A recent article in The Washington Post highlights the battle between those who want to "preserve lands" for the sake of history and those who own and have to pay ($$$) to maintain the property in order to keep it "historic."Read this farmer's plight in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. Yes, yes, right here in Maryland this is happening. Read more.
My opinion? I know this is a tough issue which has many people divided. But this case, in particular, seems pretty straightforward. The farm, from 1933, is not nearly as old as others around it that were preserved from the 1700s, which sound like better "historic" sites to preserve. In the meantime, let this poor farmer do what he wants to with the land (to build a new home for his grandson).
And how can you really justify preserving this old house and barn when developers have carved up more than half of Montgomery County with small subdivisions and cramped communities already anyway?
If you want to see the true signs of aging, drive by some of these communities, which were built in the 1950s (only 20 years after this farmer's place was established), and you'll see the signs of wear and tear, aging and buildings that could use some revitalization for the sake of history.
But torturing this old man and his family by making them PAY for repairs to a property that they want to doze anyway? What has become of us as a society, if we FORCE a family to do this and to PAY for it? Land of the free? Home of the Brave? Let him tear it down and build a new home for his family on it.
Isn't that what America and "the American Dream" is all about anyway?
No comments:
Post a Comment