(Also posted at DailyKos.com)
Sorry, no Karl Rove stories here, no lurid tales, no tin-foil hats. This is just a simple story about 2 people that did the right thing.
Rockland County, New York-The purchase of the historic Cropsey farm has been announced in a transaction with town (Clarkstown), county and state funds. Each paid a part of the $6.3 million purchase price.
Surprising in and of itself in a time of short funds. The farm has been owned by the Cropsey family since 1893.
The county will contribute $4 million to the purchase and Clarkstown will pay $2.5 million, with the state reimbursing the town $1 million.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050713/NEWS03/507130313/1017
But perhaps the most surprising part is that a much larger offer was rejected by the owners of the 23 acre property, Jim and Pat Cropsey.
Jim and Pat Cropsey will sell their historic 23-acre farm on South Little Tor Road for $6.3 million. They could have gotten $10 million, but some things, Jim Cropsey said, were more important than money.
It seems that at least some people are interested in doing the right thing rather than maximizing their profits. (What a concept!)
The Cropseys prefer the site be maintained more like a farm than torn up to make room for houses. As many as 43 single-family homes
could have been built on the property.
The Cropseys will remain on the farm.
The Cropseys will be able to live out their lives in their historic farmhouse and will be responsible for any home maintenance costs until full ownership turns over to the county and
town.
Farming is almost totally dead in the area at least in part because of a very strong residential real estate market. This was an important parcel to preserve and Mr.Cropsey is cognizant of this:
“I lived here all my life. I earned my living here all my life,” Cropsey said. “We’re already getting more money than I’ve ever seen. We’re not leaving children. I’d like to think we’re leaving
something.”