Chadds Ford Township supervisors Wednesday night voted to contribute $250,000 to the North American Land Trust’s grant application to buy 1597 Baltimore Pike. Supervisors’ Chairman Samantha Reiner said the money would come from Open Space funds, something the Open Space Committee approved.
The property is the former home of N.C. Wyeth and, most recently, the Camp family. The Camps sold the property to developer Wayne Megill last year and now NALT wants to buy the 17-acre property from him.
Reiner said the property would be under a conservation easement held by the township, adding that NALT would operate the site much like it does Brinton Run Preserve. The land trust’s goal, she added, is preserving the site, adding trails that would connect with Walkable Chadds Ford, and provide a habitat for pollinators.
In addition to the money, the township will also write a letter of support that NALT will use in its grant application with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Township Manager Lacey Faber said NALT must pay a $500,000 non-refundable deposit with that application. The American Battlefield Trust would put up an equal amount, but they would forfeit the deposit if NALT fails to acquire the property. The asking price is $3.76 million, Faber added.
The anticipated date of acquisition is sometime in 2025.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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