Stamford Land Conservation Trust Looks To Buy Altschul Properties

STAMFORD, CT — Open spaces are vital for any municipality, as they provide areas where people can go to get some fresh air and exercise.

With the pandemic waning and a new normal settling in, open spaces have perhaps never been more important. So when the chance to acquire open space from the Altschul family came about, the Stamford Land Conservation Trust jumped at the opportunity.

The SLCT is in the process of trying to raise $3 million to purchase 64 acres of land adjacent to the 164 acre Helen Altschul Preserve, the SLCT's crown jewel and largest preserve.

The prospective land is made up of two properties, which connect to each and are accessible on Den Road and Riverbank Road. They were listed on the market recently at $1.95 million each, totaling just under $4 million in total.

Negotiations began with the Altschul family several months ago, and the family agreed to sell for $3 million, well below market price.

According to Harry Day, president of the SLCT, a secret donor in Stamford is willing to donate $1 million. Day himself is pitching in $200,000, along with several other donors mixed in. Additionally, the City of Stamford is willing to donate $1 million, but their contribution requires a process involving the support of the Board of Finance and the Board of Representatives.

Day said he's hopeful to also get donations from Greenwich, as the Greenwich Riding and Trails Association uses the SLCT's trails and helps to maintain them. The properties are within the Mianus River watershed, which swings through Greenwich, Day pointed out.

Right now, the SLCT needs $550,000 to close the gap and seal the deal.

The properties have long been on the radar for the SLCT, Day said.

"[The family] put those properties on the market and it kind of shocked everybody and it certainly got us into fast action," Day said. "This is a very important acquisition for the SLCT."

SLCT Chief Steward, Aubrey Carter, said land preservation is paramount, especially in 2021.

"You can make the argument that the number one thing humans can do to fight climate change and global warming is just to stop developing natural areas and open space," he said. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the City of Stamford to really take a great step in preserving this land and preserving the resiliency of the forest and the people and citizens who live around it."

Day said the existing hiking trails "work extremely well from an access standpoint and an enjoyment standpoint."

Together with nearby Newman Mills Park, which is owned by the City of Stamford, and another 21-acre parcel of land beyond the park, there would be a combined open space doman of 245 acres for residents to enjoy.

"This is great for our environment, it's great for our citizens who are all welcomed into the properties. It's just a special place, no question about it," Day said, adding that the properties will be especially important in a post-pandemic world.

"The [149 acre] property we already own never had more people visiting than during the period of the pandemic. It was a place for respite and almost refuge to be able to get outside and enjoy nature and get their mind off of the difficult time we were all dealing with."

Day called this deal "the biggest challenge" for him since becoming SLCT president.

"The Altschul Trust hasn't given us a deadline, but they also expect us to come through on this," Day said. "We're hoping we can put this together over the next few months for sure."

To donate or to ask questions about the properties, email info@stamfordland.com. For donations, be sure to specify that it's for the Altschul properties. In the event the monetary target is not reached, Day said they'd want to be able to return donations.