Koppel faces off against neighbors; Nightline’ anchor at war in ferocious land dispute

Washington Post via MSNBC ^ | December 26,2002 | Matthew Mosk

[John W]

Dec. 26 — On the air, he has played the delicate role of referee to Israelis and Palestinians. In the midst of South Africa’s clash over apartheid, he brought Foreign Minister R.F. Botha and Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu into U.S. homes on the same television broadcast. But at home in Potomac, where he is building a massive riverfront estate on 16 acres of cattle pasture, Ted Koppel is at war with his neighbors.

[logic101.net]

No surprise. He wants to tell all of us what we can drive, eat, watch and think. Why shouldn't he tell his neighbors what kind of house they can live in?


MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/

[Brilliant]

This problem could be solved very easily if Mr. Koppel would simply give all his money to the homeless.

[trebb]

I heard that they found a person on the land that exhibited a little common sense. Since people with common sense are an endangered species, the Feds are taking it all over and making the owners of homes already there demolish them and return the land to its pristine condition. Ted was unavailable for comment - rumors have it that he is doing research to try to find out what common sense is and to try to prove that it doesn't exist. He will use himself as corroboration that common sense is indeed a fantasy.

[DWSUWF]

I've always believed that restrictive covenants generally do more harm than good...

And Koppel is just another stinking, hypocrite liberal attempting to impose his will on the untermenchen...

I hope his neighbors use whatever legal fictions are required to push that old bastard into an apoplectic fit, right there in his 16 acre back yard, in the scenery-blocking shadow of a McMansion that makes the Disneyland Castle look like an outbuilding...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

If Ted wants to live in the country, why not move to the country ?

[DWSUWF]

"...If Ted wants to live in the country, why not move to the country ?..."

Well, I live in the country, as I'm sure many who visit FR do as well.

I wouldn't want that son of a bitch living anywhere near me, and I'll bet that there are plenty of others who feel the same.

I'd a LOT rather see Ted decide that this world, city or country, doesn't deserve his unique wisdom and take 40 or 50 sleeping pills with a fifth of Scotch chaser.

[jimt]

Sounds to me that Koppel, as much as I dislike him, paid for the privilege he's exercising.

He paid the original sellers of the land. "The arrangement, Murphy said, was cemented in covenants only after the Koppels agreed to significantly increase their purchase price."

The sellers then applied restrictive covenants to the deeds of other purchasers, who bought knowing full well their use of their property was restricted. It was a known condition of sale.

Now these folks want to renege on their deal?

Sorry, this time Koppel is right.

[Notforprophet]

Sounds to me from the article that Koppel paid extra for the land in order to secure the agreements not to build over 10,000 square foot homes. The developers agreed to that contractual framework, and ought to abide by it. I'm no fan of Ted Koppel, he's a flaming liberal puke, IMHO - but it seems to me that he is in the right on this.

[TopQuark]

I'd a LOT rather see Ted decide that this world, city or country, doesn't deserve his unique wisdom and take 40 or 50 sleeping pills with a fifth of Scotch chaser.

It is a bit scary to see someone with so much venom.

We have learned from your posts that you REALLY dislike Koppel. We have also learned that even more than him you dislike the property rights and capitalist system. Are you on the right forum, friend?

[IncPen]

I love the smell of Socialist class warfare in the morning.

Koppel seems to want to live in a snooty neighborhood, where he can feel safe as a limousine liberal-- just make sure it's not gauche , will you dear?

The limit dates to 1993, when the Koppels spotted the 44-acre cattle farm on a list of properties for sale by the Resolution Trust Corporation, the agency which was overseeing the government bailout of the savings and loan industry.

       Working under the corporate name Kodor Associates, the couple paid $2.7 million for 16 acres of the site overlooking the Potomac River. The Livingston Family Limited Partnership bought the rest, planning to put 14 houses there

Seems like Ted has something in common with that other sop feeding at the government trough (Sam Donaldson and his farm subsidies).

Ted bought 16 acres of prime real estate just outside DC for about $169,000 per acre. That's about what subdivision land is going for per 1/4 acre in some parts of suburban Chicago...

[right wing]

"I love the smell of Socialist class warfare in the morning. Koppel seems to want to live in a snooty neighborhood, where he can feel safe as a limousine liberal-- just make sure it's not gauche , will you dear?"

Too funny! I'm cracking up that this story made it into The Washington Post. Wonders never cease! At least Ted is being outted as the true blue hypocrite we've known him to be for years.

[DWSUWF]

"...We have also learned that even more than him you dislike the property rights and capitalist system. Are you on the right forum, friend?..."

Property Rights?

I suspect that we define that principle differently.

My read of the article is that Koppel is attempting, through his 'development' scheme, to impose restrictions on the use of property that survive his ownership of it.

Restrictive covenants convey no authentic benefits to subsequent owners of property. They bind future owners to conditions and uses of property that may severely limit the usefulness of that real estate.

If that's what you call 'property rights' then we are 180 degrees apart on the issue.

As for being on the right forum, I've found many who agree with my take on things, and a few who don't.

You would appear to be in that latter minority group.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I know how you feel. But surely, somewhere in Alaska, there's a 16 acre piece Ted could call home...

[DWSUWF]

"...I know how you feel. But surely, somewhere in Alaska, there's a 16 acre piece Ted could call home..."

Oh no...

Zimbabwe is where Ted needs to be.

I hear that there's plenty of rural property 'up for grabs' there.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

if not Zimbabwe, perhaps Paraguay.

[scannell]

From what I read here it looks like the houses are under 10,000 sq. ft.

[DWSUWF]

"...if not Zimbabwe, perhaps Paraguay..."

No.

1) The natives of Paraguay would probably not turn on him in a midnight machete-fest.

And

2) Paraguay is in this hemisphere.

[beckett]

Koppel the Environmentalist:

My neighbors will live as I tell them to live!

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness....BAH!