Hello,
I purchased beachfront property on a private island in SC over a year ago. The island has been dealing with erosion issues in the last decade along the middle of the island. This winter we lost a significant amount of beach even along the northern section. We have several homes sitting directly on the beach now and are in dire straights. My property could be danger if the erosion continues.
After hours and hours of research I have found the the State added several jetties to the state park island just south of our island. Experts have said that the aggressive erosion on our island is a direct result of the jetties on the other island redirecting the wave energy in an untoward manner on our island.
SC law apparently states that if a jettie is built on one island then the surrounding islands must be monitored (ours was not) and any damaging effects must be repaired.
The HOA will not help because landward homes refuse to pay for the beach repairs (from my research it appears as though the president of the board, at the time beachfront homeowners approached them for help, was dead set against allowing repairs to go coward even going do far as to stop a presentation from an expert showing the predicted future damage and eventual breach if our small island. There was a slanted questionnaire sent to homeowners but the results were obviously negative.
Even still, I feel the state is liable for repairing our beach which estimates range close to two million dollars.
We are considering a class action lawsuit to force them to do the right thing. So many families are in trouble and millions of dollars in real estate are in peril. We are not a 'rich' island. We are very middle class. Peoples savings and retirements are at stake. I am afraid mine will be too. Everyone's home values are dwindling and we are desperate.
What are our options and do you recommend anyone we can talk to? Thank you for your consideration
I purchased beachfront property on a private island in SC over a year ago. The island has been dealing with erosion issues in the last decade along the middle of the island. This winter we lost a significant amount of beach even along the northern section. We have several homes sitting directly on the beach now and are in dire straights. My property could be danger if the erosion continues.
After hours and hours of research I have found the the State added several jetties to the state park island just south of our island. Experts have said that the aggressive erosion on our island is a direct result of the jetties on the other island redirecting the wave energy in an untoward manner on our island.
SC law apparently states that if a jettie is built on one island then the surrounding islands must be monitored (ours was not) and any damaging effects must be repaired.
The HOA will not help because landward homes refuse to pay for the beach repairs (from my research it appears as though the president of the board, at the time beachfront homeowners approached them for help, was dead set against allowing repairs to go coward even going do far as to stop a presentation from an expert showing the predicted future damage and eventual breach if our small island. There was a slanted questionnaire sent to homeowners but the results were obviously negative.
Even still, I feel the state is liable for repairing our beach which estimates range close to two million dollars.
We are considering a class action lawsuit to force them to do the right thing. So many families are in trouble and millions of dollars in real estate are in peril. We are not a 'rich' island. We are very middle class. Peoples savings and retirements are at stake. I am afraid mine will be too. Everyone's home values are dwindling and we are desperate.
What are our options and do you recommend anyone we can talk to? Thank you for your consideration