Scale-It-Back.com is a collaborative effort of community and civic organizations
in Montgomery County, Maryland who believe growth must be carefully managed
or it will lead to the degradation of our existing communities and streams,
unprecedented levels of traffic congestion and pressure to build on the ever-
decreasing green spaces.
The commercial capacity of the entire master plan area is much too large for the
suburban residential character of the area, particularly on Belward Farm.
Johns Hopkins' plan for a giant commercial office complex for 15,000 workers in
buildings up to 14-stories high on Belward Farm is not in keeping with the
intentions of the late owner, Elizabeth Banks, and will dwarf the historic
farmstead.
The officials from Hopkins have not committed to occupy any of the buildings on
the farm. Instead they are offering 99-year ground leases to other companies.
The master plan requires that only 40% of the businesses be “science-related”.
If 60% of the businesses are not science-related, it can hardly be called a Science
City.
Hopkins is planning to build a massive money-making commercial real estate
venture, unless the courts intervene and force them to honor Elizabeth Banks’
intentions.
Belward Farm Successors File Appeal Brief Challenging MD Court Ruling Granting
Johns Hopkins University Carte Blanche Development Rights, April 22, 2012
Maryland Life Magazine, Belward Farm is chosen by Preservation Maryland as one
of the top ten endangered properties, 2013
"The Civil War-era Belward Farm, owned by the Banks family for over 100 years, is
one of the last remaining farms in the Gaithersburg region. To preserve it,
Elizabeth Banks sold the land to Johns Hopkins at a greatly reduced price with the
understanding that the university would build a small-scale facility there. Upon
her death, Hopkins reneged. It now plans to erect a high-rise commercial complex
on the site, which will destroy most of the pristine farm."
Belward Farm and our Truth- and Transparency-Challenged County, Feb. 28, 2013
Newly discovered internal Johns Hopkins letter from 1988
Johns Hopkins, Seriously, Are You Freaking Kidding Me?, October 25, 2012
To read all of the documents regarding the Belward Farm/Johns Hopkins
debacle, please CLICK HERE.
Muddy Branch Alliance: With all the proposed development, we must be
mindful of the health of our streams. Check the Muddy Branch Alliance for
meeting dates and the latest activities.
To receive periodic updates, please CONTACT US .
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