The farm, which has 2300 feet of frontage on the Mad River, a
2800-square-foot house and several outbuildings, has been on the market
since last year. It is currently priced at $495,000, down considerably
from the initial asking price of $1.2 million.
Bob Ferris, director of the Yestermorrow School in Waitsfield, said
that the most recent price reduction is what got many local people to
take notice.
PEOPLE MOBILIZED
"When the price fell below a half million, all of this came together.
People mobilized for the opportunity and the risk and started to figure
out what do we need to do to act," he said.
Ferris, representing Yestermorrow, the Warren Planning Commission, the
Mad River Valley Housing Coalition, the Mad River Localvore, the Mad
River Valley Planning District, representatives from the Intervale and
the Vermont Land Trust all came to a planning meeting to brainstorm
ways to keep the farm as an agricultural and community resource.
"We've started the work, but we need to give them some sort of answer
about whether we're going forward or not by mid-September. We need to
get organized as to what non-profit and government funding commitments
we need to get lined up and we're making some progress in that area. We
know that there is going to be some chunk of it that we have to raise
from the public and we hope to be able to talk to people about buying
in, because of what's at risk," he continued.
AESTHETIC IMPACT
Ferris said that several things are at risk including the loss of the
agricultural resource as well as the aesthetic impact of a working farm
on the Route 100 corridor. Opportunities for the project are numerous,
he said. In addition to securing public access to a spectacular portion
of the Mad River, the property could extend/connection portions of the
Mad River Path; could be used for localvore farming or farm housing;
the barns could be used for classes and possibly student housing for
Yestermorrow; the farmhouse could be redeveloped as affordable or
worker housing, etc.
The need for more agricultural land is particularly acute, Ferris said
and pointed out that at least two local organic farmers are maxed out
in terms of production. He said there is a market for more local
produce.
He said the idea to purchase the property and get it into public hands
or conservation came from a lot of community members at the same time.
HISTORICAL TREASURE
"I think everybody was driving by it and became aware of it as an
historical treasure and an important contributor and resource in The
Valley. As it remained on the market with the price dropping, I think
people began to look at what could replace the farm if it were
purchased by someone who developed it," he said.
When the organizers got together, all of them saw the property as a
vehicle for providing public good and accomplishing an element of their
respective missions. And all were worried that the recent price
reduction could very well open the door for the purchase of the
property by someone who would greatly alter the use and look of this
very visible and iconic Vermont farm.
When the Kingsbury family learned that an offer was being made by a
group who wanted the property to be used as a farm and also to be
managed and utilized for the public good, they accepted the offer.
MEMBERSHIP BASED LLC
The purchasing group is rapidly putting together a membership-based LLC
with membership limited to local nonprofits that might have an interest
in using or being involved with the preservation, enhancement and
future uses of the 22-acre site and the buildings. Ideas on the table
at this point include some sort of farming or agricultural related
operation, community education, housing, riverside restoration and
buffering, and a venue for occasional events.
A steering committee has been established which includes Ferris, Mad
River Valley Planning District director Linda Lloyd, Tara Hamilton from
the local conservation commission, Localvore organizer Robin McDermott,
Kinny Perot, and Liza Walker from the Vermont Land Trust.
Additional committees also are being set up to look at potential
agricultural, education and community uses as well as recreational
access and habitat enhancement for the property's 2300 feet of
riverfront. Interested parties and groups should contact Linda Lloyd at
the Mad River Valley Planning District (496-7173 or
Contact Lisa Loomis at
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