Middlefield Receives Offer for Powder Ridge but Details Unknown

A town official said Friday that Middlefield has received an offer for Power Ridge ski area but did not elaborate on any details of the proposed deal.

Selectmen are expected to discuss the offer in executive session during Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting at 7 p.m. at the . The executive session portion of the meeting is closed to the public. (See attached PDF for agenda)

It is clear that the offer was not made by a Canadian group led by Rick Sabatino, a former consultant to Alpine Ridge which backed out of a $1 million deal to buy the property last fall.

Sabatino has since in finding new investors to restore skiing at Powder Ridge, including the construction of timeshares on the property.

In an email to Patch Friday morning, Sabatino said the group is still interested in the ski area and negotiations with the town continue.

"Ski hills with no snow are difficult to market as a going concern. The weather this year hasn't helped our efforts which is why I think some type of real-estate is key to closing the deal," Sabatino wrote.

This week, First Selectman Jon Brayshaw said there were currently three parties still interested in buying Powder Ridge from the town. Aside from the Canadian group it's unclear who or what those other interested parties are.

Brayshaw that he could not identify the interested parties because it might jeopardize negotiations. 

Powder Ridge closed during the 2006-2007 ski season and hasn't opened since.

Negotiations between the town and four potential buyers have fallen through as the property itself has fallen further into disrepair.