Don't sell the land

Last week an article and editorial ran in The Chronicle regarding the County’s recent decision to stop the sale of Duke-owned land adjacent to the Korstian Division of Duke Forest. Much of what was reported was based on inaccurate and incomplete information. Here are the facts:

Fact #1: In 1991, in an unprecedented, collaborative conservation effort, Durham, Chapel Hill, Durham County, Orange County and Duke University, vowed to protect and preserve the New Hope Creek Corridor (NHCC). The municipalities have already invested more than $5 million in this effort. The NHCC plan includes the nearly 44-acres owned by Duke which Crosland Properties wants to develop. The last of critical adjacent land owners will NOT grant a conservation easement on their property if Crosland develops the Duke land. If Duke sells the land to Crosland, the corridor will never be complete, and we will have lost an opportunity to preserve a critical environmental and cultural treasure for ourselves and future generations.

Fact #2: The current land use plan and the 2030 Comprehensive Plan have long designated the Duke land for “Open Space/Recreational” use. Given the dearth of publicly-owned land in West Durham, our county officials recognized the importance of protecting this land. Opponents argue Duke Forest provides ample open space. We treasure the Duke Forest, but we cannot rely on Duke to be the provider of open space and recreation for the county’s residents. Duke’s mission is educational, not parks and recreation.

Fact #3: If Duke works cooperatively with the County, it will be paid the asking price for the land. It will also honor its commitment to the NHCC Plan and enrich its relationship with the citizens of Durham as a good neighbor, a priority espoused by current President Richard Brodhead and former President Nan Keohane.

Fact #4: The historic and rural Erwin Area is under a flood of development; currently more than 600 houses have been slated to be built within 1.33 miles of this location. Durham has already experienced tremendous growth and has outpaced its ability to handle this growth, as evidenced by our congested roadways, overflowing public schools and air-quality alerts on the news.

Fact #5: The Chronicle reported factual errors. It stated that “the Crosland Corporation had set aside 21 acres;” Actually, only 11 acres of land in Orange County would be set aside, and that was a condition required by Duke University and stream buffer rules. Crosland is misrepresenting itself and the facts.

Fact #6: Crosland was approached by the Erwin Area Neighborhood Group (EANG) early on, made aware of citizen concerns and was offered an exit strategy with coverage of its sunk costs on two separate occasions. They declined the offers and took a risk. Development is not a right. It is a privilege subject to the approval of a public hearing process. Citizen interests are represented by the present efforts of EANG, and the facts presented herein are paramount to a balanced representation of the issue.

Fact #7: People do not opt to live in Chapel Hill and Cary because housing is not available in Durham. In fact, there are currently more than 2,000 houses for sale in Durham above and beyond new construction. Potential homeowners (i.e. taxpayers) are looking for a higher quality of life. Durham County’s efforts to preserve this land for open space and recreation is a big step toward creating that quality of life.

Duke ’83

Chair, Erwin Area Neighborhood Group

Lisa Cavanaugh

Ph.D. Student

Duke ’99

Vice Chair, Erwin Area Neighborhood Group