More Details Emerge On Patterson Farm Costs

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —Dennis Steadman wants to save Patterson Farm.

As chairman of the Lower Makefield Ad Hoc Property Committee, Steadman has the task of trying to preserve a 234-acre parcel with a 300-year history.

"I grew up on a dairy farm. I've been around agriculture my entire life," Steadman said. "It's a beautiful property. But it's got a lot of challenges. It's a sin for it to be in the state it's in."

Architectural firm Seiler + Drury —charged with creating a long-term master plan —presented preliminary plan recommendations on the long-term vision of the farm earlier this month.

The consultants hired by the township unveiled plans for the Mirror Lake property's 15 buildings, offering two-to-three options each on how they can be refurbished and reused as public venues while still maintaining its agricultural spirit on land that has been farmed for more than 300 years without interruption.

Steadman knows that the farm's preservation "will take a lot of work, some money, volunteers, and community engagement."

"It might even take a decade," he said.

Steadman said he believes that Stage 1 costs to begin the preservation over a three-year period would range around $500,000 to $800,000.

He doesn't believe the money will just come from the public. Steadman said he expects a bland of funding from the public, non-profits, and possibly public and private grants. He hopes the farm's management can be turned over to a non-profit organization that the township can advise and control.

Formed in June 2021, the Ad Hoc Property Committee —comprised of seven volunteer residents with the requisite mix of skills defined by the board of supervisors —has worked countless hours, held 26 public meetings and two public forums which were attended by nearly 200 interested community members, Steadman said.

Lower Makefield Township has owned Patterson Farm since 1998. But it has sat in a "state of disrepair" for 25 years, Steadman said.

"We need to break the inertia," he said. "With the first stage, we have to focus and deliver. We have to create some momentum. We need visible, small victories."

The property and buildings, purchased by the township in 1998 for $7 million, are mostly unavailable to the public due to active farming operations and the unsafe condition of most buildings. One building is used by a local artist and another by a local non-profit art organization.

The consultant, in presenting the recommendations, said that the 15 buildings are mostly structurally sound and include 44,278 square feet of floor space.

The Patterson site and its buildings are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, consultant Doug Seiler said, adding that historic district inclusion and National Register status would help with grants and funding.

"This project came about and won support of the both the community and the Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors because neither the township nor the community were satisfied with the condition of the buildings, public access to the grounds and buildings, and the overall condition and management of this historic property," Steadman said.

Throughout the disciplined project process, the committee and the public have heard analysis, input, and recommendations from experts ranging from historical architects, engineers, and barn historians, to landscape architects, land use economists, and more, Steadman said.

He said there is a clear consensus on a few points:

• The site should continue to be farmed as its rich soil produces an abundance of locally grown produce important to our community, it has been farmed continuously for over 300 years and most of the land is under permanent agricultural easement.
• Some buildings are historically important and ought to be brought into respectable condition and used.
• The community wants greater access and utilization of this publicly-owned property to enjoy nature and learn more about the history and heritage of Lower Makefield Township.

He said that based upon vast community input and informed guidance from multidisciplinary experts, the committee is working to deliver a distilled set of affordable and executable recommendations to supervisors in November with the goal of putting the Patterson Farm property on a new path toward a brighter future.

"Practicality demands that any such long-term, ambitious plan be executed in stages, with ensuing stages dependent on the success of the prior stage," Steadman said.

He said the committee expects the stage one plan to focus on any necessary immediate stabilization of historically important buildings, a new approach to the management of the property, and gaining some early progress on improved public access.

"With informed, strategic, and staged plans, as well as continued community engagement, this site can remain a bountiful source of local produce with scenic vistas at the entranceway to Lower Makefield, as well as become a site of public pride, inspiration, education, and enjoyment," Steadman said.

The committee holds public meetings via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Videos of past meetings are available for viewing on the Lower Makefield Township YouTube page.