“It is, however, my earnest hope that the estate may be maintained and the bequests utilized to further the development of my land…as an adjunct to the Arnold Arboretum in order that the work of that institution may be amplified in a non-urban center...  I recognize fully that future developments may be such that it will be impracticable to comply with my hopes and that the land should be sold....I entertain the hope that such sale may not be necessary and so long as the property is maintained for the purpose it is my earnest desire that the summer work in agriculture for boys be continued in the manner developed at 'Hillcrest' during the past thirty years.”

Excerpts from Marian Roby Case’s will, presented to Harvard upon her death in 1944.

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Case Coalition & Case Fund

The Case Coalition is a group of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of the Case Estates of Weston, Massachusetts as an educational, environmental, and recreational resource. The Case Coalition includes representatives from the Weston Land Trust, Weston Forest & Trail Association, and Land’s Sake.

The Case Fund, Inc., a Massachusetts 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, was established to raise privately donated funds to assist the Town of Weston with its acquisition and maintenance of the Case Estates.

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Our Challenge

Weston is favored by its residents because of its rural character, classic New England viewscapes and outstanding educational resources. But like many popular suburban communities, Weston has watched as its pastoral qualities—expressed in its open fields, working farms, stone walls, and historic homes—have gradually been diminished as developers and new homeowners make their mark on their own piece of Weston.

The Case Estates is one of Weston’s last remaining large tracts of undeveloped land. Located in the heart of Weston, at the juncture of Wellesley, Ash, and School Streets, the property has a distinguished place in the history of horticulture in New England. Today, much of that glory is but a memory on the landscape. Yet groups such as the Case Coalition, an informal group of representatives from Weston’s three conservation organizations—the Weston Land Trust, Weston Forest and Trail Association, and Land’s Sake —believe that this vision can be preserved.

Our Opportunity

Harvard University has set the price of the 62-acre Case Estates at $22.5 million. The Town of Weston and Harvard continue to discuss the details of this offer. However, the land’s historical, botanical, and educational resources make this property an invaluable asset to the Town of Weston and the larger region of suburban Boston. The town has designated the Case Estates as its number one priority in land preservation since 1996, and reinstated its support for the protection of the property in 2000 and 2006 under the auspices of the Committee to Advise the Selectmen on Land Acquisition (CALA) and the Case Estates Review Committee (CERC). Now the town has the opportunity to gain control over this important piece of land.

In spring 2006, various organizations and individuals concerned about the future of the Case Estates formed the Case Coalition and the Case Fund to spearhead the public education and fundraising efforts required to protect this land from development. Along with the efforts of the town selectmen, town committees, and a team of dedicated individuals and donors, these groups are presently mobilizing Weston residents to support a series of votes in November 2006 that would enable the town to purchase the property.

The Voting Process

A Special Town Meeting is scheduled for November 8 at the Weston High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. to consider the acquisition of the Case Estates. The selectmen will mail the proposed warrant articles to all citizens of the town.

There are several critical steps that need to be taken to ensure Weston's acquisition of the Case Estates property. At the general election on November 7 there will be a vote on a debt exclusion question prior to the Special Town Meeting on November 8. A majority vote on November 7 is needed to give the town maximum flexibility to pursue purchasing the entire property.

At the Special Town Meeting on November 8, citizens will discuss and vote on various warrant articles that require bonding. These need a 2/3-majority vote to pass. Monies from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) will be directed toward the purchase of the Case Estates, therefore making this a bonding issue.

Prior to the Special Town Meeting, the Case Fund will initiate fundraising to help offset the cost of the Case Estates purchase. The Case Fund hopes to identify generous donors to make up the difference between the public funds available and the total amount needed for the purchase.

Without your support, the heart of Weston may become just another suburban subdivision with the potential for 30 new large homes at the most scenic part of our town. But with your support, the Case Estates will welcome visitors for generations to come.

 

Vote “Yes” on Question #4...

Weston voters must be active in the town-wide decision to protect the Case Estates. On Tuesday, November 7 in the statewide election, a majority must VOTE YES ON QUESTION #4 to exempt the funds used to purchase the property from the restrictions of Proposition 2½.

     ...and Yes, Again at the Special Town Meeting!

The following day, voters will attend a Special Town Meeting to discuss the acquisition of the Case Estates. Only by owning the property can we control its future.  A Voting Guide has been prepared to help Weston residents navigate this process.

Organize & Educate

To get involved in the Case Coalition’s “Honoring the Past; Protecting the Future” campaign to protect the Case Estates, please contact the Coalition's Coordinator, Alyson Muzila. Volunteers are needed to work on the campaign, to help with upcoming events, and to circulate a town petition in favor of protecting the property from development. If you would like to organize an informational site walk for a group of children or adults accompanied by a local expert in botany, ecology, or history, please contact the Case Coalition and we’ll be happy to accommodate you.

Donate

If you are interested in making a donation to help offset the cost of the property, please contact the Case Fund by emailing donate@caseestates.org, or call Bill Brady at 781.801.3613. You may also download a pledge form and send it in via mail, or send a donation directly to the Case Fund, P.O. Box 424, Weston, MA 02493.

The best way that you can support the Case Estates campaign is to visit the property and see for yourself!   Download our self-guided tour or children's scavenger hunt and take some time to explore.

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