Amherst Town Meeting asked to preserve land to keep it from proposed student housing
“Members of the Save Historic Cushman group have submitted an article asking that the town take the conservation restriction by eminent domain or purchase it and pay up to $1.2 million for it. The money would come from grants, gifts and the town.
Cushman is a historic village center in North Amherst, according to Save Historic Cushman’s website.
Landmark Properties of Athens, Ga., has an option to buy the property owned by W.D. Cowls for $6.5 million to develop and manage about 170 cottage-style student houses on about 154 acres there.
Because the land is in Chapter 61A, which gives it a reduced tax status, the town has the right of first refusal before the land can be sold to Landmark.”
Lederman, Diane. The Republican. 17 May 2013.