2012 Conservation Victories: Our Shared Legacy

 

Thanks to your generous support in 2012, along with our local landowners, we are proud to announce that 92 acres of beautiful, pristine land in Westchester is now protected forever.

 

Finch Farm in North Salem

 Our most recent achievements are in North Salem and Pound Ridge. Today and forever, North Salem will be home 

to 45 acres of conserved land, located in a region identified by the Wildlife Conservation Society as having some of the highest levels of native plants, animals and insects in the northeastern U.S. This could not have been possible without the support of Finch Farm owners, Lori and Laurence Fink. 

 

 

Mr. Fink described the importance of conserving his family’s land: “We are so pleased that Finch Farm LLC has been able to donate an easement on 45 acres of land that abuts our home in North Salem. This donation will protect this wonderful property in perpetuity, protect its habitat and wooded and meadow areas, and prevent any subdivision or further residential development on the protected land. We are pleased to have been able to work with the Westchester Land Trust to continue the strong tradition of stewardship in the area.” The preserved easement area also presents beautiful viewsheds along public thoroughfares and scenic roadways, an extensive wetland and watercourse, and maturing woodlands.

 

In Pound Ridge, 4 acres on South Bedford Road will remain undeveloped and   

Newly Conserved Land in Pound Ridge

entirely wooded. The conserved area is significant for many reasons. It adjoins WLT’s Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family Preserve, and the site overlooks Mallard Lake. The property drains into the Mill River Basin, which is part of drinking water supply of the Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut, and is important to the protection of water resources. Like the North Salem property, the parcel is part of a critical conservation area that supports a variety of life in our region.

 

We celebrated spring 2012 with permanent protection of 43 acres straddling Ossining and New Castle that is home to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc., a private non-profit religious organization. The Maryknoll Sisters maintain a strong land ethic, and Sister Janet Miller described the importance of this preservation effort: “It is our home..the place that nourishes us, the place of healing and reconnecting when we return from overseas mission… I am grateful this land will be here for future generations.”  Miller co-directs the Maryknoll Sisters Environmental Office with Sister Doreen Longres and both were instrumental in making this preservation effort a reality. The Maryknoll land includes wetlands, fields, woodlands and a walking trail that is a place of refuge and contemplation for the Sisters, many of whom travel extensively on global missions. The site is also within the Oliver Pond/Lower Hudson River basin and drains directly into the Hudson River estuary.

Just two weeks after declaring home prices are overvalued by 10 percent, Fitch Ratings said yesterday that December’s solid single family housing starts and an unexpected jump in multifamily starts are clear signals that 2013 should begin strongly for U.S. housing.

Single family housing starts came in at 616,000 for December, which was on target with Fitch’s expectations. However, multifamily housing starts vaulted to 338,000. This increase may be attributable to good weather and the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. However, it should be noted that the multifamily numbers were strong in most regions of the United States.

‘Most housing macros continue to grow, helped by favorable affordability and buyer psychology,’ said Managing Director Robert Curran. ‘The major public builders are pacing the industry as reflected in their net orders and backlog.’

On January 4, Fitch said home prices were overvalued and price growth is not being driven by fundamentals but by technical factors that could easily change. The ratings service said national prices are, but will likely drop by no more than 2 percent due to inflation.

Yester Fitch said its housing forecasts for 2012 have been enhanced since the last quarterly data was released. Fitch estimates that single-family housing starts improved about 24 percent, new home sales rose approximately 20 percent, and existing home sales grew 10 percent. Fitch envisions housing growth to be somewhat less robust this year.

Fitch projects 2013 single family-starts to expand 18 percent, new home sales advance 22% and existing home sales should increase 7 percent.