The Center has plans to redevelop the historic Hale House and Law Library in Elizabethtown, New York as middle-market housing to support the community.
Below are some frequently asked questions about the project. If you have further questions about the project, please contact Leslie Karasin.
The Center purchased the Hale House, as well as the neighboring Law Library and barn.
Yes. The Hale House and adjacent buildings are within the Hale-Hand Historic District, and our renovation will comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
The Center plans to convert the Hale House into four apartments and the Law Library into a single-family home. The plans for the barn are yet to be determined.
The apartments will not require income-based qualification. They will be designed to be financially in reach for people working in the Elizabethtown area. We use area median income and research on Elizabethtown-area salaries to determine affordable rental rates.
The apartments will have standard 1-year leases with the intent to serve folks interested in being in the community long-term.
The Center purchased the property in June 2024. Design work is expected to take place until early 2025, with construction to follow. We hope to have units ready for occupancy by 2026.
The Center will manage the property for several years as rental units. The Center will then sell the property to individuals as condominiums with covenants — or as a whole building to a like-minded property manager.
The oldest portion of the main house dates back to 1818, with subsequent additions through the middle of the 19th century. The property was home to the prominent lawyer, judge, and congressman Robert S. Hale, who built the Law Library around 1850 to house his office and collection of legal texts. At the same time, the property operated as a small farm, leading to the construction of the barn. By the 20th century, ownership passed out of the Hale family and the building became a summer home before being acquired by the Elizabethtown Social Center.
The Center has been working with local partners in Elizabethtown for several years to strengthen the community through initiatives like grant writing, support for recreational infrastructure, and advancing the town’s plans for a municipal wastewater system.
The Center also owns a vacant lot on Court St. Redevelopment plans there are on hold, pending additional information about the feasibility of establishing a municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The Center is using a mix of funding sources to make the redevelopment of the Hale House and adjacent buildings financially feasible. Sources include impact investment funds, historic tax credits, public grants, and private gifts. If you are interested in contributing to this important community project, please contact Becky Hession.
The Center is a regional innovation and investment partner creating rural vibrancy by connecting people, economy, and the forested landscape. Legally, we are non-profit organization; a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation registered in the state of New Hampshire. We work across the Northern Forest region of northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.
As described above, the Center uses a variety of capital sources to fund property purchases and development. This mix of funding enables the Center to take on challenging property development projects that do not attract commercial developers. By using low-cost capital and gifts and grants, we are able to create high-quality living spaces and make them affordable to middle income renters.
