Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal to sell a sliver of Statehouse lawn to developers is opposed by others who point out that the land in question was once part of John Hancock’s estate.

The proposed permanent easement was tacked onto a supplementary budget the Republican governor filed last week.

The developer needs the land to build au pair suites for multimillion-dollar condominiums.

The exact size of the easement is unclear. Some say it could be as large as 300 square feet. The governor’s office says it’s much smaller.

Baker’s spokeswoman told The Boston Globe that condos “will not damage or change the appearance of our State Capitol grounds.”

Secretary of State William Galvin, the state’s chief overseer of historic preservation, says you don’t sell “public land that has such historic significance.”