Deep Hole Creek Conservation

March 2022 Update: 

We are so grateful to the Koehler family for choosing to collaborate with us, the Town, and YOU, the community, to achieve a conservation outcome. This land will be conserved forever, because so many people cared and joined together in community-focused spirit.

We anticipate closing on this property in the next 6-8 weeks. At that time, the Peconic Land Trust will become the owner of this parcel, and with the simultaneous sale of development rights to the Town, the land will be protected in perpetuity.

The Trust chose to come forward as the temporary owner of this property so that we would not lose the land to development. However, the Trust plans to be an interim owner only, with the goal of selling the protected property to a conservation buyer who will potentially cultivate the land.

This is an incredible outcome in a very short period of time, and is only possible because of community members who have energetically rallied to preserve this land. In just a few months, $650,000 in community donations have been raised toward the purchase and permanent protection of this farmland!

We are so grateful for your continued support and for the amazing progress we continue to make, together.

Recent Press:

• Dan's Papers article from December 2021, "Miracle on New Suffolk Avenue."
• Suffolk Times article from November 27, 2021, "Deep Hole Creek preservation is near thanks to major community fundraising effort"
• East End Beacon article from November 16, 2021, "A Warp Speed Preservation Effort in Mattituck"
• Suffolk Times article from July 6, 2021, "Over $550,000 raised as conservation buyer sought for Mattituck waterfront property."
• Suffolk Times article from March 31, 2021, "Residents, Peconic Land Trust hope to preserve property along New Suffolk Avenue."

Final Fundraising Effort:

As we mentioned when we went to contract, our fundraising efforts are not yet over. With the Trust stepping forward to become the interim owner of this parcel (the only viable option to permanently preserve the land given the seller’s short timeframe), we have additional costs to cover.

Between contracting and closing costs, such as environmental assessments and attorney fees, and landowner costs, such as property taxes and land stewardship for up to a year or more, we need to raise another $255,000.

While that's not a small number, consider the remarkable support that brought us to this point:

• We have already raised $650,000 - the majority of community funds needed - thanks to YOU!
• Southold Town has approved the purchase of development rights, which is critical to the financial success of this project;
• A long-time donor generously committed to paying the entire interest on the loan secured by the Trust to acquire the property as interim owner;
• We continue to seek support from major donors and have had promising conversations. If these efforts prove fruitful, our remaining fundraising target would drop.

Here’s how you can help:

• Please share this email with your friends and neighbors! Many times, it's a personal request from a valued friend that encourages someone to become a donor. That certainly has been the case with this project.
• If your circumstances allow, please consider a second donation, or an increased donation, to get us to the finish line. You can also pledge a future donation for 2022 and 2023, and the donation would not be due until that year arrives. Please email Alison if you're interested in learning how this works.

Thank you to the entire North Fork community (from Laurel to Orient, and everywhere in between!) for your generous and passionate support of this project. Conservation does not happen alone, and we couldn't do it without you. An extra special thanks to our Steering Committee for their unwavering leadership in moving this project forward: