Have you ever wanted to own a Fort in the Adirondacks?
If so, now might be the best chance you will ever have.
Fort Montgomery, and 300 acres around it, are listed on Ebay with a starting bid of 5 million dollars. The listing claims that, “There are no restrictions on the fort, meaning the new owners can develop it as they see fit. One possible use for the land would be the creation of a marina and luxury condominiums with dramatic views…”
Fort Montgomery was a key northern outpost guarding the Hudson and was the site of a 1777 Revolutionary War battle. The State Park’s website says that they maintain a visitor’s center there, but that services are being reduced (it does not say services are being dropped all together). EDIT: There were two forts by this name. One was near West Point and THAT fort was the scene of the 1777 Revolutionary War battle. The fort that is for sale on ebay is on the US/Canada border and was originally fortified in 1818. The peak of its construction was during the American Civil War as fears of British intervention via Canada grew.
So how is it possible that this Fort isn’t off limits as a place of historic significance? Well, the Ebay listing indicates that although the Fort is registered as a National Historic Place, this designation does little to restrict use of the property. (EDIT: see comment from Daniel Mackay below)
The Preservation League of New York State has listed the Fort as one of its Seven to Save.
The key distinction here is that the property is privately owned.
State and National Register listing of the property is largely an honorific, and would not significantly impeded future private owners, except to the extent that public funding and/or state and federal permits required for potential development scenarios are required.
State and National Register listing offers very few impediments to privately owned property.
From the National Park Service website re the National Register Program:
“There are no Federal historic property designations that place Federal restrictions on private property owners:”
“Key Points about the National Register Process for Property Owners:
Listing in the National Register honors the property by recognizing its importance to its community, State, or the Nation.
Many property owners propose National Register nominations.
Under Federal law, private property owners can do anything they wish with their
National Register-listed property, provided that no Federal license, permit, or funding is involved.
Owners have no obligation to open their properties to the public, to restore them, or even to maintain them, if they choose not to do so.
To ensure public participation in the nomination process, property owners and local officials are notified of proposed nominations to the National Register and provided the opportunity to comment. In addition, once a nomination is submitted to the National Park Service another public comment period is published in the Federal Register .
Federal agencies whose projects affect a listed property must give the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity to comment on the project and its effects on the property.
Owners of listed properties may be able to obtain Federal historic preservation funding, when funds are available. In addition, Federal investment tax credits for rehabilitation and other provisions may apply.”
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/owners.htm
Thank you for the additional info Daniel. Since this property is on your Seven to Save list, is there anything you suggest the public do if they support its preservation?