COMPLETED DISPOSITION OF STATE-OWNED REAL PROPERTY
DEPOT ROAD, WILLIAMSBURG

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
The property is 26.15 acres of vacant wooded land on a hill. The Mass. Audubon Society owns the land to the west (rear) of the site and to the east across Depot Road. The property on both adjacent sides north and south are residential homeowners. The property has 1384’ +/- of frontage along Depot Road with a relatively consistent depth. It was originally land under the care and control of the Dept. of Mental Health for the Northampton State Hospital until its closing in the late 1970s. No structures were ever erected on the site.

DISPOSITION PROCESS & ECONOMIC BENEFITS
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAM) pursuant to Section 548 of Chapter 26 of the Acts of 2003, commissioned an absolute auction of the property through Jerome J. Manning & Co., Inc., August 11, 2004.

A formal notice was sent to all the executive offices declaring the site permanently surplus on June 9, 2004, through the Chapter 7 State polling process. A notice of intent to dispose of the property was posted in the Central Register on June 23, 2004 and forwarded to the Mass. Historical Commission; the MEPA Environmental Monitor; the Secretary of State; and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. The town elected officials and the local planning commission was notified of a Public Hearing by formal letter. The same hearing notice was posted in the legal section of the Hampshire Gazette for three consecutive days during July 12 through July 14.

The property was subsequently conveyed to the Mass. Audubon Society adjoining it to their adjacent property. The disposition process and result supported the community interest for expanding the wildlife sanctuary and preserving the open space for passive recreational use.