River Farm Update - Attorney General Herring Weighs In

We continue meeting among our stakeholder group working out a strategy to maximize the potential that River Farm will remain in public ownership.  Here is what is going on.

You can watch the press conference with Attorney General Mark Herring, Supervisor Dan Storck and Delegate Paul Krizek here:

River Farm Press Conference With Attorney General Mark Herring

News Coverage About River Farm
Several media outlets covered Attorney General Herring's investigation of River Farm. Some of the top stories are highlighted below:

Washington Post: Virginia attorney general says state aims to protect historic River Farm as donor wished

Alexandria Living: Officials Investigating River Farm Sale by AHS

Washington Business Journal: Virginia could block controversial sale of historic River Farm, attorney general warns

WAMU/DCist - VA & DC Investigate The Sale of River Farm for Potentially Breaking State Law

American Horticultural Society Board Of Trustees Meeting
The Board of Trustees of the American Horticultural Society is meeting today. Five of 10 members have indicated that they oppose the sale of River Farm.

Letter from AHS Trustees About River Farm

Grassroots Group
The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) organized a grassroots effort called Save River Farm to build support and raise private funds to support the purchase of River Farm by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA).  The website is here - Save River Farm Website

If you care about saving River Farm, it is important that you do two things right now:

#1 - Sign up for email updates from the group:

EMAIL SIGN UP HERE

#2 - Donate funds to help build private support.  80% of funds will be used for land acquisition, 10% for public advocacy, and 10% for administration.  Donations are 100% tax deductible.

DONATE HERE

The NVRPA has also begun the process of seeking up to $2 million in grants from various public sources such as Virginia's Land Conservation Fund, but private support will also be helpful and support from other land trusts will be necessary to complete the transaction.

Governor Northam has also written to AHS to work with our group to place River Farm into public ownership.  

Letter from Governor Ralph Northam

Fairfax County to Restrict Development Options
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has already placed an historic zoning overlay district on the property and is set to further enhance that district using authority in legislation I passed in the 2021 General Assembly Session.  Supervisor Dan Storck and Chairman Jeff McKay have scheduled the final vote before the Board of Supervisors on June 8.

Fairfax County BOS Historic Zoning Overlay Board Matter

At this point, over 3,000 people have signed our petition.  Please continue ask friends and neighbors to sign as a show of grassroots power!

Thank you for your interest and all of your support.