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Opportunity knocks in New Hope CorridorLocal communities, EANG and TLC answerPublished July 2005 In April, Triangle conservationists achieved a major victory when local governments, a determined community group, some local landowners, and TLC struck a series of deals to conserve 110 acres along New Hope Creek. The deal was sparked by the proposed development of 43 acres of woodland formerly part of Duke Forest along Erwin and Pickett roads. Nearby residents got wind of the proposal and the Erwin Area Neighborhood Group (EANG), formed only a few months earlier, leapt into action, mounting a spirited campaign to conserve the land as open space instead. Through eye-catching roadside signs, lobbying and public education, and an impressive amount of media coverage, EANG worked relentlessly to convince the four New Hope Creek jurisdictions—Orange and Durham counties, the city of Durham, and the town of Chapel Hill—to support conservation of the property. Despite this effort, the $1.5 million price tag ($1 million to Duke for the land and another $500,000 to buy out the developer, who had a contract) was steep, especially since the developer's plan would have set aside about half of the land as open space.
The Penny land had long been identified by TLC as a key to completion of the New Hope Creek corridor plan. Adopted in 1991 by the local governments in a prescient show of cooperation, the plan calls for a connected trail and wildlife corridor from Duke Forest to Jordan Lake. The Penny land is a keystone of the corridor, for its connection between Duke Forest and the Durham trail system and for its potential as a public access point. The Penny offer was the turning point, but there was still doubt. The communities faced an April 8 deadline and tremendous pressure to act. The communities had just three months to pull this deal together—the blink of an eye as government processes go. Like a house of cards, if any of the partners pulled out the deal would have collapsed. In the end, literally at the last minute (with the Orange County commissioners holed up in a two-hour emergency meeting wrestling with a demand to raise their share to $200,000), each community agreed to do its share. Durham County took the lead, offering up to $900,000. Orange County came up with $200,000. Chapel Hill pitched in $100,000. Durham came up with $75,000. And the Erwin Area Neighborhood Group promised to raise another $200,000 from private pledges. TLC played a significant role, too, providing a $25,000 challenge grant to encourage Durham's involvement and contributing $50,000 toward Orange County’s share ($25,000 of which was a gift from Wade and Carolyn Penny). TLC is also fronting the $200,000 contribution by EANG in advance of pledges to be collected over the next two years. On April 8, Durham County commissioners chair Ellen Reckhow signed a contract with Duke University to buy the land and complete payment by April 8, 2008. Orange County plans to buy an additional 8 acres from Duke, for a total of 105 contiguous acres along the New Hope at Erwin Road. EANG Chair Wendy Jacobs is excited about what comes next. “This area—the New Hope Creek Preserve at Hollow Rock—will serve as a major access point for citizens,” she said. “People will soon be able to park their cars here and begin a 15-mile trail along New Hope Creek all the way to Jordan Lake. This trail will be a natural treasure—a refuge in the middle of a rapidly developing landscape. Thanks to the amazing grassroots support of so many people, our elected officials and TLC, we have taken a giant step toward completing the New Hope Creek Corridor Master Plan.”
Editor’s Note: EANG is $44,000 short of its $200,000 goal. To help reach the goal, go to the Erwin Area Neighborhood Group website or contact Deb Christie.
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Pennys’ Strategic Timing