Upper Valley Land Trust Considers Programs for Norwich Farm
Hanover, NH March 2018
Monday, March 5, 2018 — Changes are underway at Norwich Farms, a 6-acre complex with agricultural buildings, a classroom and a farmhouse on Turnpike Road in Norwich. Vermont Technical College (VTC), which had used the site for dairy education since 2015, will discontinue its programs in Norwich this spring. This decision creates opportunities for alternative uses of the property which adjoins the Upper Valley Land Trust’s (UVLT’s) Brookmead Conservation Area. UVLT’s acquisition of the Brookmead land included an irrevocable option to buy the Norwich Farm complex if the school ever stopped using it for agricultural education. UVLT provided notice to VTC on March 2nd, 2018 that it was exercising its option to purchase the property. The option contract calls for closing to occur within 60 days.
UVLT President, Jeanie McIntyre explains that the Trust wanted to ensure the buildings and land could remain together should VTC’s priorities change. “We are currently leading an exploration of partnerships and programs that will advance our conservation mission and promote the health, sustainability and vitality of the Upper Valley. The site has more buildings than are typically found on a farm of its scale, and we wanted to be able to think about economically feasible ways of potentially bringing together non-profits and entrepreneurs there to serve community needs while meeting UVLT’s mission.”
In May 2015, The Andrew and Margaret Sigler Foundation donated approximately 352 acres of land, a 6-acre farmstead complex (including a several barns, a residence and a mobile home), and an adjoining residential property to Vermont Technical College. The donation was intended in support of VTC’s plan to relocate its dairy education program from Randolph to the Norwich site and expand the curriculum to include value-added processing. Soon after the gift was received, VTC sold 352 acres of undeveloped land to UVLT. UVLT drew funds to purchase the land from its on-going $9 million capital campaign, the Fund for Conservation Action, local donors and an expenditure from Norwich's Conservation Fund. The purchase provided capital for VTC’s transition costs.
For the past two years, UVLT has allowed VTC to use the pastures and hayland (about 40-50 acres), while developing trails, forestry and habitat stewardship and recreational programming on the balance of the land, which is wooded. The Brookmead trails are some of UVLT’s most popular.
At the time of the land sale, VTC and UVLT also recorded an option contract, providing UVLT with the right to purchase the farmstead complex should VTC discontinue use of the facility for educational purposes. UVLT’s objective was to maintain the potential for the buildings and land to be used together in service to conservation, stewardship and community needs to create transformative community programs promoting conservation and sustainability.
After learning of VTC’s plan to cease operations in Norwich, UVLT has been conducting due diligence and assessing alternative plans for the farmstead complex, says McIntyre. “We prepared a fact sheet and request for proposals that we shared with more than 25 entities and individuals, and we did all the usual things like water tests and building inspections. We’ve been gathering information from VTC and others about the approximately $100,000 annual carrying costs and estimating local lease rates so that we can ensure that the next chapter of use there is economically viable.”
The option agreement requires the property be conveyed free and clear of all personal property, tenants, and encumbrances. McIntyre said, "VTC has some steps to complete in order for that to happen. We are waiting to hear from them about how they plan to address these matters.” If an approach for long-term use of the site is not finalized before the closing, UVLT expects to rent the property on a short term basis to offset the carrying costs.