"In the past, properties were given away for no value," Martha McMahon, spokesperson for the state's Department of Capital and Asset Management, tells GlobeSt.com. "But in recent years it is no longer giving [surplus land] to municipalities. Now every piece of legislation talks about getting value for the properties." McMahon notes that that is especially true in the current economy and she stresses that speaker Thomas A. Finneran has spoken out many times recently about getting "fair value" for state surplus properties.

Priscilla Ryder, Marlborough's conservation officer tells GlobeSt.com that the city has been negotiating for the site for a long while and at one point there was some indication that it might be given to the town. But it is clear now that that won't happen.

McMahon points out that the process of getting rid of surplus state land takes awhile. First the Massachusetts Highway Authority had to contact other state agencies to see if any of them had a use for the land. Once there was no interest at the state level, local agencies were contacted including the city, which said it wanted the site and as part of the conveyance, use of the land would be restricted to open space.

Truth is, according to Ryder, the city had been interested in the site for years. She points out the land is the headwaters to Fort Meadow Reservoir and "should be protected. Protecting that large a watershed is important." The city bought a 20-acre parcel adjacent to this one about two years ago and a developer donated a large piece of land south of it making the whole site--if the city gets this property--a "large chunk of open space," says Ryder, who notes that a good portion of this parcel is wetlands making it difficult to be developed anyway.

Because of the use restriction on the site McMahon says that her department will allow the city to reappraise the site if they are interested. "Oftentimes, a restricted use makes the property less valuable," she notes. Ryder says the city might get the reappraisal. Right now city officials are trying to figure out if they have the money to purchase the land. But, she stresses, "We're interested."