Politics & Government

Future of Wright-Locke Farm Pushed to the Fall

The Board of Selectmen and the Wright-Locke Farm conservancy could not agree to excess the land, postponing a possible long-term lease agreement until at least the fall.

The Conservancy will need to wait until at least the fall before it finds out whether or not the town of Winchester and the will give them a

According to Jim Whitehead of the conservancy, without a lease the economic future of the farm is uncertain, and a 30-year lease would give the farm a chance to make money.

“We’re seeking a lease because the conservancy needs to make the farm economically viable,” Whitehead said. “With a lease we could get land income, sublet the farmhouse, we’re eligible for grants.”

Find out what's happening in Winchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Whitehead said that a long-term lease would benefit the town because Winchester could avoid paying the $50,000 it costs to maintain the farm since it’s a historical property.

The economic future of the farm has become a concern over the last few months. That’s when Abbott real estate company, which had an agreement to purchase part of the farmland for $13.6 million, in order to build housing units,

Find out what's happening in Winchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The conservancy postponed Article 17 on the Town Meeting warrant, which asks Town Meeting to protect and preserve 8.3 acres of the farm, by entering into a long-term lease agreement with the town, because the Board of Selectmen decided that they could not give the conservancy the land until the town finds a new developer.

According to Selectman Roger Berman, the board is committee to putting out a Request for Proposals (RFP) within the next 30 days. Part of the problem with giving the conservancy a lease, Berman said was the easements a new developer may need, some of which the town knows from Abbott and some of which a new developer may need.

“Postponing Article 17 allows us to end up with a better project in the end,” Berman said. “We’re committed to having a public process. We’ll come back in the fall with a lease, proposal and dollar amount.”

But Whitehead said that without the sale of the farm, the conservancy did not get money it was counting on. And as currently set up, Whitehead said that it would be difficult for the farm to remain open with its current business model.

“After the formation of the conservancy we were supposed to get $200,000 from Abbott and $100,000 from the sale of the farm, we haven’t seen a dime,” Whitehead said. “That leaves our only resource as the sale of raspberries which is $20,000 and donations.

“Looking at this from a purely business standpoint, the farm’s vulnerable. No way we’re surviving long-term with raspberries that are beyond their useful life.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here