An Invitation to Partner
56 Wawaloam Drive: Preserving Weekapaug's Coastline
Situated in the heart of Weekapaug, a decommissioned Verizon switching station occupies 0.27 acres of beachfront land, directly abutting the historic Weekapaug Chapel. The Weekapaug Foundation for Conservation ("WFC"), together with a group of committed local donors and the abutting Chapel, has a limited-time opportunity to acquire this property, retire the aging building, and convert the site into a natural pollinator garden — permanently protecting it from residential redevelopment and preserving it for the enjoyment of the entire community.
We are raising capital now, while our negotiating window with Verizon remains open.
Why This Site Matters
Beachfront standing at one of Weekapaug's most prominent intersections
Abuts the Weekapaug Chapel — one of the community's most beloved landmarks
Assessed at nearly $3.3 million, underscoring the stakes if this land is lost to private development
Small in footprint (0.27 acres), but outsized in community significance
Left on the open market, this parcel is likely to become a private residence puzzled into the awkward-shaped lot — permanently closing off one of Weekapaug's last remaining stretches of undeveloped waterfront.
The Story So Far
Verizon built the red-brick building at 56 Wawaloam 65 years ago to house analog telephone switching equipment. As those operations have moved from analog to digital, Verizon no longer needs the property, which remains costly to maintain. 56 Wawaloam is the first of roughly 300 similar Verizon buildings nationwide slated for sale — giving our approach here the chance to serve as a model for other communities facing the same opportunity.
WFC and its donor partners have already submitted a written offer to Verizon that addresses the environmental questions raised by decades of switching-station use, including the potential presence of legacy materials such as lead and asbestos, as well as an on-site diesel generator that may have affected the soil beneath it.
Why We're the Preferred Buyer
Multiple parties have expressed interest in 56 Wawaloam, including at least one offer above $2 million — all from prospective residential developers. Even so, Verizon's broker, CBRE, has indicated that our group stands out as the preferred buyer, for several reasons:
Credibility: WFC has protected land and water resources in the Weekapaug region since 1989, and today owns and stewards more than 1,000 acres.
A clean path to closing: a residential buyer would face substantial obstacles at this site — septic placement, setbacks, and parking, all complicated by its small size and water proximity, along with heightened environmental standards. Our conservation use avoids these challenges entirely.
Value to Verizon beyond price: as a nonprofit buyer, we can offer Verizon benefits a residential buyer cannot — including potential charitable-deduction treatment and a simpler, less costly remediation path.
The Ask
To negotiate from a position of strength against competing offers, we need to arrive with real capital committed — not just a plan. The Foundation itself is a meaningful funder of this effort, and the Weekapaug Chapel — our neighbor on this site — has indicated interest in participating as well.
Verizon has requested we offer as close to $2.5 million as we can. Naturally, the Foundation will work to pay as little as possible and preserve any capital for the transformation and maintenance of the garden. However, committing capital at this level allows us to negotiate confidently against competing offers, without a shortfall in committed capital costing us the opportunity. We are asking that all pledges be committed by Thursday, July 30.
Our Vision
If successful, WFC will work with Verizon to ensure Verizon delivers a site free of all environmental conditions. Thereafter, we will work with our donors to retire the existing building, and design, fund, and maintain a natural pollinator garden — a living, low-maintenance landscape open to all Weekapaug residents in place of this aging utility building.
Next Steps
We are meeting individually with prospective donors this week to share the full financial picture and answer questions. If you would like to help preserve this stretch of the Weekapaug coastline for the community's future, we welcome the conversation.
WFC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions will be tax-deductible.