If it seems like the Grass Island Shack is never in the same place, you may be right. According to town officials, the peninsula where the nearly century-old iconic symbol sits has been impacted by the shifting coastline. The Board of Selectmen (BOS) has applied to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to move the structure.

According to First Selectman Matt Hoey, the town is seeking to move the entire structure in what he hopes will be an effort that will ensure its permanent safety.

“We submitted an application to the DEEP to move the shack 90 feet to the east of where it currently is sited, toward Madison. So, it will still be on the peninsula, but it will be upland,” said Hoey. “This will be the first step in that process, to apply for a permit to relocate it.”

Hoey said the Grass Island Shack’s peninsula has been the victim of a combination of factors, including rising seas.

“Water goes where it wants to go, and it has certainly changed that entire coastline on that side. It’s a combination of things, certainly rising sea levels and just the tidal flow and tidal washing of that area. But we think 90 feet will put it in a position so that it will be several generations before any issues arise,” said Hoey.

Hoey was hesitant to estimate a timeline, but said the town has a long-standing working relationship with DEEP and was hopeful that the project would move along as swiftly as possible.

“It’s our assumption that given the iconic nature of this structure, that they [DEEP] won’t give us a hard time with this request, but this is really just phase one. We don’t have a design as of yet and don’t have engineering documents at this point,” said Hoey.

Hoey said it is too early to estimate the cost of moving the Grass Island Shack or where the money will come from, but he emphasized the cost is well within the town’s means.

“That’s not a big concern at this point. We still have American Rescue Plan funding available, and if not, I think capital funding is more than appropriate to preserve this historic structure,” said Hoey.

Hoey said that saving the structure is critical for residents, many of whom have personal memories and ties to Grass Island.

“It is an iconic structure. It is one of the photographed sites in town, and probably the shoreline. It has a rich history of experiences for so many of our community and for visitors, so preserving that in perpetuity, or as long as we can, seems like the right thing to do,” Hoey said. “I have gotten inquiries from community members who want to help with this. There are lots of stories about rights of passage related to Grass Island; it is undoubtedly important for us to preserve this.”