to be used in Virginia.

“They never would have let us build it if erosion wasn’t a problem,” said George Mirmelstein, agent for the owners of Seabreeze Apartments.

He said there was only 20 feet of land beyond the apartments’ foundation when he was first shown the problem, and Hurricane Irene gobbled up another 8 feet this past September.

“We’re hoping that this system—WADs—will cause the beach to recreate itself,” said Mirmelstein. Seabreeze joins two other properties in the Bay Vistas development to fund the breakwaters.

He said Seabreeze will contribute more than $150,000 to the project, which costs over $250,000. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) holds the mortgage on Seabreeze until 2033. It approved an emergency reserve loan from the Rural Development branch of USDA to help pay for the WADs. [Read more…]

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SATURDAY 9/1: Town-Wide Labor Day Weekend Yard Sale

Cape Charles is having another big Labor Day Weekend Yard Sale this Saturday, September 1, from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Set up your treasures at the corner of Harbor and Mason, or sell from home and advertise on the Yard Sale Map. $10 fee. Contact [email protected] or stop by Sullivan’s Office Supply.