U. sells Bucks Co. farm to local group

Local residents sought to buy the Gutman farm to keep it from being sold to developers. UPPER MAKEFIELD, Pa. -- Upper Makefield Township contains rolling hills as far as the eye can see, green grass slightly faded amid the onset of winter, geese crossing winding roads and sprawling mansions. For nearly 25 years, the University held a piece of this heaven in eastern Bucks County, a 211-acre plot of land given to the school by financier Monroe Gutman. University officials announced yesterday that they agreed to turn over the land to a group that plans to preserve the farm's natural beauty, ending a controversy over the farm's future that lasted several months. "We are in a race with the bulldozers every single day," said U.S. Rep. James Greenwood (R-Pa.), who was closely involved with the efforts to save the land from development. "Today we won that race." In October, University officials announced that they were selling the farm. The decision upset the farm's neighbors, who feared that a real estate developer would purchase the land and build condominiums, changing the area's character. The Gutman farm, located 30 miles northeast of University City, was given to the University in 1975 with the stipulation that Penn develop it as an arts center. While the farm was utilized for 10 years by students in the Graduate School of Fine Arts, the program was cut in the mid-80s due to GSFA budget constraints. Although the University agreed to sell the property for $3.75 million --Ea sharp drop from the original asking price of $5.5 million -- Penn officials stressed that the funds will provide important resources for GSFA, particularly for fellowships and attracting new faculty members. A press conference yesterday at the formerly Penn-owned farm officially revealed that the site will be overseen by the Heritage Conservancy, a non-profit Bucks County organization dedicated to preserving natural and historic resources. The conservancy, along with legislators Greenwood and State Rep. David Steil (R-Bucks), joined local residents in a coalition to raise the money needed to purchase the farm. The agreement guarantees that the land will remain "permanently preserved," according to Christopher Chandor, a Heritage Conservancy board member and farm neighbor. Under the agreement, half of the site will be used as a horse farm by an unnamed person, while the remaining half -- under the conservancy's jurisdiction -- will be subdivided into parcels that will allow only minimal development, such as a handful of houses. The limited development is "a lot better than the 70 or 80 houses that would have been put here otherwise," Chandor said. The initial decision to sell the farm had also provoked anger closer to home. Several retired faculty members accused University officials of being unfaithful to the original agreement made with Gutman -- to provide artists with a peaceful workplace. Robert Engman, co-chairperson of the Fine Arts Department from 1970 to 1983, convinced Gutman to donate the land. In November, he expressed anger at the fact that he was not consulted as to the land's disposition. Last night, Engman said that although he would prefer that artists utilize the property, he approves of the sale, describing it as "the best of what is left over." And University spokesperson Ken Wildes said the sale is a legitimate continuation of the original agreement made with the donor, as it "helps us to preserve open spaces." Fine Arts Dean Gary Hack said the funds received as a result of the sale will be far more beneficial to Fine Arts students than the land itself. "We kept our commitments as long as we were able to do so," Hack said, adding that the land "was a waste of resources." The proceeds from the sale will also be used to expand opportunities for students in GSFA, which Hack described as an "underendowed and underfunded" school.