River Farm Negotiations Continue Despite Developer's Interest

FORT HUNT, VA — The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust is claiming that a developer has given a letter of intent to purchase River Farm. The American Horticultural Society, which listed River Farm for sale in 2020, said it continues to only consider an offer from NOVA Parks.

Alan Rowsome, the executive director of the NVCT and a Save River Farm committee member, provided a September update on the status of River Farm. Rowsome claims a developer provided a letter of intent to purchase River Farm and several adjacent properties to locate a large-scale commercial business there.

"Accepting such an offer would be a betrayal of the original intent of Enid Annenberg Haupt’s financial gift that AHS used to purchase River Farm in 1973 and would cast aside their commitment to work with local government, parks organizations, and conservation groups to ensure the future of this unique community asset," Rowsome wrote. "No such offer from a developer to despoil River Farm can be allowed to move forward."

A spokesperson provided a statement to Patch on behalf of the American Horticultural Society indicated it was only negotiating with NOVA Parks on the purchase.

"The American Horticultural Society (AHS) is not involved with and cannot comment on any of the neighborhood properties surrounding River Farm," the statement reads. "With regard to River Farm, AHS has never in any way been in direct discussions or negotiations with the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT). The only offer the AHS board is currently entertaining is an offer from NOVA Parks, and we are pleased with the ongoing positive spirit of these negotiations."

The American Horticultural Society listed River Farm in November 2020 for $32.9 million, citing financial challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. That spurred the Save River Farm campaign, seeking protect River Farm as a public property that will not be redeveloped or privatized. NVCT and NOVA Parks worked together to make an offer to the American Horticultural Society. The first offer was rejected, and another was submitted.

State and local officials have taken actions to protect River Farm. State legislation from state Sen. Scott Surovell supported efforts to create the Historic Overlay District in Fairfax County, and state Sen. Adam Ebbin and Del. Paul Krizek spearheaded a $2 million state commitment to preserve River Farm.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors took action earlier in 2021 to establish a Historic Overlay District for River Farm, which provides better protections over normal zoning regulations for locations of architectural, historic, or archaeological significance. However, Surovell's legislation prompted a zoning ordinance amendment for Historic Overlay Districts that will be considered by the board on Sept. 14. The legislation allows the county to include a provision in a Historic Overlay District ordinance to allow public access to the historic area, landmark, building, structure, or land, or state that no subdivision can occur in a Historic Overlay District without approval from the Architectural Review Board.

County staff were directed to study and propose an amendment based on the state legislation. The Planning Commission held a public hearing in June and recommended the amendment to the board on June 16. The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on June 22 and deferred a decision until July 27, then Sept. 14.

Rowsome urged the Board of Supervisors to take action on the Historic Overlay District.

"It is imperative that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors move expeditiously to pass the now twice-delayed Historic Overlay District addition to River Farm they first considered earlier this summer, and AHS must reaffirm that they are working exclusively with NOVA Parks and NVCT towards an agreement," wrote Rowsome.

According to Rowsome, the offer made by NOVA Parks in collaboration with NVCT provided several options to consider, including co-ownership of River Farm, renting the site back to the American Horticultural Society, and a full purchase.

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