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Cape Cod Couple's Dream Home To Be Demolished for Bridge Replacement
🇮🇳 India /Energy & Infrastructure

Cape Cod Couple's Dream Home To Be Demolished for Bridge Replacement

From Times of India · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A Cape Cod couple, Marc and Joan Hendel, will have their newly built dream home demolished by the state to make way for the Sagamore Bridge replacement.
  • Massachusetts officials have taken 11 of 13 properties in the Round Hill neighborhood for the project, paying some homeowners more than their assessed value.
  • The Hendels, who moved in March 2025, were unaware of the planned eminent domain acquisition, despite community meetings held earlier, and are struggling with the disruption to their retirement plans.

Marc and Joan Hendel moved into their newly constructed dream home on Cape Cod in March 2025, only to be informed a month later that the state intended to acquire their property through eminent domain for a new Sagamore Bridge. They are among 13 property owners in Bourne's Round Hill neighborhood whose land has been designated for the project.

people depend heavily on the bridges.

— Luisa PaiewonskyExplaining the importance of the Sagamore and Bourne bridges for regional transportation.

Public records indicate that by April, the state had secured 11 of the 13 properties, paying at least $4.8 million for six of them, exceeding their combined assessed value of $3.5 million. However, for the Hendels, the financial compensation does not fully address the significant disruption to their retirement plans. The couple had decided in late 2023 to relocate to New England to be closer to family after living in the Midwest for several years.

Their plans were upended when a state official delivered a legal notice just four weeks after they moved in. The Hendels noted that documents signed by the seller in 2023 stated no awareness of any planned government taking. While state officials had conducted community meetings about the bridge replacement as early as June 2021, the Hendels were living out of state at the time and were unaware of these local discussions.

Although the state provides compensation for homes and relocation costs and helps people find new housing, she said officials understand that losing a home is much more than a financial transaction.

— Luisa PaiewonskyAcknowledging the emotional and personal impact of property acquisition on residents.

Massachusetts officials assert that acquiring these properties is essential for upgrading a critical regional transportation route. The Sagamore and Bourne bridges, nearly 90 years old, handle over 38 million vehicle trips annually and are the sole road links between Cape Cod and mainland Massachusetts. Luisa Paiewonsky, executive director of MassDOT's Mega Projects Delivery Office, acknowledged the profound impact on residents, stating that while the state offers compensation and relocation assistance, losing a home is more than a financial transaction. She assured that officials are committed to treating affected residents with respect and compassion.

She said the state is working to treat affected residents with respect, professionalism, and compassion because of the disruption

— Luisa PaiewonskyReassuring that the state aims to handle the displacement process with care.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of India in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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