Falmouth Scales Back Purchase Plan for Tony Andrews Farm

EAST FALMOUTH – The potential price of the purchase of the Tony Andrews Farm by the town of Falmouth is a little smaller.

The scope of the acquisition effort, being led by the 300 Committee, has narrowed after several parcels on Colonel’s and Hiken Way are under a purchase and sale agreement.

300 Committee Administrator Jessica Whritenour says the goal of the purchase is to preserve agricultural heritage in Falmouth.

“So many of the people that we have heard from have really conveyed the importance of Tony Andrews Farm to the community,” Whritenour said while giving an update to the Board of Selectmen earlier this month.

Whritenour said the asking price for the remaining farm property and parcels on Ronnie Road, which total about 46 acres, is $3.2 million.

“Our goal in working through the negotiations is to have a land deal that involved multiple funding sources and multiple owners,” Whritenour said. “So the town of Falmouth would keep the farm parcels and the 300 Committee Land Trust [would own] the Ronnie Road parcels on Pond 14.”

An article at Special Town Meeting in April will ask voters to approve $225,000 for a down payment for the properties and appraisal fees to allow Selectmen to negotiate an acquisition agreement.

“None of these town funds would be expended unless there is a purchase and sale agreement,” Whritenour said.

Appraisals on the land are currently underway.

“The 300 Committee is paying for the appraisals for the entire land package so that we have that information before Town Meeting,” Whritenour said.

If the article is approved at town meeting the next step would be to secure funding for the purchase prior to Town Meeting in November.

“The goal is to have all of the financing approved by November so that we could close on this land purchase by the end of the calendar year – so by December 31,” Whritenour said.

Whritenour envisions funding for the purchase to come from town community preservation grants, reimbursement from the state through the LAND and Conservation Partnership Grants, and private contributions from residents and members of the 300 Committee.

The Andrews Family, which has owned the farm since the 1930s, listed the 60 acres of property on the market in January for $4.4 million.

Joe Andrews, who is one of six children of the farm’s founders, Tony and Marina Andrews, said the property has been described as “a jewel in the crown of Falmouth.”

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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