(Archived Articles from November, 2006)
Weston Votes Unanimously to Acquire the Case Estates
In a surprising show of unity, nearly 800 Weston citizens voiced their unanimous support to acquire the 62-acre Case Estates at a Special Town Meeting on November 8. Selectmen now have been given the authority to purchase the Case Estates by year's end and have until June 2007 to determine the destiny of the parcels of the property that are not automatically preserved under the approved plan. These parcels may be sold or preserved depending on the financial abilities and desires of the town, as well as the fundraising efforts of the Case Fund.
The Case Fund will continue to raise funds to help offset the cost of the purchase. At town meeting, Case Fund President Bill Brady announced that in three weeks alone, the Case Fund had raised nearly $1,000,000. The Fund continues to look for interested donors who are concerned about the future of the Case Estates and who can make donations of any size.
The Case Coalition would like to thank the many, many volunteers who offered their time, talents, and resources in the last few months. An amazing amount of volunteers propelled this campaign forward, beginning with hundreds of individuals and families that came out to support the Oct. 14 Case Celebration, to provide information on the vote at the Omni table, and to call voters, make banners, or wave signs on election day. Every action helped, and every vote counted!
Results of Question #4 (debt exclusion question regarding the Case Estates) on the Nov. 7 Ballot:
YES votes: 3,948
NO votes: 910
BLANK votes: 236
TOTAL 5,094
Letters of Support: Originally Printed in the Town Crier and the Boston Globe
(All letters printed with permission from the Wayland/Weston Town Crier and the Boston Globe )
Kristen Sands, Field School, Grade 5
To the editor:
I am concerned about the Case Estates being sold by Harvard. Last year, when I was in Mrs. Brewer's fourth-grade classroom, we would take hikes there.
I think Weston should work to save the Case Estates after all of the things my class did and learned in their woods and fields. Mrs. Brewer taught us about seeds, plants and the way the leaves turn fall colors in the autumn months. Mrs. Brewer would take the book we were reading outside to read in the shade. We would go out to write poetry often and make snowmen in the winter. We learned about wildlife by following animal tracks and trying to figure out what animals they were and where they were headed.
It is for these reasons I think Weston should try to save the Case Estates. The property is a great place to learn about nature around us and to walk and have fun.
Allison Elvekrog, Weston Resident & Mother of 3
"...Because of time constraints and necessary actions to be taken in the next few weeks to determine the fate of the 62-acre property, I am taking the liberty to briefly outline the facts, process, timeline, and stakes if we do not act now to purchase the Case Estates. Please forward this email to as many town friends as you can in an effort to inform them that we have EXACTLY THREE WEEKS before we must vote to retain control of the 62-acres that not only comprise the Case Estates, but also the heart, soul, and center of this town." Read more...
Andy Levinsky, Wellesley Resident
Will Globe West readers outside of Weston notice if the Case Estates--now a
62 acre educational, recreational, historical, and environmental
sanctuary--becomes a subdivision of 30 McMansions? Those who have not visited the property would probably feel quite at home, used to the suburban sprawl in their own town. Those who have will remember why Weston is not just another suburban subdivision. At least not yet.
What Weston residents have is the opportunity to preserve the very quality
that makes their town so unique and sought after. Other cities and towns
have good schools and safety services. Many are at least as convenient to
Boston. What sets Weston apart and makes people willing to pay substantially more to live in this community is the feeling of living in the country with suburban conveniences.
$22.5million sounds like a big investment until you factor in the effect
those 62 acres of land will have on property values. Then the deal can be
seen for what it is: protecting one's investment.
Sincerely,
Andy Levinsky
84 Standish Road
Late in 2005, the town of Weston was informed that the Case Estates, the 62-acre piece of land in the heart of Weston which has belonged to Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum since 1944, was likely to be sold in the near future. Harvard has now said that they would like the matter settled by the end of 2006.
Its gorgeous landscape of meadow, stonewalls, woods, a unique rhododendron garden and elaborate flower beds - as well as a couple of historic houses - is so emblematic of the rural character of Weston that a number of concerned townspeople have come together as the Case Coalition to find a way to preserve this land for the town in perpetuity. Read more...
Meg & Jonathan Kelly, 338 Boston Post Road
"Nearly one and a half years ago, when Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum announced its intent to sell the 62 acre Case Estates, our selectmen created the Case Estates Review Committee (CERC) to evaluate this property. The CERC, ably chaired by Kay McCahan, sought the input of a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties, and recommended that the town purchase the entire parcel to gain control of the process. The CERC further emphasized the “Hillcrest Historic Corridor” as a particularly important piece of landscape for the town..." Read more...
Bill Brady, President, Case Fund, Inc.
To the editor:
In November the voters in Weston will decide whether to acquire the 62-acre Case Estates property. The public funds available will not be enough to protect this spectacular gem for future generations. A significant amount of private donations will be needed to preserve this land forever.
The Case Fund has been established to raise the necessary private funds. The IRS has approved the Case Fund as a tax-exempt public charity. The members of the board and those assisting the board are all volunteers. We are driven by the belief that we have a special opportunity to shape the future of the town by controlling the destiny of this land, and we cannot afford to miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance.
We began to seek pledges from private donors two weeks ago when town officials decided to proceed with a Town Meeting vote. However, the time up to Town Meeting is only the first phase of our work. Since the town will have additional time in 2007 to determine the fate of certain parcels within the Case Estates, we have additional time to reach our campaign goals to preserve those parcels.
All contributions of any size are encouraged. If you would like to make a pledge, visit "www.caseestates.org" where you can find the pledge form. Members of the Case Fund will be happy to meet with anyone interested in additional information. You can also contact me directly at 781-801-3613 with any questions.
With a great show of private support, we will have the opportunity to protect and maintain this irreplaceable treasure.
Coalition News
Warrant Article Regarding Nov. 8 Special Town Meeting
Weston voters have been mailed a copy of the Warrant for Special Town Meeting that presents the town's proposal to buy the Case Estates property, an article that will be discussed on Nov. 8 should a majority of voters vote to exclude the debt from the limits of Proposition 2 1/2 in the general election on Nov. 7. The warrant Article 1, and the Case Exhibit, should be read together. Please note the extensive explanation of Article 1 intended to provide the voter with a solid foundation upon which to vote Nov. 7 and 8.
Download the Warrant Article
Download the corresponding Case Exhibit
From Town Hall
Property Tax Impacts of the Case Purchase
The Finance Committee has issued a report to help residents understand the real estate tax implications of the proposed Case Estates purchase and its impact on the financial health of the town over the next 20 years. Read Jim Beam's column in the Town Crier for an overview of the financial analysis.
Press Release from the Town of Weston on Harvard's Proposed Price of
The Case Estates
Oct. 5, 2006, Weston, MA. The Weston Board of Selectmen met this morning to discuss Harvard’s offer to sell its entire 62.5 acre Case Estates property to the Town for $22.5 million. This price matches an offer Harvard has received from a qualified buyer, as described in the letter from Jim Gray of Harvard Real Estate. The Board is preparing its response, which is to be delivered to Harvard before the end of the day Friday as requested by Jim Gray.
In June 2005 the Board of Selectmen appointed the Case Estates Review Committee, headed by Kay McCahan, to undertake an extensive evaluation of this property, whose significance to the Town has been long-recognized. The CERC recommended in May of this year that Weston acquire the property from Harvard to take control of it and to commit Community Preservation Act funds to preserve the critical viewscapes of this land as open space.
There are a number of steps required by state and local statutes if the Town wishes to acquire the Case Estates. And, of course, Weston’s voters will have the ultimate say in the decision. First, on a November 7 ballot question voters will be asked if the debt service on the purchase of this property will be excluded from the limits of Proposition 2 ½. Then, a Special Town Meeting has been tentatively scheduled for November 8 where voters will be asked if they approve of the use of Community Preservation Act funds and general municipal bonds for the purchase of the property.
Case Coalition Resources
For a press kit or copies of any of the Coalition's materials, including newsclippings, the Self-Guided Brochure of the Case Estates, or the Weston Historical Bulletin's Special Case Estates issue, please contact info@caseestates.org.
