Carpenter Farm
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farmland |  |
water resources |  |
natural heritage |  |
urban natural areas |
Guilford County - 154 acres protected
Eugene Carpenter. Bequest of Land.
In March 2004, PLC learned we were a beneficiary of Mr. Eugene Carpenter’s estate. Mr. Carpenter left the Conservancy 154-acres of farmland in eastern Guilford County. As PLC was unaware of Mr. Carpenter’s intentions, staff and Board carefully considered the bequest before accepting this generous gift.
First, PLC staff and Land Committee Chair conducted a normal site visit to gain an understanding of the nature of the property and its conservation values. Second, PLC met with Mr. Carpenter’s legal counsel to determine what, if any, legal constraints were placed on PLC’s long-term use of the property. Finally, staff engaged a consultant to perform an environmental screen. The screen determined there were likely no environmental hazards on the property. Based on the outcome of these steps, PLC’s Board accepted this generous gift from Mr. Carpenter.
Although there were no legal constraints placed on PLC’s long-term use of the land by Mr. Carpenter, PLC decided that the best long-term plan for this property would be to sell the property subject to a conservation easement that protects the agricultural soils, open space character of the property and wildlife habitat it provides. Knowing that members of the Carpenter Family were interested in obtaining the property, PLC chose to provide members of the family the first opportunity to purchase the protected farmland. Late in 2005, PLC sold 12 acres to Mr. Carpenter’s great-niece who had received adjoining land through the estate and the remaining 142 acres was sold to Mr. Carpenter’s nephew. The money generated by the sale of the land subject to conservation easement will be used to support PLC’s mission.
Project funding provided by the landowner and PLC.