IPSWICH —Folks in this town knew what they did not want, and they spent their own money to make it happen. Voters in 2000 approved a $10 million bond issue and have since spent $7 million buying 11 parcels of land to preserve open space.
"We are determined to prevent the whole town from being a large-lot, single-family home," said Town Administrator Robert T. Markel. "There is a commitment to avoid suburban sprawl."
Now, roughly 50 percent of the town's 33 square miles has some form of protection, he said. The town government's vehicle fleet already includes hybrids, and residents this spring will vote on whether to build a wind turbine to power the schools.
Ipswich has three Zagat-rated restaurants, a thriving arts community, and the largest collection of pre-Revolution buildings in the country, Markel said.
There is a bonus for living in Ipswich. Crane Beach, which is owned by the Trustees of Reservations, charges $22.50 a day to park, but residents can get a yearlong parking permit for $15, Markel said. "It's the best bargain north of Boston."
He said the town's finances are in good shape overall, but the schools may face layoffs because of a unique situation. Under a Colonial-era trust, the land in the Little Neck area is owned by the trust but rented to homeowners. The trust usually contributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to the schools, but has cut back that contribution because it is fighting in court with homeowners over fee increases.
Once home to Native Americans who called the area Agawam, the town first experienced European settlement in 1633. It was incorporated in 1634. Tourism is now the main industry, replacing fishing, farming, and mills.
On a recent week, Realtor.com listed 76 single-family homes for sale, ranging from a two-bedroom, one-bath, 924-square-foot home for $250,000 to a three-bedroom, 4.5-bath, 4,417-square-foot home for $1.59 million. The median price of a single-family home through January was $359,900, according to Warren Group, which publishes real estate information.
JOHN ELLEMENT
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