Sunday, October 30, 2016

Adirondack Land Trust Purchases Iconic Harrietstown Vista

surise at Glenview vista in harrietstownThe Adirondack Land Trust has announced that it closed on the purchase of Glenview Farm, a 238-acre property in Harrietstown, Franklin County.

The property is known for its views of Whiteface Mountain, the McKenzie Range and High Peaks Wilderness. It borders a ¼-mile stretch of State Route 86 between Saranac Lake and Paul Smiths just beyond Donnelly’s farm and extends to Twobridge Brook and Bloomingdale Bog, considered the third largest boreal peatland in New York.

A draft Harrietstown plan and the Adirondack Park Agency have designated this as a view worth protecting.

“Glenview is one of those extraordinary vistas one can enjoy without even hiking to the top of a mountain. We are delighted to be in a position to keep it that way,” Meredith Prime, board chair of Adirondack Land Trust, said in a statement to the press.

Howard Riley, a town councilman and neighbor born in a nearby farmhouse 86 years ago supports protection of the view and remembers cars parked along the road photographing the view.

The Adirondack Land Trust says it expects to own and manage the property for the long-term. The roadside field at the top of the sloping property was historically used for agriculture and grazing. The Land Trust is expected to develop a management plan that will take into account scenic, agricultural, forest and freshwater conservation values and evaluate potential for future public access. (The Trust statement says this transaction does not affect pre-existing water rights held by adjacent landowners to a spring on the property.)

“The names on the deed have changed, but the property will pretty much stay the same as we take time to develop a management plan,” according to Michael Carr, new executive director of the Adirondack Land Trust.

For more information on the Adirondack Land Trust, visit their website.

Photo: Sunrise at Glenview vista in Harrietstown, courtesy John DiGiacomo.

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Community news stories come from press releases and other notices from organizations, businesses, state agencies and other groups. Submit your contributions to Almanack Editor Melissa Hart at editor@adirondackalmanack.com.




9 Responses

  1. Alan Jones says:

    We’ve loved this vista for years and years. It’s wonderful that it will be protected forever.

  2. Keith Gorgas says:

    I am so delighted to read this. Not only is the vista worth preserving, but the what remains of the region’s agricultural heritage needs to be saved and enhanced. My fear had been that trees would be allowed to grow up in the fields and eventually it would become housing lots.

  3. Justin Farrell says:

    Beautiful photo, John!

  4. Davis says:

    A very good news story in an equally hateful world at the moment.

  5. Bruce says:

    Eventually, trees could affect the view. I wonder what the plan is…some sort of continuing agriculture, perhaps?

  6. Erok says:

    Does the Adirondack Land Trust have to pay property taxes on it’s land holdings or is it exempt?

  7. Paul says:

    So is it basically that field from the house across from Donnely’s (or slightly up the road) to the cemetery on top of the hill? Seems like more than a 1/4 mile? Or does it no go up that far to where people actually pull off?

  8. Charlie S says:

    “The Adirondack Land Trust says it expects to own and manage the property for the long-term.”

    Good! Don’t let the State get a hold of it as they are apt to go whichever way flows towards economic relief.

  9. terry says:

    What!!! People on this site fearful “that trees would be allowed to grow” and that
    “Eventually, trees could affect the view” The view of what, the forest?

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