Belward Farm Rural Intention Agreement Undermined by Johns Hopkins – Happening Everywhere – Moral: Once something Sold, it’s Gone
Right in Montgomery County, Maryland’s “biotech corridor” —
Except for golf-courses and pit-mine operations, no large open space remains in the overzealous mania of land development., not one space. Given Johns Hopkins deep disdain for and willingness to violate graves, biology and family intentions / traditions, it’s no wonder they wouldn’t immediately and profoundly wreck promised sanctity, even if contracted. Eliz Beall Banks was a fool to sell so cheaply, even if she ‘had no other choice’. The same sort of thing was no doubt done to the King Farm lands, and likely to all other privately-held lands.
Belward Farm, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, has been at the center of a long-standing controversy over its development. The farm was sold by its owner, Elizabeth Beall Banks, to Johns Hopkins University in 1989 for $5 million—far below market value—with the agreement that the land would be used primarily for “academic and related purposes.” This sale was driven by Banks’ desire to preserve the rural character of the farm, as she repeatedly resisted developers prior to her death in 2005.
However, after Banks’ passing, Johns Hopkins pushed forward with plans to develop the land into a large-scale research and commercial hub, which conflicted with the original intentions outlined during the sale. This led to a legal battle between Johns Hopkins and Banks’ heirs, who sought to ensure the land would be used as initially agreed. Although the court sided with Johns Hopkins, the farm remained largely undeveloped due to continued resistance from local residents and environmental concerns.
Johns Hopkins’ current development plan includes a mixed-use “Science City” project, with up to 4.6 million square feet of research and commercial buildings. Despite opposition and the legal challenge from Banks’ family, developers have worked through legal channels and planning boards to move the project forward. Montgomery County has approved various phases of the plan, and construction has begun on a medical office building and life sciences campus as part of a broader regional development strategy.
per CGPT – sources Gaithersburg History, MocoShow, Wolf Media USA, Common Sense
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0998822,-77.2022071,1741m/
