Photo: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge/U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
NEWBURY, Mass.(WBZ NewsRadio) — The iconic “Pink House” in Newbury desperately needs a new owner.
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have been looking for a new owner for a while now but they were unsuccessful. The house hit the public auction block Wednesday, July 24.
Built in 1925, this two story, 1,500 sqft house deteriorated over time with mold growing inside the paint and a permanently flooded basement, Matthew Hillman from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge told WBZ NewsRadio. Additionally, a preliminary environmental survey of the building from 2014 found over 3,000 sqft of asbestos inside, making the house unsuitable for living.
Hillman added that the house also needs to be moved off of its current location, but "despite numerous attempts, there was not a land exchange option and by law were not able to simple sell or donate the land."
Since the Service and Refuge were not able to find an equal-value land exchange, they had no choice but to put the landmark on the public auction block.
The auction “really is the final way that we can do anything to save the structure and honestly keep it out of the landfill,” Hillman said.
The “Pink House” inspired many local artists and photographers throughout the years, and buyers have until August 9 to submit a bid for the auction. No bidders have put down the minimum bid yet.
“I will say I’m surprised that there hasn’t been a campaign within the community who loves and respects and cares about this house [and] to really recognize this as a last ditch effort to save or salvage the home,” Hillman said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl (@WBZKendall) reports.
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