Hepburn will calls for beachfront property to be preserved for public use

Hartford Courant ^ | July 29, 2003 | Claudia Van Nes

[lainie]

OLD SAYBROOK, CT -- While most of Katharine Hepburn's estate will go to her family, the actress left money to the small Maryland church where her grandfather was a pastor and 4 pristine beachfront acres for "exclusively public purposes."

Hepburn's will, written in 1992, was filed with the town's probate court Friday. She died at her waterfront home in the exclusive Fenwick section June 29. The will does not say how much her estate is worth.

[longtermmemmory]

Though the will stipulates the land should go to a federal, state or local body or conservation organization for "the benefit of the general public," Hanson said Hepburn intended the land to be preserved and protected and not be used by the public.

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Limosine NIMBY

This is like public parks in affluent neighborhoods which have no parking. Not really public.

[ken5050]

Let me see if I get this....exclusively public use, yet not to be used by the public..in other words..no access...after all, we can't have the "public" walking by the private homes, can we?

[longtermmemmory]

It becomes a defacto private park for the neigborhood which is funded by the public. This boosts the property value of neighbors who don't have beach access.

Developers do this trick all the time. Rig access, and achieve the desired result.

[ken5050]

and don't forget the big tax deduction the estate will take for the value of the donated property....

[theDentist]

Warm up the Sea-doos, your atv's and dune bikes. Start laying foundations for the wind-farms, get ready for the whine-fest. Ocean-side beaches have been set aside for the public. Ugh! :-)