Purchase of a small slice of land along Dough's Creek in Manteo is being pursued by the town to ensure conservation of the postcard-perfect view of the Elizabeth II at its home port.
A $350,000 contract has been signed between the town and heirs of the of H. Vernon Davis family for one-half interest in the approximately 5,500-square-foot parcel between Poor Richard's Sandwich Shop and the Waterfront Shops.
An independent appraisal in January done for the town determined that the market value of the entire parcel is $450,000.
"It's the last undeveloped parcel on the Manteo waterfront, and our board felt very strongly that it needed to be in the town's hands and it needed to be protected," Town Manager Kermit Skinner said this week.
The town purchased the other half-interest in the property in 2007, when Carson Davis Jr. sold it for $350,000. An independent appraisal done in January of that year valued the entire parcel at $620,000, Skinner said.
Skinner said a Davis family representative contacted the town last year about selling the remaining half-interest from LeVern Davis Parker and Ella Davis Wilson and their respective husbands. A contract was signed Aug. 22.
The Dare County Tourism Board has agreed to provide a grant of $112,500 toward the purchase, Skinner said, with the condition that the tourism board maintain a conservation easement and that the property remains a green space. The Friends of Elizabeth II, a nonprofit fundraising arm of the Roanoke Island Commission, has also promised to contribute $125,000 for the land.
The Elizabeth II, a 16th-century representative sailing ship, is docked across the creek on the edge of Roanoke Island Festival Park, a state attraction and the ship's caretaker. With its colorful pirate-ship looks, the vessel is a showcase for Manteo's early American history.
Any development on the parcel would block those on the road from seeing the ship.
"The board was very concerned about that viewshed to the Elizabeth II," Skinner said. "It would be a solid wall across the waterfront."
Until now, he said, the town has used the property during town parades, July Fourth and other events with the permission of Carson Davis.
Negotiations on the purchase price for both transactions were conducted by town attorney Daniel Khoury, Skinner said. Manteo's half-interest in the parcel and lower real estate values apparently did not factor into the recent selling price.
Khoury did not return two messages seeking comment.
"Our attorney did have a discussion with the Davis heirs, and the Davis heirs were not interested in a reduced price," Skinner said.
"At the end of the day, the true value of the property comes down to what the seller and the buyer agree to."
Skinner said the transaction is expected to close within 30 days.
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
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