REmoving The Pink House is a $500+ K Opportunity Cost Loss

Demolishing the iconic Pink House is not in the best interest of the US Fish and Wildlife service, and does not align with their mission to work with others to protect ecologically valuable land.  Trading this one acre worth approximately $425,000 could net them up to 400 acres of marshland to conserve, because the typical marsh acres go for between $600-1200 an acre. While gaining very little in return, the plan to remove The Pink House leaves FWS giving up the opportunity to protect roughly 400 acres of Marshland.

FWS now estimates demo to cost up to $90,000. They are listing it for auction but but have expressed they don't think that will succeed. If not, The cultural landmark would  be demolished by winter. 

Regardless of method, removing the house will result in its non conforming lot becoming unbuildable within 2 years. It's assessed value will then drop from from $425+K to just a few thousand dollars.   

Adding that up, is in the range of a loss of $500k of taxpayer money. But it doesn't end there.

That sum does not include the money that would additionally be needed to prepare Why would the US Fish and Wildlife Service then add more taxpayer expenses to the loss by putting a few benches, an info plaque or two, and parking for "up to four cars", which would then require perpetual monitoring... which they say they can't afford to do for The Pink House for the time it would take to do another land swap. And their final Environmental Assessment (EA) added that they now plan to fence it in to keep people from wandering. This as their final EA dated March 21, 2024 says, "This area that had long been closed to public  access would afford a unique opportunity for people of all abilities to experience and learn about the Great Marsh ecosystem."  

Yet Greenbelt offers the same viewing area with parking for more cars about 300 yards down the road. There you walk far further and wide and can also run your dog, and fish and hunt.

Since Congress funds a lot of FWS needs, our delegation - Congressman Moulton, Senator Markey and Senator Warren - should be more concerned about this needless waste. Especially when there are still viable land trade options on the table. They are being turned down by REfuge Manager Matt Hillman because, he says, "the FWS Realty doesn't have the stomach to go through it."  
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Written by Jeff Ackley, Support the Pink House Board Member and Finance Chair