Avery Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet about Avery Property

What is the Avery property?

The Avery property is a 5.02-acre parcel of forested land adjacent to Sherwood Forest that the Village of Arden has now preserved as woodland. It is a long narrow strip between Arden and Sherwood Green with frontage on Marsh Road. The property abuts the Milligan and Kenney leaseholds and extends nearly 800 feet deep into the woods to a point past the water tower. The former owner, Marsha Avery, wanted to build 18 single family homes on it and had a plan approved by the county in 1986.

History of Avery property.

1970s - Marsha Avery purchased the property in the 1970s and drew up a development plan for 18 single-family homes, which was approved by NCC in 1986. The plan sat dormant until late 2001.
1996 - The Avery Task Force was formed in 1996. We approached Ms. Avery and inquired about purchasing the property. Her price was $1.8 million. We estimated fair market value to be approximately $600,000-$700,000.
1998 - NCCo passed UDC, which included more stringent guidelines for building developments and dealing with environmental issues. All previously approved plans, including Avery’s, were grandfathered for five years until Dec. 31, 2002, after which time they would be required to meet the new UDC requirements.
Late 2001 - Ms. Avery began inquiring about sewer capacity, the first step in many steps to beginning development. She was told that currently there is no available sewer capacity in this area.
October 2001 - Arden had the property appraised, which estimated the value at $725,000 if the property could be developed into 18 single-family homes.
August 2002 - Ms. Avery's lawyer contacted us and inquired if we were still interested in purchasing the property. Her price was reduced to $1.2 million.
September 2002, Marsha Avery gets Delaware Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry permit to clear-cut the entire five acres and begins logging Sept. 30. Five large trees are cut down before New Castle County Land Use issued a stop-work order for the logging because she did not have the appropriate reforestation plans and county-approved construction plans on file.
October 200 - the Task Force began negotiations with her to buy the property.
State Representative Wayne Smith and County Councilman Bob Weiner suggest a state/county/Arden partnership to purchase the property with each party paying one third of the purchase price up to $300,000 each. State money is from the Open Space Preservation Fund and the county money from County Executive Tom Gordon.
December 2, 2002, Marsha Avery accepts Arden’s offer to purchase the property in as-is condition for $850,000.
October 2003, the Task Force finalizes the contract and pursues additional fund-raising opportunities. As of May 2, 2004, Arden's Sherwood Forest Trust had received $144,341 in donations (including $10,000 from Ardencroft, $20,000 from Ardentown, and a $10,000 matching grant from the George & Miriam Martin Foundation) and another $3,410 in pledges.
On March 11, 2004, the residents of Arden decided by referendum, by a vote of 260 to 24, with an 80.5% turnout, to purchase this property.
In accordance with that referendum, the property itself was purchased on April 30, 2004.

Why is this property so important to Arden and the surrounding communities?

The headwaters of tributaries of Perkins Run, and Perkins Run itself, flow through the center of the property. Already excessive run-off from Buckingham Green has created damaging erosion along Perkins Run through Sherwood Forest and further downstream. Development of the Avery Property would further destroy the stream and surrounding trees.
The property is one of the few remaining natural forested areas in Brandywine Hundred and has been designated a critical natural area by DNREC.
Sherwood Forest and this adjoining five acres serve as a natural habitat for a number of plant and animal species.
The property serves as a buffer between Sherwood Forest and surrounding dense development. On any wooded area or forest, the first 20 feet of woods serves as a buffer with natural habitat for animals and plants actually beginning 20 feet in from the edge. Losing these five acres would have resulted in significant habitat destruction in Sherwood Forest.

Some comparisons to consider:

A developer is planning on building 100 $400,000-$500,000 single family homes on the land between Concord High School and Brandywine Town Center.
A newly-constructed two-story home on a small lot in Arden recently sold for $411,000.

SEND A CONTRIBUTION OR MAKE A PLEDGE

All donations are tax-deductible.
Please write your check to the "Village of Arden" with "Sherwood Trust" on the memo line. Mail your check, or your pledge, to Sherwood Forest Trust, Village of Arden, 2119 The Highway, Arden, DE 19810.

MORE INFORMATION

Preserve Sherwood Forest!
Click above to learn about preserving five additional acres of forest.

Delaware Nature Society Statement
This state-wide organization encourages your support

Aerial View of Sherwood Forest
with the Avery Property as marked for a housing development. We want to preserve it as forest!

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
Oversees such things as air quality, beaches, biodiversity, dog control, fisheries, hazardous waste, hunting, mosquito control, pollution prevention, recycling, storm water, waste water, wetlands, and wildlife for the state of Delaware.

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DIRECTIONS

Arden Secretary: 302 475-3516
Ardentown Secretary: 302 475-7467
Ardencroft Secretary: 302 529-1774