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.