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Comes down to who gets the money; the developer or the people of the counties......
The Property Report: Plots & Ploys
Preservation Battle
02/25/2004
The Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com
A few Civil War battlefields are being threatened by plans to develop housing, according to a report issued this week by the Civil War Preservation Trust.
Toll Brothers Inc., a Huntingdon Valley, Pa.-based home builder, is purchasing a 790-acre farm in Chancellorsville, Va., for residential development. The farm was the site of fighting on May 1, 1863. A developer has plans to build 20 homes on Morris Island in South Carolina, the scene of the battle depicted in the 1989 film "Glory," which told the story of the first black unit of the Civil War.
Missouri Partners Inc., a Hollister, Mo., developer, is in the process of acquiring 2,240 acres near Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in Missouri for residential development. The trust contends that a portion of the property contains an area where fighting occurred.
"There is generally a lot of public support for these battlefields and considerable support has been building on Capitol Hill," says Jim Campi, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Civil War Preservation Trust, which along with other groups, is working to preserve Civil War battle sites.
"The primary threat is really from local officials" who allow development on the sites because they "don't recognize the historic and economic value and tourism potential" of them, he says. Mr. Campi contends that preserving battlefield sites as tourist attractions generates revenue.
Toll Brothers did not return calls seeking comment.
Roland Douglas, vice president of operations at Missouri Partners, says he has met with officials from the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, which is part of the National Park Service, and may consider selling a portion of the property, but the developer currently has no intention of delaying or halting plans for the property.
The trust commissioned a study, which will be released next month, to examine the demographics and spending patterns of visitors to seven battlefield sites around the country.
Last year, visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania spent $121.1 million in the local area, of which about 30% was spent on lodging, 24% on food and 21% on shopping, according to the study. Visitors to Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia spent $20.5 million in the area, of which 34% was spent on food, 26% on lodging and 22% on shopping.
The Property Report: Plots & Ploys
Preservation Battle
02/25/2004
The Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com
A few Civil War battlefields are being threatened by plans to develop housing, according to a report issued this week by the Civil War Preservation Trust.
Toll Brothers Inc., a Huntingdon Valley, Pa.-based home builder, is purchasing a 790-acre farm in Chancellorsville, Va., for residential development. The farm was the site of fighting on May 1, 1863. A developer has plans to build 20 homes on Morris Island in South Carolina, the scene of the battle depicted in the 1989 film "Glory," which told the story of the first black unit of the Civil War.
Missouri Partners Inc., a Hollister, Mo., developer, is in the process of acquiring 2,240 acres near Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in Missouri for residential development. The trust contends that a portion of the property contains an area where fighting occurred.
"There is generally a lot of public support for these battlefields and considerable support has been building on Capitol Hill," says Jim Campi, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Civil War Preservation Trust, which along with other groups, is working to preserve Civil War battle sites.
"The primary threat is really from local officials" who allow development on the sites because they "don't recognize the historic and economic value and tourism potential" of them, he says. Mr. Campi contends that preserving battlefield sites as tourist attractions generates revenue.
Toll Brothers did not return calls seeking comment.
Roland Douglas, vice president of operations at Missouri Partners, says he has met with officials from the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, which is part of the National Park Service, and may consider selling a portion of the property, but the developer currently has no intention of delaying or halting plans for the property.
The trust commissioned a study, which will be released next month, to examine the demographics and spending patterns of visitors to seven battlefield sites around the country.
Last year, visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania spent $121.1 million in the local area, of which about 30% was spent on lodging, 24% on food and 21% on shopping, according to the study. Visitors to Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia spent $20.5 million in the area, of which 34% was spent on food, 26% on lodging and 22% on shopping.