Conservation Easements

FAIRVIEW FARMS PRESERVED

One of Upstate Forever's first projects was working with a group of concerned citizens in acquiring and protecting Fairview Farms in northern Spartanburg County, a magnificent 1,200-acre tract of land along the Pacolet River, one of the Upstate's most important rivers. The property contains an old growth self-replicating forest which is visited regularly by college science classes. There are several rare plant species on the property, and significant stands of hardwoods are located along the river. From the tops of several hills are breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains just a few miles to the north.

     Greenspace of Fairview, LLC, the entity created to pursue the project, obtained a six-month option on the property in late 1999 and then successfully completed a private securities offering where it raised sufficient funds from nine investors to acquire the land. Each investor in Greenspace will receive a tract of land ranging from 25 to 70 acres on which he or she can construct a single family residence and two smaller ancillary buildings; no further development will be allowed.

     The rest of the property will be owned by Greenspace and remain as permanently protected open space. In addition, South Carolina's wonderful "Mountains to the Sea" hiking trail will be constructed through the property along the Pacolet River. The entire property will be placed under a conservation easement to be held by Upstate Forever. We will receive the easement later this year.

We need to seek "win-win" solutions where the landowner can realize some economic return on the property, while protecting its important resources and features.

     We are excited about the Fairview transaction not only because one of the special places in the Upstate has been protected but also because it can serve as a model for similar "conservation developments" throughout the region. In the rapidly growing Upstate, we do not believe it is realistic to expect most landowners to "lock up" their property and not allow any development. We need to seek "win-win" solutions where the landowner can realize some economic return on the property, while at the same time protecting its important resources and features. Fairview is an outstanding example of how this can be done.

FAIRVIEW FOR ALL Editorial from the Tryon Daily Bulletin November 29, 2000 "It was almost over the precipice. The pattern was too familiar. There sat Fairview Farms, 1,200 pristine acres just off an interstate highway, at a growing intersection, near a bustling town, in a prospering region of the country. Its heyday had passed. Its owners now lived elsewhere. "Progress" was bound to rear its ugly head. But the spirit of preservation runs strong in the Thermal Belt. People want to live here. They also want to work and shop here, but many of us are convinced that the working and shopping do not have to destroy the living_the beauty, the peacefulness, the scenery. We believe that, in fact, our working and shopping and living can all be enhanced by preservation. Now those are fine sentiments. But when it comes to preserving scenery one doesn't own, that's all they are, sentiments. Not this time. No one can say, `If you want to see Fairview Farms remain undeveloped, why don't you just buy it!' A group of investors did just that and placed it under a conservation easement. The effort was brought together under the leadership of Madelon Wallace and Herbert (Bud) Myers, working with Upstate Forever executive director Brad Wyche." `Had Fairview Farms been acquired by a developer, this corner of the Upstate would have seen the 1,200 acres of beautiful pastures, hardwoods and lakes covered with everything from strip malls to condos,' Wallace and Myers said. Wow, strip malls and condos. Chaa-ching! A lot of money might have been made by someone, someone very likely who then would have sought out someplace to live with beautiful pastures, hardwoods and lakes. Now, instead of hiking through just another wearying strip mall, people today and for all tomorrow will instead be able to hike along the Palmetto Trail, across the protected acreage of Fairview Farms."