Overview • Properties • Significance • Funding • Opportunity
The Significance of These Properties
The Dutra and Neale farms constitute Jamestown’s most culturally, historically, and aesthetically important properties. These parcels, 145 acres in total, have been farmed by Europeans since 1657, when the island was purchased from the Narragansett Indians. Their protection will bring the total number of contiguous acres of protected land in the heart of Jamestown to over 1000 – more than 17% of the island’s land. In addition, their preservation will safeguard a significant portion of Jamestown’s watershed.
The permanent protection of the Dutra and Neale Farms will complete the concerted private and public effort that was begun more than 25 years ago, to conserve the central part of the island. The two properties are physically connected to one another and to two other historic farms (the Watson and Hodgekiss Farms) that are now permanently protected as a result of prior efforts. They also connect with the Jamestown Golf Course, which was purchased in 1986 for $2.2 million dollars to prevent its subdivision into 102 lots. Left unprotected, these farms in question could be developed into 70 to 80 housing lots.
This project, then, “closes the circle”, permanently securing a refuge of forest, coastal marsh, wetlands, and upland pasture from the relentless pressure of development in the second most densely populated state in the country, and preserving the integrity of what has been rightly called “the most recognizable landscape in Rhode Island.”
Funding- Appraised valuation of the easements: $11,750,000
- Federal*, state*, town, and grant funds: 6,950,000
- Balance required from private sources: 4,800,000
- Current estimated commitment: 2,000,000
- Balance to be raised by 9/30/07: 2,800,000
*Federal and State funds expire September 30, 2007.
In working to secure its share of the required funding, the Conanicut Island Land Trust, with knowledge shared by the Rhode Island chapter of The Nature Conservancy, developed the attached fundraising pyramid. It reflects what The Nature Conservancy has experienced with land protection fundraising in other “seasonal communities.”
Opportunity
The Rhode Island chapter of the Nature Conservancy ominously predicts that it will be out of business in 20 years. Based on the rate of development in Rhode Island, the Conservancy expects that by 2027, there will be no meaningful land left to protect. We can confidently say that the three farms in question represent three of the five remaining large parcels of undeveloped land in Jamestown. Of the five, two are unavailable at this time. While the Land Trust will not be out of business when these three farms are protected, there will be few large parcels of land left to protect. In a fundamental sense, the Conservancy’s dire forecast is even truer for the Land Trust.
That these properties are still in pasture after 350 years is significant. Equally significant is the fact that the three families who own these farms have enthusiastically supported the project. These families’ willingness to sell the development rights to their farms makes it possible to protect over 1,000 acres in the heart of Jamestown, and is a remarkable circumstance that should not be overlooked. Those familiar with land protection appreciate how difficult it is to find one family with a conservation vision, and here we have found three. The federal, state, and Champlin Foundation commitment of funds represents another opportunity that is fleeting. The federal and state funds will be withdrawn if the closings have not taken place by September 30, 2007. The loss of this money would devastate this conservation effort, potentially closing our window of opportunity forever.
We have created a dedicated account at BankNewport for all donated funds. These funds will pass through dollar for dollar if we reach our goal. If we are unable to reach the goal of protecting all three properties, all donated amounts will be returned.
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