A property fronting James Pond and Vineyard Sound is the latest purchase by the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank in what is shaping up to be an active year for the public conservation organization.
The Island Autism Group and the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank have teamed up to purchase a 17.5-acre former farm on Lambert’s Cove Road in West Tisbury for $1.2 million.
To support conservation and inspire others to do the same, the Wyss Foundation has pledged $1 million in matching funds to create the Squibnocket Pond Reservation, a rare 304-acre preserve that is now part of the Kennedy family’s Red Gate Farm.
Leaders for the the new Conservation Partnership of Martha's Vineyard and the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank have pledged full cooperation with one another, announcing among other things that they will begin to hold regular meetings to exchange information pertinent to the conservation movement.
"The land bank is committed to meet with the partnership monthly, to talk about specific properties and also priorities," said land bank executive director James Lengyel.
The two conservation organizations announced Thursday that they will buy 304 acres of undeveloped land at the rare oceanfront estate in Aquinnah owned by the family of Caroline B. Kennedy.
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $400,327.20 for the business week ending on Friday, July 31, 2020. The land bank receives its funds from a two per cent fee charged on many Vineyard real estate transactions.
Much of the land bank revenue last week came from the town of West Tisbury, where three transactions resulted in $131,560. Three transactions earned $99,554 in Chilmark. Three transactions earned $84,051.20 in Tisbury. Five transactions resulted in $76,802 in Edgartown. And one transaction generated $8,360 in Oak Bluffs.