APPLETON – In a move that signals support of new housing for teachers, nurses, boatbuilders, carpenters, etc., – those who keep the Midcoast economy humming — the Town of Appleton has sold 17 acres on the West Appleton Road to a resident who intends to create a residential development there.

On March 9, Town Select Board Chair Lori Costigan reported that the real estate closing was a done deal, with Appleton resident David Flanagan becoming the new owner.

“It is a wonderful use of property that has not been on the tax rolls since 1968, and was once a farm,” said Costigan. “To know it is someone who has an eye toward the local need for housing to a ensure a strong workforce and community is great to see.”

The property had originally been acquired by the town for nonpayment of taxes.

Midwinter, at a Feb. 21 regular scheduled meeting, the Appleton Select Board had approved the purchase and sales agreement, citing $115,000 as the sales price.

That followed June 2022 June Town Meeting approval of the land sale by voters, who agreed to put 17 acres of the former Grover McLaughlin lot on the market, with all proceeds going to the municipal revaluation reserve fund (estimated cost of a town-wide revaluation is $220,000).

On the town meeting warrant, the Select Board had noted that the land had been used for timber harvest over the previous five years, yielding $2,700 for the town.

By divesting for purposes of housing development, Appleton anticipated an increase in real estate property tax revenue.

Each lot – perhaps eight – would be sold for approximately $55,000, the Select Board figured. 

“If a $200,000 home was built, annual tax assessment for land and building is estimated to begin at $3,000 per lot created,” the Select Board note said, which is included on the Town Meeting warrant. “This lot has 800 feet of road frontage, making it possible to become as many as five individual lots with road frontage of 150 feet per lot, per the town’s building ordinance.”

Originally, the asking price was $135,000 for the 17 acres, but was reduced over the course of the winter.

By Feb. 21, the Select Board approved selling it for $115,000, agreeing that the deal, “seems pretty square,” as one board member said.

On March 9, the deal closed for the property at $118,000 cash. The land was assessed by the town at $44,800.