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Chancellorsville said at risk
February 25, 2004 1:11 am
By RUSTY DENNEN
Group: Toll Brothers negotiating to buy Mullins farm Chancellorsville is one of the nation's most development-endangered Civil War battlefields.
And Spotsylvania Court House battlefield is at risk, too, according to an annual report released yesterday by the Washington-based Civil War Preservation Trust.
Jim Campi, spokesman for the trust, said progress has been made in preserving historically important land at Chancellorsville, but some areas are poised for development.
For two years, Chancellorsville has been a high-profile battlefield for preservationists.
In March 2003, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors turned down plans for the Town of Chancellorsville, a 2,000-residence mixed-use development.
In January, plans for an Outer Connector around Fredericksburg, which would have been built through the battlefield, were shelved.
"However, after these twin victories, Chancellorsville remains vulnerable," the trust reported.
The trust's focus now is on about 800 acres owned by area businessman John Mullins east of the Chancellorsville portion of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, where the Town of Chancellorsville was to have been built.
Mullins' development company, Mullco Inc., now has two residential sections and a commercial area in the works on part of the property known as the Ashley-Orrock tract. That 273-acre parcel is on the "Lick Run Element," where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee crossed after the battle.
Part of Mullins' land sits on acreage where the historically significant first-day fighting occurred on May 1, 1863.
Mullins has declined comment on his plans for the property.
But the trust says one of the nation's largest residential developers, Toll Brothers Inc., is negotiating to purchase the land.
Toll Brothers' Virginia Division office in Northern Virginia did not return a reporter's telephone call yesterday.
Toll Brothers, based in Huntington Valley, Pa., recently tried to develop property at Valley Forge National Historical Park. The company bills itself as the nation's leading builder of luxury homes.
The trust and local preservation groups have long been interested in purchasing Mullins' land, but preliminary discussions between the parties went nowhere.
"Despite our best attempts, we haven't been able to secure a deal to purchase at least part of Mullins' farm," Campi said. "We think a deal could be done to allow part of the property to be developed and the rest to be purchased by us."
The trust says a few other key parcels connected to the battle, which are owned by others, remain unprotected.
Along with Chancellorsville, other battlefields on the trust's top 10 list are Fort Donelson and Franklin, Tenn.; Glendale, Va.; Pickett's Mill, New Hope Church and Dallas, Ga.; Mansfield, La.; Morris Island, S.C.; New Bern, N.C.; South Mountain, Md.; and Wilson's Creek, Mo.
The Spotsylvania Court House battlefield is among 15 battlefields around the nation listed at risk.
Campi said the trust tried to buy 80 acres at Spotsylvania Court House from a landowner, but was pre-empted by a developer who bought the entire tract of 232 acres.
"There are several key parts of the battlefield there that remain unprotected," Campi said, "especially this year, the 140th anniversary of the Spotsylvania battle."
Virginia's Appomattox, Gaines Mill/Cold Harbor, Manassas and Port Republic battlefields were also on the list.
The sites included in the trust's study were based on geographic location, military significance and development pressure.
Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania battlefields had the same listing in the trust's report last year.
February 25, 2004 1:11 am
 In this view of the Chancellorsville area, looking west, the open acreage is the Mullins farm--which is available for development. Click for larger photo and to order reprints |
And Spotsylvania Court House battlefield is at risk, too, according to an annual report released yesterday by the Washington-based Civil War Preservation Trust.
Jim Campi, spokesman for the trust, said progress has been made in preserving historically important land at Chancellorsville, but some areas are poised for development.
For two years, Chancellorsville has been a high-profile battlefield for preservationists.
In March 2003, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors turned down plans for the Town of Chancellorsville, a 2,000-residence mixed-use development.
In January, plans for an Outer Connector around Fredericksburg, which would have been built through the battlefield, were shelved.
"However, after these twin victories, Chancellorsville remains vulnerable," the trust reported.
The trust's focus now is on about 800 acres owned by area businessman John Mullins east of the Chancellorsville portion of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, where the Town of Chancellorsville was to have been built.
Mullins' development company, Mullco Inc., now has two residential sections and a commercial area in the works on part of the property known as the Ashley-Orrock tract. That 273-acre parcel is on the "Lick Run Element," where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee crossed after the battle.
Part of Mullins' land sits on acreage where the historically significant first-day fighting occurred on May 1, 1863.
Mullins has declined comment on his plans for the property.
But the trust says one of the nation's largest residential developers, Toll Brothers Inc., is negotiating to purchase the land.
Toll Brothers' Virginia Division office in Northern Virginia did not return a reporter's telephone call yesterday.
Toll Brothers, based in Huntington Valley, Pa., recently tried to develop property at Valley Forge National Historical Park. The company bills itself as the nation's leading builder of luxury homes.
The trust and local preservation groups have long been interested in purchasing Mullins' land, but preliminary discussions between the parties went nowhere.
"Despite our best attempts, we haven't been able to secure a deal to purchase at least part of Mullins' farm," Campi said. "We think a deal could be done to allow part of the property to be developed and the rest to be purchased by us."
The trust says a few other key parcels connected to the battle, which are owned by others, remain unprotected.
Along with Chancellorsville, other battlefields on the trust's top 10 list are Fort Donelson and Franklin, Tenn.; Glendale, Va.; Pickett's Mill, New Hope Church and Dallas, Ga.; Mansfield, La.; Morris Island, S.C.; New Bern, N.C.; South Mountain, Md.; and Wilson's Creek, Mo.
The Spotsylvania Court House battlefield is among 15 battlefields around the nation listed at risk.
Campi said the trust tried to buy 80 acres at Spotsylvania Court House from a landowner, but was pre-empted by a developer who bought the entire tract of 232 acres.
"There are several key parts of the battlefield there that remain unprotected," Campi said, "especially this year, the 140th anniversary of the Spotsylvania battle."
Virginia's Appomattox, Gaines Mill/Cold Harbor, Manassas and Port Republic battlefields were also on the list.
The sites included in the trust's study were based on geographic location, military significance and development pressure.
Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania battlefields had the same listing in the trust's report last year.