By Patrick Donges
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-967430.mp3
Tolland, MA – The state will pay $3 million to acquire the 843 acre property in the Hampden County town of Tolland. Jeremy Freid is a principal with Boston-based Great Rock Real Estate, which brokered the deal between the state and landowners.
"It was the largest piece of land for sale in the state. "We received a number of buyers with a number of different offers for different parcels, but ultimately it was the state's offer that was the most compelling."
Freid said properties like the Tolland site; a remote location with no infrastructure, a 125 acre lake and property fronting the Farmington River, are hard to value.
"The market of buyers for a property like this is so thin that it's hard conventionally for a broker to properly market it."
"Their intention initially was to buy it and develop it. They came to a point where they said we're not going to develop this property and for four or five years couldn't gain any traction. I think they'll tell you they're pretty happy.
Stephanie Cooper, Asst. Secretary for Land and Forest Conservation at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, said the land will offer expanded recreation opportunities for residents and visitors, calling the purchase a good deal for state taxpayers.
"The governor has said that what we protect is just as important as what we build, so that's the way that we think of this. This is sort of a once in a lifetime opportunity and we're so pleased to be able to take advantage of it."
"Part of our agenda in land conservation is protecting large forested blocks and that is for the present and future biodiversity of the state as well as providing those recreational opportunities and conserving the open space."
Lee Alexander is the Community Conservation Specialist for the Trustees of Reservations' Pioneer Valley regional office.
"This is a really important piece of land, a large piece of land. We've been aware of it for some time and we're just delighted that DCR was able to step in and protect it."
Alexander said that as the real estate market remains down, conservation is an attractive option for landowners looking to sell more remote parcels.
"While interest from developers may come and go depending on the market, interest from conservation groups can remain fairly constant. We are always interested in meeting with people and helping them think through and talk through their options."