The Refuge's 30 day comment period ended on 11/30, but the fight to save The Pink House has just begun - on a new level! Everyone joined together makes the cause - and effect - much more powerful... in fact, impossible to ignore. The GOOD NEWS is: Your voice has been heard and is making a difference. But WE ALL need to KEEP SPEAKING UP and TAKING ACTION to keep the momentum going (even through the holidays). Because the BAD NEWS IS: DEMOLISHING THE PINK HOUSE is STILL in FWS's plans... to start as early as end of January or early February, unless something substantial happens to change that. One of the ways is if they have land they are pursuing. We asked them to make criteria more visible and to keep putting it out there. We ourselves are doing all we can to spread the word and criteria, and those who share our posts have helped. Another is that we continue to ask for an extension of demolition, so we need to keep the word circulating, and help to find it. YOUR VOICE MADE A DIFFERENCE because FWS went from saying all options had been exhausted to Matt Hillman, Refuge Manager, saying he'd rather there be a land swap, and putting out increasingly clear criteria, at our request. The anticipation of a huge response from you forced a public meeting, which Senator Tarr took the reins to plan... and transparency and face to face meetings with the public must continue. The enormous outcry via social media and contacting ParkerRiver and our elected officials made this issue impossible to sweep under the rug... asking for our elected officials to join the conversation and make change must continue. From your voices came substantial media coverage - which must continue! WHY IS YOUR VOICE STILL NEEDED? Because UNLESS WE ALL KEEP IT UP THE PINK HOUSE WILL STILL BE DEMOLISHED. Support The Pink House formed in response to so many locals and visitors desire to see The Pink House restored... and we have worked behind the scenes for years on your behalf, never giving up on solutions no matter how many road blocks and complications arose. We have never given up... and don't intend to now. We have gotten new life because we've been joined by all of YOU! It takes everyone now. TOGETHER WE'VE GOT THIS! Demolition needs to be stopped altogether until a solution can be found. That's why there's more work to do... SO what can YOU DO? See below and pass the word! HOW YOU CAN STILL HELP SAVE THE PINK HOUSE
CALL ELECTED OFFICIALS Ask: Where is THEIR voice for you? Congressman Seth Moulton
Governor Maura Healy
Senator Bruce Tarr Bruce.Tarr@Mass.senate.gov (617) 772-1600 Thank him for calling the public meeting. Ask to keep the conversation transparent, as was his aim, and working to represent your concerns. Rep Krisitn Kassner Kristin.Kassner@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2000 Rep Dawne Shand dawne.shand@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2400 Ask them to get more involved, to be a voice for you. Tell them ho much this matters to our area, to tourism, to our economy and artists. While they take care of other issues, this is also important to you who voted for them -- and it's urgent. _________________________________________________________________ HELP FIND LAND TO SWAP GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT LAND CRITERIA!
__________________________________________ We tried to make that as easy for you as possible. Click any link and it will immediately open up in an email for your convenience! Want other ways to help? CLICK HERE to see other ways like writing letters to the papers, volunteering, following us on social media, etc.. Even if you only have one minute to do something like sharing this blog post, IT ALL helps! Together we are STRONGEST! Stay tuned right here, and come back often to read all the updates! THANK YOU!
0 Comments
Work to save The Pink House has involved many, many well respected, well known professionals in their field. Several of the trade experts who pitched in to help us save The Pink House have worked with or been hired by the very parties we were working with themselves -- including Fish and Wildlife's Parker River Wildlife Refuge and their Realty Division. Most are local and all did it because they understand why The Pink House matters so much. These people pushed aside income producing work, and gave advice, services, resources and many hours of their time PRO BONO to help this get done on behalf of all of the people who want to see it remain. If that's not a significant vote for The Pink House's importance to this region, we don't know what is! * Since added to the above list: Attorney Jeff Roelofs, wetland expert, Attorney Nick Anastassi, Land negotiation, and Scott Ackelry, former Newburyport City Planner. This does not mention the elected officials and many other organizations who have been included in countless meetings, phone calls, and emails with us over the last 8 years. What will it take to make FWS Realty and Refuge managers understand the consequences for our community -- in which they have their Visitors Center, run programs, and ask for donations and volunteer help -- if they demolish it/
The Parker River Refuges's comment period came to a close yesterday, November 30th. Many are asking, what did all that mean? That is a question for Matt Hillman, Refuge Manager. A public comment period is a matter of process for an agency like The US Fish and Wildlife Service. It often is 60 days, but can be shorter or longer. Eight years of work on several solutions, with 2 different refuge managers, 1.5 years without one, FWS Realty personnel, conservation organizations, preservation agencies, municipal involvement, and just about every area elected official at the local, state and federal level, in addition to the materials FWS offered is a LOT for people to digest in only 30 days. Senator Tarr stepped in to create one meeting on November 20, though held during the work day Thanksgiving week. All were grateful for it but felt it was not enough. Kathleen O'Connor Ives, former Sate Senator, attended and commented on this process, saying it is hardly enough time for the people to educate themselves fully, ask enough questions, and hear all sides. But the comment period is now over. What now? One misunderstanding is that if the Refuge got enough comments to keep The Pink House standing that it would make a difference in their plan to demolish it. People have written us asking was the comment period about voting to keep the house, put a platform on the footprint with up to 4 cars in the driveway, or to put nothing there at all? Was it just an exercise? Those are good questions that should be asked of Matt Hillman, who stated it is his decision. The Refuge put out this statement: "Staff are currently reviewing all public comments submitted between November 1-30, 2023. It will likely take at least 1 month to analyze comments, draft responses, and edit the plan before a final draft is published some time in the New Year. While the public comment period has ended, anyone with potentially viable land exchange opportunities may still reach out to refuge staff at parkerriver@fws.gov (see this page for specific land exchange criteria)." We the people don't have a 30 day limit. Support The Pink House has never given up and will continue to fight, now with all of you who also want to see this iconic landmark saved and restored for generations to come.
We THANK YOU for all you have done so far. And ask you to continue to make your voice heard! Keep an eye out here and on our social media, for an article on next steps and what you can do to help! That November Full Moon ~ always bringing in the highest tides! Incredible how some areas seem to fill with all that surge... and others do not. Below is the launch at the Parker River Wildlife Refuge, just inside the gate. It's usually dry all the way to those two poles you see in the center. But yesterday, the water came right up to the road. Many people are questioning recent statements by Fish and Widlife, who say this property floods as if it happens all the time or is a reason not to save the house and restore it. The The Pink House is in the AE FEMA Flood Zone, as are most of the homes around here and much of the Refuge. That same flood zone comes right up to the edge of the Refuge Visitor Center on the corner of Rolfe's Lane. These photos were shot on the same day and time and the one of The Pink House below, clearly showing it's property as dry. Many drove out to see it for themselves. Below is a another person that posted virtually the same angle of The Pink House on the same day.The below shows The Pink House's comparatively higher ground all around the parcel during a regular high tide. By the way, what does it matter to FWS - or anyone - if there would soon be a new owner of house? We don't hear any talk about the homes across the way. Please continue to let the Parker River Wildlife Refuge know how you feel about this. Please write and call Congressman Moulton, Senators Markey and Warren to let them know how you feel about their absence of representation of your views at this critical time and very public concern.
No civilian has been in The Pink House as often as the man on the left in the red shirt, Bill Barrett, HIC/CSL licensed owner of Plum Island Construction and Plum island Property Management. Bill did the first walk through of the house in early February 2016 on the community's behalf, to see how stable the house was before we began this work to save it, and reported she had good bones - no cracks in the foundation, all windows and walls straight, no leaks from the roof, confirmation it's on the PIOD (Newburyport water). Bill subsequently checked on the house many times a year, especially before and after significant storms. There was a 1.5 year break before and during early Covid when there was no manager, and the house suffered from negligence. But the house is still completely salvageable. This photo is from what was to be the final walk through, on August 16, 2022: the month FWS set for closing. Below is Bill's most recent letter of conditions of The Pink House, 60 Plum Island Turnpike, Newbury MA. November 18, 2023 Evaluations, Observations and Suggestions for the property known as “The Pink House”. My name is William Barrett, Owner of Plum Island Property Management. I am a retired home builder, remodeler and general contractor. Currently I am the owner of Plum Island Property Management. I help my customers evaluate property, obtain building permits for remodeling and new construction projects and manage their properties for them. I have been in the building and remodeling business for 49 years. I have visited “The Pink House”, (TPH), on many occasions dating back to early 2016. I have evaluated and given opinions on the conditions of the building and the property in whole. Below is a synopsis of my thoughts: The last time I was on the property and in the house was in August of 2022. My opinions, evaluations and observations of the building have not changed dramatically in those years.
It has been 7 years since I first looked at this property. I have volunteered my time to paint some areas and foam the openings and gaps due to rotting wood. The Fish and Wildlife personnel have done some minor repairs to the window openings and the 1 roof leak we detected. At our suggestion they have also cleared out the brush and shrubbery that had grown up around the building. I would have to say that a lot more could have been done to keep the building in better condition. However, with that said the building is worth saving given its current condition and the fact that it is a historic and iconic symbol for the Plum Island area. It is a viable structure that can easily be restored to its past glory. Bill Barrett William Barrett, Anyone who actually understands construction would know what is in there is common to 75% of the houses around here and can easily be remedied without harming the environment or workers. And FWS knows this too. We have their reports. it is being overblown. And commenters who are not experts in the subject who inflate it even more are doing the community a grave disservice.
We've wanted Fish and Wildlife to clearly spell out their specific criteria for land swap to save The Pink House out to the public for a long time. Here, in one place, is criteria defined and explained. FWS is looking for a willing landowner who will directly exchange their lands for the Pink House OR sell their lands to a local Restoration Partner, who would then exchange the land for the Pink House (to restore it). YOU DO NOT NEED TO OWN THE PINK HOUSE TO EXCHANGE YOUR LAND. If you have land anywhere in the country that fits the below criteria, you do NOT need to own The Pink House in exchange! Our Restoration Partner is available to buy your land to make you whole, then exchange it for The Pink House/acre. He intends to restore it on his own dime according to our perpetual preservation restriction. WIN WIN!! CRITERIA: 1. Salt marsh and/or adjacent upland habitats, access to water or a road, with equal or greater ecological value to FWS. Most marsh land is worth about $1000-1200 an acre, so meeting $400K is a lot of acreage. 2. Parcels of less acreage could be combined to get closer to the monetary value works. Parcels of higher monetary value due to being part or wholly upland, or having features such as water or road access works. 3. Upland in the price range that is near a Refuge or FWS owned land that may have value for a use like storing equipment near a light house they own, or rescue boats they can get to from a road to use in flood zones. 4. NEWLY ADDED: Long parcels that at the back abut the Refuge in NEWBURY ROWLEY, IPSWICH, even if you have a home or structures at the front off the road... FWS is looking to have access of Rt. 1A or roads behind it that lead to it. If you are willing to carve out a parcel in back, get market value from our Restoration Partner (and enjoy tax savings), and still see it undeveloped as conserved by FWS, pls let us know asap! HOW TO ASSESS VALUE: Because they can’t sell the house/acre, they want to do a land trade: That means your land should be of roughly equal-value (i.e., $400,000+), and there can be a gap in which some cash can be added to make up the difference. They’d like it to be 10% or less but if the land is truly beneficial to their mission, whether the value is monetary, ecological, or usefulness, we have seen them willing to consider a bit higher cash gap. LOCATION: Preferred is contiguous to or within a mile or two of a current Refuge anywhere in the US, as the crow flies. But it can also be anywhere they want to start a new Refuge (which they would know). So anywhere you have land to roughly fit their specifications should be sent in. WHAT OF ACREAGE WITH A STRUCTURE? FWS doesn't prefer it that but if the land is right, that can be demolished - by them or others. If can demolish The Pink House for tens of thousands of dollars, they should certainly consider prime land with a structure. It would just be better if it wasn't there. HOW TO SUBMIT Send any options to BOTH info@supportthepinkhouse.com, and FWS at parkerriver@fws.gov. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. PLS talk to your neighbors, your town administrator and planner, your family and friends near and far. You never know! We've wanted FWS to put their specific criteria for land swap to save The Pink House out to the public for a long time. FWS stated that "all options have been exhausted" in their November 1 Press Release, website and reports and we said that's just not true. Because of the overwhelming response from the public (KEEP IT UP!) each week they list more and more specifics. Here was their last summary in case it makes the above easier:
A direct exchange with a willing landowner is the most likely path, but only if it meets requirements under federal law and is compatible with the refuge’s mission. For this to occur, the following conditions must be satisfied: (1) a landowner within 1-mile of refuge boundaries (2) the exchange lands must be of approximately equal monetary value to the 1-acre Pink House parcel ($400,000-$500,000), and (3) the exchange parcel must be of greater ecological value than the upland and marsh habitat on which the Pink House sits. Support The Pink House board members were on the Local Pulse radio show with Joe DiBiase the other morning, answering his questions about the truth of the matter. Check out Episode 473, staring at 44:00 minutes in to hear some of the history of The Pink House from the woman who researched it all, Sandy Tilton, along with Kelly Page who talks about why Support The Pink House was created. Rochelle Joseph explains what everyone needs to know about what STPH has been working on behind the scenes for the last several years with FWS deals that fell through. And reveals how FWS said trading The Pink House/acre would be far more beneficial for their mission.
Our Support The Pink House Tree - called Preserving The Past, For Our Future -- is on display now at Sea Festival of Trees in Salisbury! And, it won an award for the "Best Tree for a Good Cause" at tonight's Gala!! So many volunteers & donors pulled all this together to show support for our community & our neighbors: The Salisbury Beach Partnership, Inc. & Historic Carousel!! Ornaments, artwork, tee shirts, bows, lights, ribbon and the tree were donated, while other volunteers showed up to decorate. It takes a village!! Make sure to enjoy the beautifully painted Pink House on Santa's mailbox - and write your letter to him asking for him to save The Pink House and why! Such a huge honor, and the timing could not be more perfect. Please come down to see it and enjoy all the other wonderful trees and causes participating! By Sandy Tilton, Board Member of Support The Pink House, photographer, author
So many of you are writing to Congressman Moulton and the FWS/Parker River Wildlife Refuge to tell them why you want to stop the demolition of The Pink House. And when you write, it's easy to cc: Senators Markey and Warren as well as your Rep Kassner or Rep Shande (if from their district).
While your letter should be all your own, in addition to writing what it means to you, you will increase your letter's power if you add compelling, value based reasons that fit your truth like:
WANT TO DO MORE? Please "volunteer" by spreading the word on your social media from our website or social media, and by leaving any more ideas like the ones on this list in the comments for others to see and spark their own ideas. Thank you! For much of the last 8 years, Support The Pink House (STPH) had been steered to keep mum on the details of our plan for the preservation and restoration of The Pink House, as well as the agreement the US Fish and Wildlife (FWS) entered into with STPH for land exchange. FWS and various stakeholders often declined our requests to jointly inform the public of our agreement. While not 100% comfortable with that, we complied for the good of the project, and focused on getting it done.
On November 1, Matt Hillman, Refuge Manager for the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, announced their plan to remove the house, saying all options had been exhausted- a shock considering how close STPH was to fulfilling our mission to save and restore the iconic Pink House under our perpetual Preservation Restriction on behalf of the tens of thousands who love the house and want to see it saved. This was how we learned that FWS intended not fulfill their part of the agreement. That said, we can now share what the public deserved to know: The Pink House is fully ready to be traded. Support The Pink House Inc. completed all the steps necessary by August 2022, the month FWS set for us to close on the land swap. Here is a list of those steps, funded by donors, including The Pink House Board: ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2021:
ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2022:
Concurrently, the FWS Realty identified desirable land in their system, got it approved for trade, and informed STPH on July 6, 2022 that the swap land was ready. But by August 2022, the month we were to close, that land fell through. STPH pursued meetings with FWS, which didn't happen until November 2022, to learn their plan to continue looking for new trade land. They asked for time. To date, this has proved unsuccessful, and we have learned in areas that the FWS Realty Division paused their search as of March 2023. THERE IS STILL HOPE! PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE PINK HOUSE & PRESERVE IT FOR POSTERITY! |
CategoriesArchives
April 2024
|