Chebeague-Cumberland Land Trust Acquires 77 Acres in Cumberland
We’re proud to share that a recent conservation project we helped close was featured in the Portland Press Herald on July 14th: the Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust’s acquisition of 77 acres of wooded land in Cumberland, now known as Watson Woods.
Many of our conservation deals take us to remote corners of Maine, but this project was right in our own backyard. Laura Hartz, Hannah Vilas, and Kerry Hryhor assisted on the sale of the property to CCLT for permanent protection—an effort that involved more than meets the eye. In addition to securing full fair market value for our client, we helped navigate complex issues, including tree growth penalties, boundary line questions, access and street requirements, public engagement with the town, layered funding structures, and several post-closing obligations.
The land, sold by longtime land owner Erla Watson Davis, connects with existing preserved properties to form a 450+ acre conservation corridor just a mile from downtown Cumberland. With the support of local, state, and federal funding—including the U.S. Forest Service Community Forest Program—the trust will soon open the area to the public for trails and recreation.
We’re honored to have helped preserve such a special property while protecting our client’s interests every step of the way.