EDITOR’S NOTE ~ PLEASE READ TO THE END AND DONATE TODAY. EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR DONATED WILL HELP GET US ONE STEP CLOSER! Link to donate: SAVE OUR SHORES
Save Our Shores Gloucester (SOSG), a group working to protect Gloucester’s undeveloped coastline, signed a purchase and sales agreement for $75,000 to buy 4 lots at 166-178 Atlantic Road owned by Cheryl Soones. The group intends to protect and preserve this land for the public in perpetuity. The sale will close in mid-April.
For months, these lots have been under assault by developers who wanted to build houses on the ocean side of Atlantic Road and prohibit public access. SOSG members fought them every step of the way- at the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, and City Council, where hundreds of people turned out in protest. Undeterred by community opposition, the developers returned with larger and more elaborate plans. Last week Cheryl Soones filed a lawsuit against the City requesting that the Back Shore Overlay District be declared invalid.
In light of these realities, SOSG is prepared for a long and expensive legal battle. The group hired land use attorney Jamy Madeja, of Buchanan and Associates, and sought out the best experts in land conservation, and protection of natural habitats. They worked closely with Marilyn Hyde, a local real estate broker, to secure the land.
These tactics worked! SOSG is thrilled that the land purchase is the least expensive and quickest strategy by far, for ensuring preservation of these lots on the Back Shore. As Madeja exclaimed, “The best way to assure public safety and public access, visual and physical, for centuries to come, is to buy these properties and preserve them, on the deeds. These local heroes are doing this for everyone. I’m proud to be associated with them. This is the best possible outcome. “
Now the group needs to raise $100,000 for the sale and purchase, closing costs, and legal fees. As Marty Del Vecchio, a leader of the group points out, “”We urgently need to raise this money and have it in hand by April 12th, just a few short weeks away. We need the support of those who love the Back Shore; please donate so that this tremendous opportunity to preserve this land is not lost.”
Donate now and own a piece of the Back Shore Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to the Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester MA 01930. Please add SOSG to the memo line. Donations may also be made through GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/sosgloucester.
For more information, contact Barbara Silberman at barb@sosgloucester.org.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Great news! Sharing and donating right now!
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PLEASE post whether or not you have a P&S with Cheryl Soones.
100,000…can mean that ONLY 1000 people need to give $100!!!!
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Yes, we have a purchase-and-sale agreement with Cheryl Soones, the owner of these four lots.
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This is indeed wonderful news. But now I wonder, what about any and all other lots that are privately owned on the ocean side of the back shore. Are they also in jeopardy of being developed? Every inch of those rocks and sand and wild beach roses need to be preserved!
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Save Our Shores Gloucester has two goals: 1) prevent the development of these four lots, and 2) protect and preserve the rest of Glocuester’s undeveloped coastline, including the rest of the Back Shore.
Once we get this property squared away, we will focus on the long-term goal. One of the best things the city could do to that end is to finish the work Paul McGeary started in the fall, when he proposed a zoning ordinance that would prohibit construction in a FEMA VE (velocity) flood zone.
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Hallelujah! Thank you to all those individuals who have worked so hard toward this goal.
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Great news! Where do I donate?
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To make a tax-deductible donation, write a check to “The Gloucester Fund”, put “SOS Gloucester” on the memo line, and mail it to 45 Middle Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
You can also make an online donation at http://www.gofundme.com/SOSGloucester.
Thanks!
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A wonderful resolution!!! I’m in.
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Why can’t the City explore eminent domain?
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If they had built there, would any insurer have written the coverage? (Insane).—– Would it be possible to build a few parking spaces for people with beach stickers so that we can pull off the road and enjoy the view?
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Who then holds the liability should a sudden squall wreck your car?
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Well, there you go. You want donations and already someone wants parking limited with beach stickers. When you ease up on your beach sticker rule you will have my donation.
We spend our summers in Gloucester and have for 70 years. My 97 year old mother owns the house but not a car. She lives me. Therefore, I can’t get her a beach sticker for the car. When Gloucester allows me to have a beach sticker on my car for the woman who has paid taxes in Gloucester for all these you all have a donation. We love driving the back shore and looking out over the view. And we would like to take her to Stage Fort Park and other local places with out paying an exorbitant fee!
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I’m thinking that there is a reason why no one has built on the sea side of the road there — a good nor’-easter will be a rude surprise to anyone who tries to live so close to the water. How come the Gloucester building department hasn’t zoned such land as unbuildable?
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I cannot comprehend how a developer possessing a sound mind, could consider building luxury homes a few inches from the rising Atlantic. What kind of greed drives developers to design such homes, blocking public views and access to a section of some of the most spectacular coastline in New England?
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Um, you’ve driven High Popples road, right?
When I moved to Gloucester there was an unspoiled meadow leading down to the sea at Wonson Cove. Now it’s condo’s.
This is what happens when zoning is in the hands of people from away.
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This is a miracle, and it is glorious in our eyes
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*Groan*
Spinning as “Great” news aside: Think clearly a second. The land will still be taxed. There will still be liability. And anything bad that happens with it is now your ‘fault’.
This is such a bad idea.
The arguments against building on it are fairly ironclad. (If you saw Martin’s powerpoint you understand this.) I mean just look at the sky-cam picture, it’s a rocky wave strewn mess. Nobody’s going to build there, ever. So what does it behoove anyone to try to purchase it? Leave it ALONE.
Soones bought in by paying off the taxes.
Let her continue to do so in perpetuity. Don’t do something so obviously unproductive as buy it from her, enriching her, and encumbering yourselves.
Please don’t!
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Excellent points! Buying it assumes we protect the land, which is great. But is that really true I’m guessing it could be put in some kind of trust? Or donated to someone like the trustees.org?
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Save Our Shores Gloucester is purchasing this land because it is the quickest, least-expensive, and most-certain way to achieve our goals. Our goals are 1) to prevent this construction along the Back Shore, and 2) to protect the land forever, and to ensure public access to it forever.
Right now, we are focusing on purchasing it and protecting it. Once we do, we will figure out the best option for protecting it, and assuring public access to it, forever. There are a number of possibilities, but we don’t yet have enough info to know which we will choose.
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You guys are awesome! Thank you for stepping up!
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