West Windsor and Trust for Public Land Move Forward with Ascutney Purchase
Additional steps taken in property acquisition despite lodge fire.
Saturday, January 10, 2015, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Just hours after the base lodge of Ascutney Mountain caught fire, the agreement between MFW Associates and the Trust for Public Land appears to be moving forward. In a press release sent to NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com, spokesperson Mary Vitullo announced MFW had entered into an Option Agreement to transfer land to the trust by summer 2015. Voters of West Windsor had previously approved the deal with the town, MFW, and TPL.
Also recently disclosed is that the destroyed lodge and immediate surrounding property is technically owned by Snowdance LLC, not MFW. According to the Valley News, the town had become increasingly hesitant in buying the building due to repairs needed. In light of the fire, the town hopes to acquire and demolish the building.
As a result of the fire, the AT&T communications tower was taken offline and public water pumps were rendered inoperable. Local residents had not yet been impacted, as backup storage tanks contained adequate water. P2 Environmental Services hopes to restore the basement pumps shortly.
