"This is the largest open parcel of land in Newton," Joan Calbro, a representative of the town, tells GlobeSt.com. "The Community Preservation Committee wants to bid on it to keep it as open space."
In a letter to city Mayor David Cohen, Jeffrey Sacks, chairman of the committee writes that the acquisition of the parcel would "substantially further the objectives sought to be accomplished by the Community Preservation Act." The Act is a property tax that each city or town agrees to accept with the funds going to preserve open space or historical sites.
Sacks points out in the letter that the committee is prepared to "proactively solicit and facilitate creative proposals for CPA funding that will maximize opportunities for space conservation on the site." He acknowledges that the cost of purchasing the property will probably make it impossible to preserve the entire site but "creative proposals that sensitively integrated other CPA goals, such as affordable housing, into a portion of the plan, would be encouraged."
Bids for the property are due by Feb. 21.
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