ESLC Takes Ownership of White Building
Donated to ESLC by Helaine White
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy now owns the building at 130 South Washington Street, next to the former McCord building, which ESLC hopes to purchase to create the Eastern Shore Conservation Center.
The building at 130 South Washington Street, which was donated to ESLC by Helaine White, was damaged in September in a fire. Currently, the building has a temporary roof, and a permanent roof must be installed quickly to avoid further damage to the structure. Estimates for a new roof are about $35,000.
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy in December deepened its commitment to building an Eastern Shore Conservation Center to Easton by putting $650,000 toward the former McCord building in a process known as dry settlement, after which such a payment is held in escrow. This accelerates the need for fundraising for the building, the purchase and renovation of which will cost about $5.5 million. Formal settlement on the building, should ESLC raise the necessary funds, will occur in April. Gov. Martin O’Malley included $1 million in his FY14 capital budget for the project, for which ESLC is required to raise matching funds.
ESLC is committed to farm and habitat protection in our rural areas, and revitalization in our towns and communities. As the organization commits to this project, it will look to state and local governments and our communities to help raise the funds needed to develop the Eastern Shore Conservation Center in the long-vacant building and its fire-damaged neighbor building.
In the coming year ESLC hopes to transform this vacant Easton warehouse and the office building next door into a charismatic green building that brings new vitality to both the neighborhood and the town. Called the Eastern Shore Conservation Center, this facility will create a working home for conservation organizations and businesses. This hub of activity will spark collaboration and innovation around conservation at a new scale for the Eastern Shore.