Demolition plans on again for Pink House

U.S. Fish and Wildlife plans to demolish the historical landmark on the North Shore known as the Pink House, after almost four months of talks with the governor's office put the demolition on hold.

The demolition will begin moving forward "in the coming weeks," according to a release from the governor's office. The federal agency has deemed the house — which was built on a salt marsh on Plum Island in 1925, and has been a favorite subject for artists for a century — a safety and environmental concern, especially as sea levels rise on the marsh where it stands.

"The Pink House is a beloved fixture on Plum Island and a special part of the history, culture and fabric of greater Newbury and Newburyport. We are deeply grateful for all of the residents, including artists, who have made their voices heard about how meaningful the Pink House is to them and their communities," a statement from Gov. Maura Healey says.

In October, Healey announced the demolition of the landmark would be put on hold pending conversations between her administration and FWS.

"Last fall, we stepped in on behalf of community members, businesses and our tourism industry to try to preserve this important economic driver and landmark. With the partnership of Leader Bruce Tarr and State Representative Kristin Kassner, we worked diligently toward a solution with FWS but unfortunately they are moving forward with the demolition. Though the house will be removed, we remain committed to working together to evaluate additional steps we can take to ensure that the legacy of the Pink House will endure," Healey's statement continues.

Following Healey's announcement that she was "pausing" the demolition in October, refugee manager Matt Hillman said FWS was still planning, pending the outcome of talks, to go forward with removing the structure. They had been trying to come up with a solution other than demolition since 2016 — when the abandoned house fell into such disrepair it became unsafe to be near the premises.

The solutions they explored included: trying to find a partner who would exchange their habitat lands for the Pink House property; and soliciting bids to relocate the house, but no one bid on the project.

Hillman said once the Pink House is removed the salt marsh will be restored to natural habitat. In its natural state, he said, it will be more resilient to flooding and storms, and provide a safer habitat for the species that live there.

Additionally, he said the agency plans to open a small portion of the salt marsh to the public. It is currently completely off limits.

"We'll be able to open up a safe site, a park-like setting where people can enjoy this unique natural environment," he said.