A prime stretch of Vineyard Haven working waterfront is now on the market as four separate parcels for a total of $7.3 million, after efforts to purchase and preserve the property in its entirety have fallen short of the asking price.

The 1.18-acre property along Beach Road, owned by the DeSorcy family, includes Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway, a building housing the Martha’s Vineyard Times, two small art galleries and apartments, a commercial warehouse and the former DeSorcy paint building. It also includes approximately 200 feet of commercially-zoned waterfront in Vineyard Haven.

The entire property was initially put on the market as a package in 2018 for $8 million, when a group, including co-owner of Gannon and Benjamin, Nat Benjamin, banded together in an effort to raise enough money purchase the land and preserve its waterfront uses. The properties include numbers 30, 34, 42 and 46 Beach Road, and were assessed at a combined value of $4.5 million, according to assessors records.

Reached by phone this week, both Peter Cronig, a real estate agent for the DeSorcy family, and Mr. Benjamin, said that approximately two years ago the group made an offer for the whole property and that the DeSorcys had made a counter offer, but that the two sides were not able to come together. With no recent offers, Mr. Cronig said that the DeSorcy family had decided to expand their options, putting the parcels on the market individually. The four parcels were posted on LINK, the Island’s multiple listings service, on Wednesday.

“We had it for sale all as one property for two or three years now. We had an offer, it didn’t go anywhere, and [the DeSorcys] are now trying to sell all four,” Mr. Cronig said. “The owners are willing to talk, but we just have to get there.”

Mr. Benjamin said that the group, known as the Tisbury Working Waterfront organization, was still interested in the property. He expressed enthusiasm that the Desorcys’ new willingness to sell the property piecemeal would actually open up further avenues for the group.

“It’s been on the open market now for a couple of years,” Mr. Benjamin said. “The only change is that now we have more options because we don’t have to buy the whole piece. We’re very happy about the way it is all going.”

Divided into four parcels, the westernmost property addressed at 30 Beach Road that includes the Martha’s Vineyard Times building and Gannon and Benjamin is the most expensive, listed at $3 million. Just east of that parcel is the art gallery and apartments at 34 Beach Road, listed at $1.9 million. The other two parcels are listed at $1.4 and $1 million respectively, and include the former warehouse.

The entire area is zoned for commercial waterfront use through a stringent set of restrictions outlined in a special overlay district of critical planning concern, and also a working waterfront zoning bylaw adopted by the town. The DCPC was enacted by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission approximately 20 years ago. Town zoning regulations restrict commercial use of the property to water dependent businesses in a zone that runs 100 feet back from the high water mark. Permitted uses in that zone include aquaculture facilities, boat yards and marine terminals.

Businesses outside the 100-foot setback are subject to traditional commercial zoning standards and requirements.

The property also has 185 feet of frontage on the Vineyard Haven harbor, which serves as historic shellfishing resource for scallops and hardshell clams, and spawning ground for winter flounder.

The property has a storied and eclectic history that includes the DeSorcy contracting business, law offices, newspapers and hairdressers. Gannon and Benjamin have rented from the DeSorcys since the 1980s.

Mr. Cronig noted that the property’s asking price in total has gone down $700,000, and that the decision to list the parcels separately stemmed from their desire to find a buyer, or buyers.

“The DeSorcys want to move on. And they’re just saying we’ll look at all the options,” Mr. Cronig said. “It has always been on the market. Now there could be four different buyers.”

He said there was no conflict between the working waterfront group and the family.

“Everything’s fine. We’ve been in contact over time when we made the offer,” Mr. Cronig said.

When the working waterfront group formed two years ago, it had the mission of preserving the marine and water-related uses of the buildings. Mr. Benjamin said that the group, and its mission, has not changed. They are still interested in the parcels, whether it be one or all.

“We do definitely want public access and public benefits,” Mr. Benjamin said. “We’re just moving forward. Hopefully we can make a deal.”