fundraising-for-748 - Kroka Expeditions

748 Forest Road, Marlow, NH
a unique and urgent opportunity for Kroka…

For the past 10 years, Kroka has enjoyed being next-door neighbors with Barry & Barbara Corriveau, who carefully tended the large white house directly across the street from our campus. The historical landmark (built in the 1790’s) is perhaps the most prominent home in the town of Marlow, with expansive views to the southeast and Pitcher Mountain and it directly overlooks the Kroka campus. Sadly, Barbara passed away this past fall, and the property will be sold in the next two months as Barry relocates to be closer to family.

The 13-acre parcel is worth approximately $600,000, and in addition to the main house it includes fields, forest, sheds, a three-car garage, and a large metal barn. It would make a stunning opportunity for a hospitality venue with immediate access to so many trails for hiking, mountain biking, and skiing – as well as an abundance of year-round tourists and Kroka families who will want to come and stay in our neighborhood.

After extensive conversations with neighbors, Kroka staff members, board members, and other advisors, we have reached the conclusion that it is imperative that we take steps to try to acquire this property. These are the most significant reasons:

The property overlooks the Kroka campus, and has a dominant influence on our visual and audible environment. The risk of having the wrong neighbors (noisy, disagreeable, unfriendly, or even unsafe) cannot be understated.
The price is reasonable, the owner is willing to work with us, and this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
In the past year we have had two different staff families that wished to live on or near our campus but were unable to, due to a lack of housing options. Rather than rushing into new housing construction, this would be a frugal and efficient way to immediately meet that need for staff housing.
Even should we decide to sell it at a later date, real estate in southern New Hampshire has been a very secure and profitable financial investment during the past decade.
The possibility of someone within the wider Kroka family using the property for farming, studio workspace, workshop, or as a hospitality enterprise would expand and strengthen our community.
Our vehicles and expedition equipment would have more access to covered dry storage space to protect them during the winter months.

Barry has been openly supportive about the possibility of Kroka purchasing and stewarding the property, even to the extent that he is willing to negotiate on the price and work with Kroka directly (without the costs of a realtor commission). Kroka’s recent sale of the Rogers Road farm property allows us to put $250,000 towards this opportunity, and now we are reaching to plan and fundraise for the remainder.

Here are some images of the neighborhood and property: