Government interested in
acquiring Mary’s Fancy
PHILIPSBURG--A “Land Purchase Commission” is in place to gather information and negotiate the possible purchase of the historical Mary’s Fancy Estate by Government.
The estate, recently placed on the Monument List, has been up for sale for several years now, but a very interested buyer close to sealing a deal has conservationists and environmentalists very nervous and turning to government to purchase the property.
Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams told the press Wednesday that the commission was put in place after notice of the property being on the market was published in the newspaper. The group is tasked with negotiating the terms of the purchase and price for the estate with the owner. Based on the commission’s report to the Executive Council, a decision will be made about the actual purchase.
Estate owner Elizabeth Rietz reportedly offered the property to government for US $1 million. Wescot-Williams said she had heard numbers “thrown up,” but no official documents on what the sale price is. Its worth has never been available.
