Retirement housing seen on Webster farm

An Auburn real estate developer is planning to buy the 140-acre riverfront farm in Franklin where Daniel Webster grew up and turn it into retirement housing.

Elmer Pease II of PD Associates Real Estate Consultants signed a purchase and sales agreement for the property in the fall and expects to bring his initial building plans to city planners in August. Pease declined to say how many homes he hopes to build on the site or what he intends to spend developing it, but he described it as a retirement community.

Pease said he intends to refurbish the brick and wood buildings on the property, Webster’s house included, which have fallen into disrepair. He will market them to business or health professionals who serve the older population.