The Chicamacomico Historical Association was able to purchase the property adjacent to the 1911 Station in early December, thanks to help from local individuals and organizations who worked together to expand the historic site.
Funded in large part by the Dare County Tourism Board, with assistance from both the Meekins Charitable Trust and the Gaddy Family Endowment Fund (part of the North Carolina Community Foundation), the newly acquired property will remain vacant for the time being.
“We have no plans for the property at all except to keep it vacant,” said John Griffin, Present of the Chicamacomico Historical Association Board of Directors. “If a future Board wants to do something consistent with the mission of Chicamacomico, then the future board can certainly do that, but the plan for right now is to keep it vacant.”
The sale of the property was a relatively fast venture. Per Griffin, the former owner had originally planned to build a six bedroom house on the property, which measures 82’ feet by 350’ feet, until he heard that the Chicamacomico Historical Association was interested in acquiring the site. The owner then held the property until the Association had the funds to purchase it, and sold it at a reduced price, while covering a large chunk of the closing expenses. Dixon & Dixon Law also helped with the venture, working pro bono to manage the closing.
“It’s a huge lot, but most of it is wetlands,” said Griffin, noting that the property extends from N.C. Highway 12 to the oceanfront beach. “If it were to be developed, one could only put a single house on it… but we’re not interested in putting any houses on it – that was the whole point of the purchase.”
The closing took pace in early December, and Griffin and the Chicamacomico Historical Association are grateful for all the help along the way.
“We raised the money really quickly, and were able to [close] quickly, too” he said. “As usual, a lot of people helped [with the endeavor.]”
