Comments on: New Threat to Asylum Lake Preserve http://richardbrewer.org/2009/07/15/new-threat-to-asylum-lake-preserve/ biological scientist and author Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:14:11 +0000 hourly 1 By: rbrewer http://richardbrewer.org/2009/07/15/new-threat-to-asylum-lake-preserve/comment-page-1/#comment-236 rbrewer Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:49:27 +0000 http://richardbrewer.org/?p=143#comment-236 @justin Thanks for your thoughts. I agree it's disheartening that WMU wants to remove the open space/public use restriction so that they can sell the Colony Farm Orchard for development. They hope to do the same thing with the TB hospital grounds, though that has gotten less publicity. But it is included in the same legislation (HB 5207) as the Orchard. The land has also has a public use (but not open space) restriction on it that says that if WMU sells it for private use, the proceeds go to the general fund of the state (for education and things like that). HB 5207 says WMU will pay the state one dollar and the state will give up its interest; WMU will be able to keep all the money from a sale to a private developer. Except for needing to demolish the asbestos-containing building, the site is perhaps the most desirable large piece of real estate left in the city. WMU will make a bundale off it. @justin

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree it’s disheartening that WMU wants to remove the open space/public use restriction so that they can sell the Colony Farm Orchard for development. They hope to do the same thing with the TB hospital grounds, though that has gotten less publicity. But it is included in the same legislation (HB 5207) as the Orchard. The land has also has a public use (but not open space) restriction on it that says that if WMU sells it for private use, the proceeds go to the general fund of the state (for education and things like that). HB 5207 says WMU will pay the state one dollar and the state will give up its interest; WMU will be able to keep all the money from a sale to a private developer. Except for needing to demolish the asbestos-containing building, the site is perhaps the most desirable large piece of real estate left in the city. WMU will make a bundale off it.

]]> By: Justin Bugg http://richardbrewer.org/2009/07/15/new-threat-to-asylum-lake-preserve/comment-page-1/#comment-235 Justin Bugg Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:51:05 +0000 http://richardbrewer.org/?p=143#comment-235 I've been a long time walker out in the preserve area, and it has some historical interest to me. My grandparents both worked up at KRPH, and I heard all sorts of stories, but never anything about the asylum lake preserve. While exploring it, i found out through digging that a friend of mine had a similar interest, and his father at the time still worked at KRPH. It's been an influence on me. It's quite disheartening to hear that WMU feels it needs to try to develop that area. Honestly, why not take that money to the TB hospital and that land they own, and Oh, I don't know, do the Asbestos abatement they desperately need to do, and maybe actually use THAT space, that even the PUBLIC can't use. I pray that land stays pristine. Sincerely glad to hear that there are others with such a vested interest in the area as well. I’ve been a long time walker out in the preserve area, and it has some historical interest to me. My grandparents both worked up at KRPH, and I heard all sorts of stories, but never anything about the asylum lake preserve. While exploring it, i found out through digging that a friend of mine had a similar interest, and his father at the time still worked at KRPH. It’s been an influence on me. It’s quite disheartening to hear that WMU feels it needs to try to develop that area. Honestly, why not take that money to the TB hospital and that land they own, and Oh, I don’t know, do the Asbestos abatement they desperately need to do, and maybe actually use THAT space, that even the PUBLIC can’t use. I pray that land stays pristine.
Sincerely glad to hear that there are others with such a vested interest in the area as well.

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