Patterson Farm Master Plan Approved For Preservation

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —The master plan for the historic Patterson Farm has been approved.

The Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors gave the green light to the master plan for the 234-acre parcel with a 300-year history.

Dennis F. Steadman, chairman of the Lower Makefield Township Ad-Hoc Property Committee, said that supervisors voted to fully fund Stage 1 projects recommended by the committee.

He said they also gave the go-ahead to begin the process of submission of Patterson Farm to the National Register of Historic Places.

"This presents a new direction for the site, for the township, for historic preservation, for the continuance of local agriculture, and for community access to nature," Steadman told Patch.

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

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

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.

The property and buildings, purchased by the township 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 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.