You may have heard the now-common question, “Have you ever tried to [fill in normally simple activity here] during a pandemic?” In the case of the Cape Cod Hemp House, that normally simple activity was drawing permits.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown, staffing issues, et cetera, what should have been a 30-day construction permitting process turned into a three-month ordeal of, in essence, camping out outside of city hall hoping to bump into the proper officials until the team was able to submit a satisfactory package and the permits were finally approved. This delay pushed the start of the project from late spring to late July when the demolition subcontractor took down the existing structure under a simple demolition permit. Registered Land Surveyor Ryder-Wilcox then pinned the corners of the would-be structure to determine the extent of the excavation. Overdig was established during the last week of July, and because of the angle of repose due to sandy soil conditions, concrete blocks were added to the western side of the excavation, as well as the northeastern corner near the property entrance to avoid cave-in or burying conditions. Though not uncommon, the sandy conditions required more concrete blocks for stabilization than are used on most projects. This kicked off a process which would not earn the site crew any favor with the neighbors who were trying to enjoy the last month of summer vacation: the excavation and driving of forty 40-foot piles..
Why should a beach front residence essentially sit atop forty telephone poles?
While the Cape Cod Hemp House is not currently in a floodplain, its no secret that sea levels are on the rise.
Why should a beach front residence essentially sit atop forty telephone poles? While the Cape Cod Hemp House is not currently in a floodplain, it's no secret that sea levels are on the rise. Resiliency and building for the future are important to the owners of the house, who know there is a good chance that the dunes could eventually disappear. More on the specifics of the foundation will be revealed in coming weeks as progress is made, but the pile and grade beam + pier foundation of the Cape Cod Hemp House is designed to become an open foundation one day, 50+ years from now if and when another event like the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 happens again. That starts with these piles.
