NEWBURY — Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday announced that demolition of the Pink House has been placed on hold pending conversations between her office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which owns the nearly 100-year-old house on Plum Island Turnpike – and other stakeholders to determine a path forward.
“The Pink House is a beloved local landmark that makes valuable contributions to the North Shore economy by attracting tourists and artists from across the country,” Healey said in a press release.
In an email, U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Keith Shannon confirmed representatives from the federal agency will be engaging in discussions with the governor in the next several days.
“(We) will share details when we know more,” he said.
The governor’s announcement comes as work crews have been preparing the iconic house and landmark for demolition. Although a demolition date had not been released to the public, many believed it was only a matter of days.
Healey said she was grateful for the strong leadership and advocacy of local nonprofit organization Support The Pink House, as well as state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, state Rep. Kristen Kassner, D-Hamilton, and other members of the community to save the home.
“We look forward to continued conversations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to chart the best path forward for the Pink House, the community and the environment,” Healey said.
Tarr said the federal government now has an opportunity to score a “win-win” victory with the local community by expanding the refuge as well as preserving the Pink House at the same time.
“We must work together so that opportunity is not lost,” he said.
Kassner said by working together, federal, state and local stakeholders can “breathe new life into a cherished landmark that will serve the community for decades to come.”
For almost 10 years, Support the Pink House has been working to save the structure, which has become a mecca for local artists as well as photographers drawn to its unique location and color.
Support The Pink House President Rochelle Joseph said the building is a Massachusetts icon similar to the Gloucester Fisherman statue, as well as the Citgo sign by Fenway Park in Boston.
“We are extremely grateful for the sincere interest and quick action of Gov. Healey, Sen. Tarr and Rep. Kassner to stop the demolition and look forward to swiftly working on the very real solutions that exist,” she said.
Although owned by U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the property is managed by the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge where the property is located.
In 2011, U.S. Fish and Wildlife bought the house, as well as the 9.2 acres site it sits on for $375,000 from the Stott family.
But plans to house federal workers there were abandoned after the building was deemed in need of major renovations. The federal government then began looking for a way to offload the house to save money on upkeep.
Since then, Support The Pink House has been working with the feds to save the building from being torn down through a potential land swap agreement — or individual occupancy option.
But, since the house sits on federal property and is owned by the government, a land swap was the only way for it to be handed off to a new owner without an act of Congress. Although some progress had been made in reaching such an agreement, a pair of land swap deals fell through in 2020 and 2022.
In July, the house was put up for auction but no bids were received. On Aug. 15, the auction closed after only a month.
The auction was also only for the building and the winner would have been required to move it off the property by Dec. 31. Such an undertaking could cost up to $150,000, according to one estimate.
Wednesday’s reprieve comes just days after an anonymous donor pledged to give U.S. Fish and Wildlife up to $1 million in return for not demolishing the house. The unidentified man offered to shore up the structure against weather, as well as cover the cost of any remaining remediation along with making the demolition company, Ludlow-based Global Compass Inc. whole if its contract is not fulfilled.
The offer was turned down by the government within hours.
Shannon said U.S. Fish and Wildlife appreciated the generous monetary offer but didn’t believe it would affect the current course of action.
“The dilapidated structure is a safety hazard. Perpetual maintenance of an abandoned structure within an increasingly active flood zone is not compatible with the refuge’s mission to conserve wildlife and their habitats.,” Shannon said. “Therefore, the decision we made to remove the structure is in the best interest of our conservation mission.”