I don’t know, but I would bet that the state is paying the wealthy owner to keep the land as open space, even though the owner could afford to do that on their own. I love how that works.
Not sure if Henry B. duPont IV is getting any kind of break other than farm zoning, but you can view his property tax info on the NCC web site. The addresses are 3540 and 3548 Barley Mill Rd.
Regardless of any tax breaks, he probably contributes more to charity than I earn in a year, much of which goes to keeping NCC green w/ trees and maintaining open space.
All those saplings on Ashland Nature Center’s property along DE 82 were paid for with Henry’s money. I’m not a hunter, but he also allows hunters who qualify (prove to him they can shoot straight and hunt responsibly)to hunt on his property.
I can think of better ways for the state to spend money than to pay extremely wealthy people to not develop their land so that a very privileged few can enjoy it. If someone wants to keep their land free of houses, they need to just not build on it. Getting paid to not develop their land is like having their cake and eating it too.
BTW, I don’t know who’s land it is ,or who the person is that you refer to. I am just speaking of the practice in general.
FBH–do you have any evidence that HBduPIV is getting paid not to develop his land?
I met Henry once, many years ago. I wouldn’t know the man if he walked up to me and shook my hand.
That said, I am somewhat ambivalent re: open space conservation payments.
I grew up in northern NCC in the ’70s (19736) and ’80s (19707-just around the corner from Geezer’s house at the time–I delivered TNJ, but I guess he swiped his copy from work, as he was never a customer).
There was a time (1800s-1980ish) when wealthy estate owners kept their properties as “open space” for both aesthetic and altruistic reasons. That time passed roughly 30 years ago, when old money duPont and other wealthy DE family estates were divided up among greedy and/or disinterested heirs. This is why we now have McMansions on Way Road, Pyles Ford Road, Old Kennett Road, etc.
I agree that it’s stupid for the state to spend tax dollars to ensure that wealthy land owners don’t sell their properties to developers, but I’ve seen the results of what happens when the state doesn’t step in & I don’t like them. Centreville Reserve would be a prime example.
I’d rather have a few dollars of my annual income tax bill go toward maintaining open space than allowing rampant development on what was once “open space” and/or farm land.
And fuck you, Tom Gordon, AND your “suburban estate” zoning!
Do you have a better solution, FBH?
If so, please present it, because the idea of providing tax breaks or direct payments to wealthy people runs counter to my idea of sanity.
RDLB I have a problem with my tax dollars going to ensure that du Ponts won’t ever have to see a neighbor. We have ample open space in Greenville, we need open space in places like Wilmington where it’s actually needed and would add value to neighborhoods.
I don’t think you have to worry about “rampant development” for a quite a while, there’s not a high demand for it, and the housing bubble has clearly burst, possibly for decades. 20% of our farmland is already in preservation, which is one of the highest, if not THE highest percentage in the nation.
“I can think of better ways for the state to spend money than to pay extremely wealthy people to not develop their land so that a very privileged few can enjoy it.”
Could be anywhere but perhaps… Coverdale Farm in Greenville?
I don’t know, but I would bet that the state is paying the wealthy owner to keep the land as open space, even though the owner could afford to do that on their own. I love how that works.
Looks like Barley Mill Rd. near Henry duPont’s property.
Barley Mill is a good guess. I’m guessing Centreville Rd north of Lancaster Pike…
It’s someplace where somebody rich lives. That much is sure.
You are correct Roland. Near Ashland.
It also looks like a section of Pyles Ford near the Sharp’s place. Lovely area all around.
It is one of the few places the Democrats have not ruined yet.
@wtf–Do you ever have anything positive to add to a discussion, or are you just a cranky old fuck who bitches about everything?
BTW, Democrat Tom Gordon (a colossal asshole) was especially kind to the property concerns of the Greenville elite when he crafted the UDC.
@FBH–
Not sure if Henry B. duPont IV is getting any kind of break other than farm zoning, but you can view his property tax info on the NCC web site. The addresses are 3540 and 3548 Barley Mill Rd.
Regardless of any tax breaks, he probably contributes more to charity than I earn in a year, much of which goes to keeping NCC green w/ trees and maintaining open space.
All those saplings on Ashland Nature Center’s property along DE 82 were paid for with Henry’s money. I’m not a hunter, but he also allows hunters who qualify (prove to him they can shoot straight and hunt responsibly)to hunt on his property.
@ Roland D. LeBay
I can think of better ways for the state to spend money than to pay extremely wealthy people to not develop their land so that a very privileged few can enjoy it. If someone wants to keep their land free of houses, they need to just not build on it. Getting paid to not develop their land is like having their cake and eating it too.
BTW, I don’t know who’s land it is ,or who the person is that you refer to. I am just speaking of the practice in general.
whose
FBH–do you have any evidence that HBduPIV is getting paid not to develop his land?
I met Henry once, many years ago. I wouldn’t know the man if he walked up to me and shook my hand.
That said, I am somewhat ambivalent re: open space conservation payments.
I grew up in northern NCC in the ’70s (19736) and ’80s (19707-just around the corner from Geezer’s house at the time–I delivered TNJ, but I guess he swiped his copy from work, as he was never a customer).
There was a time (1800s-1980ish) when wealthy estate owners kept their properties as “open space” for both aesthetic and altruistic reasons. That time passed roughly 30 years ago, when old money duPont and other wealthy DE family estates were divided up among greedy and/or disinterested heirs. This is why we now have McMansions on Way Road, Pyles Ford Road, Old Kennett Road, etc.
I agree that it’s stupid for the state to spend tax dollars to ensure that wealthy land owners don’t sell their properties to developers, but I’ve seen the results of what happens when the state doesn’t step in & I don’t like them. Centreville Reserve would be a prime example.
I’d rather have a few dollars of my annual income tax bill go toward maintaining open space than allowing rampant development on what was once “open space” and/or farm land.
And fuck you, Tom Gordon, AND your “suburban estate” zoning!
Do you have a better solution, FBH?
If so, please present it, because the idea of providing tax breaks or direct payments to wealthy people runs counter to my idea of sanity.
RDLB I have a problem with my tax dollars going to ensure that du Ponts won’t ever have to see a neighbor. We have ample open space in Greenville, we need open space in places like Wilmington where it’s actually needed and would add value to neighborhoods.
I don’t think you have to worry about “rampant development” for a quite a while, there’s not a high demand for it, and the housing bubble has clearly burst, possibly for decades. 20% of our farmland is already in preservation, which is one of the highest, if not THE highest percentage in the nation.
“I can think of better ways for the state to spend money than to pay extremely wealthy people to not develop their land so that a very privileged few can enjoy it.”
What state program does this?