PA: Builder Wants to Put Homes in Valley Forge National Historic Site

WPVI.com TV-6 ^ | 13 January,2002 | Matt O'Donnell

[brityank]

Builder Wants to Put Homes in Valley Forge National Historic Site

Matt O'Donnell, WPVI News

VALLEY FORGE, PA. - January 13, 2002 — The National Park Service is negotiating a deal to purchase private land in Valley Forge National Historical Park to stop a major developer from building a subdivision of 62 luxury homes there.

Toll Brothers Inc., the nation's largest builder of high-end homes, wants to build 62 houses on private property within the park about 20 miles from Philadelphia, despite an outcry from preservationists and park users who say the land is sacred.

The park is the site where Gen. George Washington and some 11,000 soldiers of the Continental Army camped from December 1777 to June 1778. It is also where more than 2,000 soldiers died.

The Toll Brothers plan prompted angry protests from preservationists, historians and Revolutionary War re-enactors nationwide.

"Valley Forge Overlook" would be within the boundaries of the historical park. But in order to spare the land, the Park Service is now in talks to buy it for roughly $10 million.

"I'm optimistic this is going to work because of the commitment of all parties involved to make it work," said U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel, a Pennsylvania Democrat who is acting as intermediary in talks between Toll Brothers and the park service.

Officials with the Huntingdon Valley developer could not be reached for comment Sunday.

The park service, however, has made acquiring the 62-acre site "a priority."

"We're trying to protect this island of green in the midst of suburbia," said park service spokesman David Barna.

Congress expanded the park's boundaries after designating it a national historical park in 1976. The park purchased hundreds of acres of private land within its boundaries, but didn't have the funds to purchase it all.

As a result, about 460 of the park's 3,466 acres are privately owned, including the 62-acre, family-owned tree nursery for which Toll Brothers has an agreement of sale.

"There has been an outpouring of alarm and a determination to help see that the subdivision does not go forward," said Robin Mann of the Sierra Club, which organized a rally that was scheduled for Sunday.

Hoeffel said park service director Fran Mainella told him money for the deal is available in the Interior Department budget.

© (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Last Updated: Jan 13, 2002

[brityank]

So who reimburses the town for the lost money created from the real estate property, school, and sales taxes this private land would bring in from 62 $750,000+ houses?

YOU !! !!

[brityank]

Land is worth what it will grow.

[He Rides A White Horse]

This is an outrage.

[cincinnati_Steve]

Uh, this doesn't seem to be that big of a deal to me. After all, we're talking about a small tract of land at the (presumably) edge of damn near 6 square miles. That many homes in that little amount of space wouldn't ruin anything for the spotter-snail smoochers. I got a mailing from the Sierra Club the other day with my actual name on it. How they got it, I don't know. I sealed the Bidness Reply envelope and sent it back empty. Figured they ought to get their money out of the permit they had to buy. I wouldn't throw a roll of pennies at the bastards if they were attacking me.

[He Rides A White Horse]

No Steve, I live but four miles from there, and some 'development' like this is a bunch of BS. Go build it somewhere else.

[He Rides A White Horse]

This isn't the home of the 'double breasted yellow spotted three note warbler'................this is Valley Forge Park, and Toll Brothers can kiss my (blank)

[brityank]

Then YOU bid on, buy, and pay the taxes on the 62 PRIVATELY-OWNED acerage.

[He Rides A White Horse]

I've got a better idea, Brit by birth, everything is for sale Libertarian, we'll see about this.

[sauropod]

Good article.

[okie01]

"So who reimburses the town for the lost money created from the real estate property, school, and sales taxes this private land would bring in from 62 $750,000+ houses?"

The land in question is apparently within the boundaries of the park itself. In which case, eminent domain has already been exercised and the Nat'l Park Service has the first option to buy the property. I suspect the realtor's bid is simply a ploy by the nursery to force the NPS to act.

I visited Valley Forge last Fall. The park is a major tourist attraction, generating important revenues for the neighboring cities (which essentially surround it). Plus, its presence increases the value of properties abutting the park. So I suspect the local tax collectors are not necessarily miffed by a federal buyout.

[is_is]

Why should I have to help pay for your solitude and enjoyment of this land......I say if some entrepenur wants to develop it......go ahead.....Our goverment spending tax dollars for you tree huggers is out of control....if the land has value.....develop it.....drill it....mine it....purchase it with donated dollars (charity???!!!oh my god, what a concept) but DO NOT BUY IT WITH MY TAX DOLLARS....

[He Rides A White Horse]

Our goverment spending tax dollars for you tree huggers is out of control....

This isn't tree hugging nonsense............this is a question of good taste. This is a historical site of the first magnitude, so don't accuse me of trivializing this............

[He Rides A White Horse]

Perhaps the Alamo would make a nice shopping mall.............

[Mannaggia l'America]

Local media speaks about this parcel of land as if it were in the middle of the park and it is totally pristine -- it's not actually. The fact is, you can't easily even get to this land; from the park itself, you would have to cross a river (Schuykill) and a 4-lane highway (Rt. 422)!. Plus, it is private property. (And why was it OK to build a 4-lane highway through it?)

There are other privately owned parcels in VF Park also. One has a gas station on it, and another has a trailer park.

Look for the area marked "B" on the map - that's the parcel where houses are proposed to be built.

I bet that even local people (and I am one - I don't live far from VF Park), couldn't even find this parcel of land if you dropped them off in the park.

But from what you often read and see on the local news, they drum things up and make it look like they are going to build these houses right along side all of the replica log cabins inside the park.

Don't get me wrong - I am not thrilled about having these houses built there, and if I had my choice, they wouldn't be built (and I don't think they will be). But I think there is some dishonesty in the local media and ulterior motives of some groups involved here.

[He Rides A White Horse]

I'll take a ride down to parcel "B".............I'll say this much, Valley Forge is a GREAT park, truly deserving of being maintained......................I'll say this much, I resent the attitude of those who would auction off pieces of pieces of history for a buck. That is revolting.

[is_is]

Perhaps the Alamo would make a nice shopping mall.............

If the alamo was privately owned and someone wanted to use it that way.....more power to them.....Every special interest in the US wants my tax dollar.....I say shut it all off....there is no way we can prioritize spending when everyones priority is first in their mind......we have more national parks, monuments, bird sanctuaries, national parks, etc than we need now.....

[brityank]

The land in question is apparently within the boundaries of the park itself.

        Congress expanded the park's boundaries after
        designating it a national historical park in 1976.

Seems like another case of Eminent Domain where the land was taken without compensation. Now that someone wants to use the land constructively the watermelons are getting up in arms. I have no problem with the governments acquiring appropriate lands but not without just compensation at the time of taking. How many other parcels are in the same boat, not only here at Valley Forge, but around the country in other states.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Don't get me wrong - I am not thrilled about having these houses built there, and if I had my choice, they wouldn't be built (and I don't think they will be). But I think there is some dishonesty in the local media and ulterior motives of some groups involved here.

It may seem like a kneejerk reaction to some, and I do understand what you are saying..........I don't like it. This isn't some environmental thing with me.

Is_is, if I proposed to turn the Alamo into some shopping mall, you would feel the same way I do. At least I hope so.

[texgal]

Perhaps the Alamo would make a nice shopping mall.............

FYI. . .The Alamo is not maintaned by the US Government nor is it maintained by the State of Texas. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas hold and and maintain the property. Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis puts forth a bill each year to return the property to Mexico. As long as a Daughter of the Republic lives and breathes that will not happen!

[is_is]

I understand your point about the alamo....in a perfect world the land your want saved should be.....but where are we going to draw the line....you've read my previous posts so i won't go into it all again.....I will admit i am reacting out of disgust for what this country is asking of me (tax wise) and what it is doing with my FORCED servitude...