FACTS ABOUT LA GRANGE (the BARCZEWSKI FARM)
* La Grange farm (also known as the Anne N. Barczewski farm) is located at
2467 Pulaski Highway, Glasgow, DE. It is comprised of a single tract of
236 acres. Approximately 100 acres are pastures, and approximately 136
acres are wooded. The Muddy Run creek and some of its tributaries run
through and form the northern boundary of the property.
* In 1942, Anne and her late husband, Steven Barczewski, Jr., bought the
historic home and farm and set about restoring it. It was operated as a
dairy farm (West End Dairy) until the 1960s. Anne stated on numerous
occasions throughout her life that she did not wish to see the farm
developed.
* La Grange was originally owned by Glasgow physician, University of
Delaware trustee, and State politician Dr. Samuel Henry Black. General
Marie Joseph Lafayette, of Revolutionary War fame, gave the farm its name,
"La Grange," in 1824, during a visit. Lafayette remarked to Dr. Samuel H.
Black that Black's farm and house reminded him of his estate in France.
* Dr. Black's wife, Dorcas Armitage Middleton Black, was a
great-granddaughter of Cooch family patriarch Thomas Cooch, Sr.
* The 1815 federal style manor house and nearby granary building are listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. The granary, which is the
earliest documented example of a building of its type, is also listed on
the Historic American Building Survey. Enforcement of existing regulations
could prevent demolition of these structures.
* There are two archeologist documented Native American encampment sites on
the La Grange farm (the Butterworth and the Barczewski sites). To comply
with existing policies, a level II archaeological investigation (including
excavation) may be required prior to any development.
* In the farm's woods are authenticated, intact remains of British and
Hessian earthen trenches from the September 3, 1777, Revolutionary War
battle of Cooch's bridge. Although the battle was fought about two miles
away, numerous Revolutionary War cannon and musket balls have been found in
the farm's fields, as the British forces camped on the premises.
* There is also documented evidence on the farm of Benjamin Latrobe's
venture to build a feeder canal in 1804 (New Castle County Historical
Marker NC-59). The feeder canal remnants are intact. The canal was to be
built from the Elk Creek to the Christiana River, with the ultimate goal of
the canal connecting the Delaware and Chesapeake waterways. The project
failed, however, because but the state of Delaware ran out of money before
the canal was completed.
* In the U.S. Census of 1810 and of 1820, there are three free
African-Americans (unnamed husband, wife, and daughter) listed as part of
Dr. Samuel H. Black's household.
* Major areas of drainage and wetlands crisscross the Barczewski farm
property. Eight distinct and separate areas have been designated as
national wetlands. Seven distinct areas have been designated as state
wetlands. The total state wetland areas are larger than the total national
areas. These wetlands warrant protection under existing environmental
regulations.
* A quarter of the water recharge area for Glasgow is on the Barczewski
farm.
* The entire property is under a New Castle County Historic District zoning
overlay. The farm abuts and overlaps two other historic district overlays,
along its east side.
* In 1989, La Grange was designated as a Delaware Farm of Distinction.
* In 1994, with the help from the US Department of Agriculture's local
National Resources Conservation Service, a long-term tree management plan
was implemented for the farm.
* In 1996, Anne Barczewski was honored with a prestigious preservation
award from the New Castle County Historic Preservation Review Board, after
she placed the entire farm under an historic overlay.
* In 1997, Anne Barczewski was recognized as Delaware's Tree Farmer of the
Year.
* Anne Barczewski retains 76% ownership rights in La Grange. Her three
children each own eight percent.
* Anne Barczewski is 94 years old, is suffering from advanced Alzheimer's
disease, and is currently in hospice care. She is currently represented by
attorney Tom Posatko.
* Anne's son, George Barczewski is the current tenant of the property.
* Five acres of the farm, at the west end of the property near route 40,
are zoned commercial. The rest of the farm is zoned suburban.
* Last year, New Castle County officials made a $9.6 million offer to buy
all but the five commercially zoned acres of the farm for preservation.
* At a September 2004 public hearing before the New Castle County Council,
attorney David Ferry, who represents brothers Steven and George Barczewski,
insisted the farm was worth at least $12 million, and that his clients
would not accept anything less. Steven and George Barczewski have actively
courted development offers in recent years.
* As recently as January 2005, New Castle County and Delaware state
government officials were in contact with Anne Barczewski's daughter,
Joanne Lewis, about putting together another deal to purchase the farm for
preservation, at a price of roughly $12 million. Although Mrs. Lewis was
amenable to discussions, Mr. Ferry threatened Mrs. Lewis with legal action
on behalf of her brothers if she delayed any longer signing a sales
agreement with a developer.
* The farmhouse roof has been neglected for several years and is believed
to be in need of replacement. In response to several "demolition by
neglect" complaints filed with County code enforcement, a County inspection
took place in late March 2005. Although old water damage was noted on least
one interior wall, no active roof leak was found. However, the exterior
paint was found to be in poor repair (cracking and peeling) and a violation
notice was issued.
* After the current owners attempted to ignore the initial notice, a second
violation notice was issued. The owners are currently having the code
violations addressed.
* In early February 2005, a sales agreement was signed with local developer
Steven J. Nichols, at an offering price of $14.25 million. The initial
deposit paid to the family was $25,000, with another $225,000 due in early
May. The agreement gave Nichols 90 days to determine if the farm could be
developed to his satisfaction. The agreement then gave him another six
months to close the sale.
* Pam Scott, wife of New Castle County Council President, Paul Clark, and
Andy Taylor are among the attorney's representing Mr. Nichols. In response
to conflict of interest concerns raised by Friends of Historic Glasgow, Mr.
Clark has promised to recuse himself from any County Council decisions
involving the Barczewski property. The Council would need to vote on zoning
changes that were cleared by the Land Use Office.
* The Nichols team appeared before the New Castle County Historic Review
Board, off the agenda, on April 13, 2005. Nichols presented what were
called preliminary plans for development of the farm. The plans showed
every field full of housing, some commercial development along Route 40,
and a new elementary school west of the La Grange manor house. The house
was left with a 500 ft. buffer surrounding it, which is the minimum
requirement under existing County codes.
* In late April, the Nichols team also held a private meeting with County
Land Use Office representatives, and again presented their preliminary
plans. No formal public hearings have been held.
* It is not clear if Nichols plans will require zoning changes to proceed,
or not. Friends of Historic Glasgow believes that the school and commercial
construction, as presented at the April 13th HRB meeting, may require
zoning changes.
* Mr. Nichols failed to comply with the terms of the original sales
agreement. In early May, he offered an amendment to the sales agreement
along with a partial payment of $125,000. The amendment asked for an
additional 45 days to determine if the property could be developed to his
satisfaction, and placed other contingencies on the sellers. However, three
of the four sellers (all but Joanne Lewis) voted to accept the amendment
and Nichols was allowed to proceed.
* A level I archeological investigation, contracted for by Nichols in May
2005, has uncovered roughly 1600 Native American artifacts, most from the
period 1000 BC to 1000 AD. Level I investigations are limited in their
depth and scope, but such a large number of artifacts suggests the need to
conduct a Level II study. It is almost certain that there were Native
American settlements on the farm property, as previously noted.
* Along with his final $100,000 in deposit monies, Mr. Nichols recently
offered another amendment to the sales contract, reducing his offering
price by $2.25 million, to $12 million, but moving up the closing date to
October 10, 2005. It is not known if the sellers will agree to this
reduction in price. Nichols had earlier attempted to reduce his offering
price to $10 million, but apparently more than one of the sellers refused.
* The Historic Review Board has stated that it is opposed to allowing
development on the property. The Board would have to approve any
development plans before they could be undertaken, but it cannot prevent
any and all development.
* The New Castle County Land Use Office is opposed to rezoning any of the
property to allow commercial, industrial, or high-density residential
construction.
* There is significant public and community opposition to development of
this farm. Friends of Historic Glasgow has gathered over 1,300 signatures
opposing development.
* At this time, Anne Barczewski's three adult children and her legal
representative are continuing down the development road, in spite of her
clearly stated wishes to have her legacy preserved as undeveloped farmland.
This information is current as of June 17, 2005.
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