TOWN OF CARY SIGNS $6.5 MILLION LAND AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE FARMLAND, PROTECTS 45 ACRES

Agreement ensures that vast farmland and historic structures are protected

CARY, NC – To further its commitment to preserving and protecting the environment and enhancing the quality of life of citizens, the Town of Cary has entered into an agreement to pay $6.5 million to protect more than 45 acres of farmland and historical structures that date back to the early 1910’s – known as the A.M. Howard Farm, located at 1580 Morrisville-Carpenter Road in Cary.  While the farm was included in the May 2000 listing of the Carpenter Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, such a listing does not prohibit owners from altering or razing the property.  By purchasing the land, the Town will ensure that the property can be protected from demolishment or commercial development.  

A one-story, frame dwelling with German siding and a central front gable stands at the center of the 45-acre farm that is bisected by Morrisville-Carpenter Road .  The site also hosts 12 outbuildings, including two tobacco curing barns, a tobacco strip room, and a pack house.

“This is a significant step in implementing the Council’s preservation vision,” said Doug McRainey, Principal Planner with the Town’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department.  “The historical, aesthetic, and cultural value of this land will prove to be a priceless investment in the place we call home for generations to come.”

Preliminary plans call for the 29 acres north of Morrisville-Carpenter – which includes the farmhouse and structures – to be preserved in a way that focuses attention on the area’s agricultural history and farming practices, while the 16 acres south of Morrisville-Carpenter road will likely be used as a neighborhood park. 

The purchase was prompted, in part, by the PRCR Master Plan in 2002, which addresses implementation of a system to meet recreational and transportation needs until 2010.  Then in 2004, the Carpenter Community plan reaffirmed the Master Plan.  The Town adopted the Carpenter Community Plan in 2005 with the goal of making the Carpenter area a unique regional destination and a highly attractive place to live, work, and recreate.

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