BLUE HILL, Maine (WABI) – It’s a story with a familiar ring- waterfront land in Maine that’s bought out by a real estate developer.
It happened in Blue Hills two years ago.
But the ending to this story may surprise and perhaps inspire you.
Joy Hollowell reports.
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“So this is Salt Pond and the Salt Pond is on an inlet of Blue Hill Bay,” explains Fred Coles, pointing to the expansive green water below him. “It’s not a common body of water. It all enters and exits every day with the tide. But it appears to be a pond.”
In the middle of Salt Pond is an island complete with an eagle’s nest. Oyster and mussel farms sit nearby.
“We walk this land probably daily with our dog,” says Barbara Simon, who lives nearby. “We pick blueberries. Very often we’ll see artists here, set up with their easels.”
“Oh, this place,” says Amy Brubaker, smiling and then sighing. “The former owner Kermit Allen, did with permission, allow people to wander around the property. It’s part of what made it beloved by the community.”
But after Allen passed, these 38 acres of pristine property were put on the market.
“When it went up for sale, it made me nervous,” admits Cole. “And when it sold, I felt sad. And then when I heard that the plan was to turn into 9 housing lots, I literally felt sick.”
In 2023, a real estate developer from southern Maine purchased the land, with plans to develop a subdivision.
Plans for 9 housing lot subdivision at Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens in Blue Hill, Maine(Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens)
Larry Lefkowitz and his wife, Amy Brubaker grew concerned the housing lots would not only ruin the landscape but also do harm to the wildlife habitat that had been in place for generations.
“We started talking to some of the neighbors and just spread the word about what was happening,” says Lefkowitz.
The 8 or so neighbors decided to form a group called Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens.
“Everyone used a little bit of their expertise in different areas and we all came together,” recalls Simon. “And it just seemed the like more we did research, we found little bits and pieces that encourages us to continue.
The grassroots group says as their mission grew, so did the crowds coming out to Blue Hill Planning Board meetings to oppose the development.
“This kind of grew in ways we didn’t plan and didn’t expect,” says Lefkowitz.
“We were just all floored by the depth of the concern and the power within the people that wanted to save this,” adds Brubaker.
In April, the Blue Hill Planning Board denied the developer’s application, due to state subdivision guidelines regarding unique and valuable natural areas.
Blue Hill Planning Board rejected application to build 9 housing lots on Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens(Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens)
Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens then shifted focus towards buying the property from the developer.
But the price tag was hefty- $1.8M.
Once again, the community came through.
“The land was purchased by Blue Hill Community Development which is a local nonprofit that supports community projects,” says Brubaker.
An anonymous foundation provided BHCD with an interest free loan. Blue Hill Community Development will hold on to the land for 18 months while Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens raises enough money to repay them.
Once that happens, the land will be transferred to Blue Hill Heritage Trust as a permanent public preserve.
“It’s incredible for the local story and I think it’s also encouraging for the larger story,” says Lefkowitz. “This is going to happen more and more- there are beautiful places in Maine that are going to be taken up by developers because they see opportunity. And we need to preserve them. Because then they’re gone, theyre gone.”
“I come walking by here and you can still see the sticks in the ground from the 9 houses that were going to be on this property,” says Brubaker. “And every time I look at one of those, I want to yank it ouf of the ground.
She laughs before continuing. “But I also leave it because it reminds me of what might have been.”
“You can talk about this anywhere in Blue Hill and along the peninsula, ” says Simon. “And everyone knows about this project. We did it.”
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The group says it did reach out to several land trusts for help but note they are limited in purchasing land to at or just above assessed value. The group says that was not the case for the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens asking price.
Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens is currently raising money to pay back the loan on the property.
They’re about 85% of the way there.
If you’d like to help, or would like more information on the group and their work, you can log onto www.savetheblueberrybarrens.org/
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