[ SHOWGSD-L ] Ludwig's Corner...the end of an era...an update
- From: "Peggy" <pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "showgsd-l" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:48:22 -0500
shared by Peggy
Here is a more recent article about the Ludwigs Corner property. It was nice to
see a sizeable turnout at the township building on Sunday!!
Hundreds protest decision to condemn Ludwig's Corner
Published: Monday, December 05, 2011
By Sara Mosqueda-Fernandez,
smfernandez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
WEST VINCENT - The township building was "occupied" on Sunday by dogs, horses
and 300 members of the equine community in protest of a decision to condemn the
Ludwig's Corner horse show property.
"We own the land. It may be legal for them to seize it under eminent domain,
but it's clearly wrong," said John Jacobs, president of the Ludwig's Corner
Horse Show Association. "Whatever happened to property rights? It's just really
upsetting to all of us."
Supervisors announced the decision last week as part of their "ongoing effort
to fulfill the vision of its Ludwig's Corner Strategic Vision and Community
Design Plan for a compact, walkable, traditional village center containing a
blend of municipal, commercial and residential uses."
However, state Sen. Andrew Dinniman, D-19th of West Whiteland, who spoke at the
event, said he did not agree with the supervisors' reasoning for using eminent
domain to take the 33.2-acre parcel.
"Eminent domain should only be used where there's a compelling public need and
there is no compelling public need here," said Dinniman. "If there's a
compelling need, the responsibility is for government to make the case. They
never made the case - they just did (it). People are just angry at the process
(of government). They key thing is, process in a democracy is of absolute
importance and people are here today to say that a process wasn't followed."
Supervisors said they intend to incorporate the grounds into their "Master
Plan" as a public park offering both active and passive recreation, such as
playing fields for local youth leagues. "The township will work with the
Ludwig's Corner Horse Show Association to continue its annual horse show, a
highly prized West Vincent tradition."
Jacobs said the statement made by supervisors in a press release was
"well-worded ... Some of it's actually true," he said. "Most of it's laced in
semi-truth - that's why I'm here."
The association said that in 1943, five local families collectively donated
land and money to acquire the land to promote equine events in Chester County
and created the Ludwig's Corner Horse Show Association.
In 2011, the association hosted its 68th annual horse show, with 600 riders in
the main event., Most participants are 12- to 16-years-old.
"It's a major event to be a rider in one of these things," said Jacobs. "These
kids, the amount of work that they put in to their horses, they learn respect
and many things. When they come to our show they also learn how to compete: how
to win and how to lose, they don't get that just anywhere. These girls
primarily won't necessarily play baseball or soccer. They can, but a lot of
them don't."
Jacobs also said that he questioned whether or not the supervisors were being
disingenuous in stating that they intend to continue the horse show due to the
number of participants during Labor Day weekend.
"On Sunday and Monday, we have 350 antique cars, 600 riders, and about 150
horse vans - it's takes up every inch of that 33-acre parcel and we park
overflow parking at the fire company and on neighboring properties," said
Jacobs. "We get 20,000 people over the three-day weekend. A lot of us are
passionate about this, a lot of effort goes into it."
According to Jacobs, the Horse Show Association works on their annual show
throughout the entire year, and he said he was anxious that the supervisors
will not muster the same caliber of work for the horse show.
Jacobs also said that as a taxpayer he was concerned that with the township
owning the grounds, it would cost about $100,000 a year to maintain the
property. His other concern was with the supervisors using eminent domain.
"It comes down to the property rights," said Jacobs. "It's just not right. And
I can't find any logical explanation for their part. They must have one but
they're certainly not sharing it with us."
Hundreds protest decision to condemn Ludwig's Corner
Published: Monday, December 05, 2011
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