The latest storm along Lake Michigan caused significant dune erosion at Warwick Shores just south of New Buffalo. Staff photo by Robert Franklin
What once was a source of relaxation has become increasingly stressful for homeowners along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The latest gale on Oct. 16 generated massive winds and waves, causing significant erosion along the coast. Large chunks of beach and dunes disappeared in the latest storm, and property owners are worried that the problems are far from over.
Perhaps as much as 200 feet of dune disappeared at the Warwick Shores condominium development, just south of New Buffalo, despite the spending of millions of dollars on a massive revetment made of protective boulders.
But the October storm and other recent gales generated waves that have crashed over the revetment, causing additional erosion. A piece of a community deck overlooking the lake, as well as a stairway leading to the protective rocks, already are in jeopardy.
In the coming months, the association plans to spend at least $1.5 million more building up the protective revetment, meaning each of the 80 property owners will be expected to cough up anywhere from $14,000 to $25,000, depending on the size of their condos.
“It’s become very expensive,” said Joe Galetto, president of Warwick Shores. “But we don’t have a choice.”
To do nothing means to succumb to the waves of Lake Michigan and risk losing more beach, more dunes and even structures.
“Property values already are down about 40 percent,” said Galetto, who has owned a place on the lake since 1993. “One of our condos that sold for $825,000 in 2008 sold for $439,000 in 2013.”
The reason for declining property values?
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