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Community Response To Brickyard Leasing Decision

The following are statements by community members in response to the county's decision to lease the Brickyard Road property to MSI.

 
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Nick Maravell said: “This land has been carefully and organically managed for the last 32 years. Farming always follows the ups and downs of the seasons, and this season we hope the County reverses this unpopular decision. We would like to pass on the knowledge and purity of our seed breeding for the security of future generations.” Photo taken in March 2011. Sarah Beth Hensley
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Nick Maravell said: “This land has been carefully and organically managed for the last 32 years. Farming always follows the ups and downs of the seasons, and this season we hope the County reverses this unpopular decision. We would like to pass on the knowledge and purity of our seed breeding for the security of future generations.” Photo taken in March 2011. Credit Sarah Beth Hensley
Sophia Maravell (right) said: “We are incredibly disappointed that the County is choosing to bulldoze this irreplaceable educational resource. The Brickyard Educational Farm located at Nick's Organic Farm has already served over 150 [Montgomery County Public School] students, and we will continue to keep our doors open to all students and community members until we are forced to leave. The County and Board of Education will be losing an asset that will never be replaceable if they choose to move forwards on this. " Credit Courtesy of Sophia Maravell
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Montgomery County recently announced their decision to sublease the Brickyard Road property in Potomac to Montgomery Soccer, Inc. for the development of soccer fields.

County spokesman Patrick Lacefield released the following statement to Patch Friday:

"The selection committee has completed its proposal review and negotiations with MSI for the development of fields at the Brickyard Road property. MSI was the only offeror to submit a proposal in response to the advertised RFQ. MSI will be performing its work under a sub-lease from the County."

Public notice of the intended sublease was released Friday in the Washington Examiner.

The Brickyard Coalition, made up of civic organizations opposing the soccer field project, has said it is disappointed with the county's decision and but has not yet issued a formal response.

"We're very disappointed. Obviously this county has continued on the path of what we consider the wrong side of this issue," said coalition member Keith Williams.

The following photos contain the responses to the decision from community members and Nick's Organic Farm.

Related Topics: Brickyard Road, Development, Environment, MSI, and Nick's Organic Farm

organic friend

8:09 am on Monday, March 26, 2012

This place is a school site, owned by us all and managed by the School Board for the future. For a generation it has been a unique organic seed farm. Literally thousands oppose making it soccer fields. Literally thousands support evolving it to help teach our kids. The County Executive is muscling this place to his support his own political ends, intentionally and specifically excluding the community. The County Council has joined the tide of opposition to this land grab. I am praying that the County and the School Board listens to its citizens and takes transparent and eduactionally supportive decisions. Thousands are watching with passion.

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Bill Samuel

9:29 am on Monday, March 26, 2012

The political system has become unresponsive to ordinary citizens. It may take massive civil disobedience to stop the decision of the political elite.

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