Op-Ed Argues For Conservation Of Lower Merion Farm

ARDMORE, PA -- An op-ed recently published in Main Line Media news argued for the preservation of a local farm, the last public one remaining in the township.

The author, Wynnewood’s Lee Quillen, lamented that the township is overeager to develop important local resources:

The last remaining farm land in Lower Merion will soon disappear forever if the current plan to develop the Knox Home proceeds as planned. The Township Open Space ordinance limits development to half the parcel of land, but it does not address historic preservation, and tearing up the last remaining land from a 19th century farm is not preservation. Charles Knox left his home and land for a residence for the elderly residents of Lower Merion, but a few years ago, the trustees of the Knox Home decided that maintaining the residence was no longer feasible, and to sell the property was the best choice to continue the mission of the trust.

Radnor Township saw the value in purchasing part of the Ardrossan estate as a benefit for posterity. We can do the same with the Knox Home and the land. This decision is difficult only because development of the Knox Home land with eight twin homes will increase the tax base, which seems to be the motivating factor for all development decisions made by our Board of Commissioners. It is disappointing to learn that the Board of Commissioners purchased property for Linwood Park in Ardmore, but will not consider saving a historic land in Wynnewood. A creative solution for land preservation is possible, for example, the land can be purchased by the Township and the buildings for adaptive reuse by a developer. The land could be planted with native species which require minimal care and maintained in partnership with a land conservancy.

The worth of the last remaining 19th century farm land in Lower Merion cannot be determined by the Montgomery County Board of Assessments or a realtor’s comp sheets. If all we believe and care about is that eight twin homes will increase the price of property on Argyle, Sussex and Knox Roads, then we know the value of nothing. The land is our patrimony. The real value is the satisfaction that we can walk across land little changed in two centuries and that we can save a den of foxes and herd of deer from the bulldozer.

To learn more about the Knox property, please see information on the Lower Merion Conservancy’s website here.

To submit a letter to the editor at Patch, email justin.heinze@patch.com.