December 2006 -- Supervisor Linda Cooper and the Yorktown Town Board recently wrapped a big festive ribbon around a gift that all open space advocates can be happy about - the acquisition of a 34-acre property known as Solomon's Farm.
Yorktown paid $1.25 million for the property, which is between Gomer Street (to the east)and Quinlan Street (to the west).
"It's a very exciting acquisition," Supervisor Cooper said. "The property is very large, particularly for the north end of town."
Her colleagues on the Town Board - Councilmen Nicholas Bianco, Louis Campisi, Matthew Metz and James Martorano - all voted for the acquisition. Congratulations to them all!
At Westchester Land Trust, our involvement in local acquisitions has ranged from leading the negotiations (as in the Angle Fly Preserve and Leon Levy Preserve purchases) to offering advice on conservation easements (as in Yorktown 's preservation of land associated with a subdivision at Hilltop Hanover Farm).
In the Solomon's Farm acquisition, we advised the Town on how to structure the deal to allow the landowners to sell at a price that was below the appraised value, thereby making the owners eligible for a federal tax deduction and keeping the price low enough for the Town to afford. Town Attorney Charles Banks was also a key player in the negotiations.
"You both helped make this happen," Supervisor Cooper said, "and I am greatly appreciative."