Conservation land purchase on Block Island presents quite a contrast to Charlestown's YMCA deal.
Three lots formerly slated for development are now going to the Block Island Conservancy and Block Island Land Trust. Read on to see how it is being done.
The three lots previously sold for $1.25 million.
The Land Trust bought one of the lots outright.
The neighboring property owners bought another one and then gave an easement to the Land Trust and Conservancy.
The two groups are putting a fundraising program in place to get the $417,000 needed to purchase the third lot. Land Trust Chair Barbara MacMullan said that the town is looking for grant money, but the group won’t wait for that to happen and will try to raise all the money through private donations.
The land contains a parking lot that will remain open to public use.
Land Trust member Barbara Michel said. “It is a big deal.” It certainly is and has less chance of generating lawsuits than our YMCA deal.
The open-access article on The Block Island Times website with all of the details is available here.
