The Nantucket Conservation Foundation has purchased an undeveloped eight-acre Shawkemo property from David Rosenzweig for $7.5 million, connecting several other properties that are already protected from development.
To secure the funds necessary to close the deal with Rosenzweig, the Conservation Foundation sold land in the Smooth Hummocks and Consue Springs area to the Nantucket Land Bank for $3 million. The remaining funds were committed by “numerous individual supporters” along with the Nantucket Land Council, and the Conservation Foundation is still accepting contributions toward the acquisition.
“This is a fantastic win for conservation in the Nantucket Harbor Watershed” said Cormac Collier, President & CEO of the Conservation Foundation. “Almost two years in the making, we are thrilled that we have finally protected this important puzzle piece in the conservation map. This is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Shawkemo Hills area. Protecting the property will enhance our existing open space network and help protect downgradient water bodies. There is also a pre-existing trail that we will incorporate into our future plans for the property.”
The Foundation will formulate a land management plan for the property that will include public access, said Grace Hull, the NCF director of marketing and communications.
Land Bank executive director Jesse Bell commented on the collaboration with NCF to bring the deal to fruition: “We’re excited to be able to collaborate with the Nantucket Conservation Foundation once again to support open space protection. The parcels we are acquiring from NCF enhance existing Land Bank properties and make sense from a habitat management perspective given our surrounding ownership in these areas.”
Rosenzweig is also placing a conservation restriction on another seven acre parcel in the area that “will limit future subdivision and centralize all future building next to existing residential structures” the Foundation stated.
