Save Marmota Farm - Great Falls, VA is dedicated to preserving as a public park the 22.8 acre Marmota Farm located at 9800 Georgetown Pike. A park bond referendum proposed at $87 million will go before Fairfax County voters in 2016. We are hoping to constructively work with the landowner to preserve this beautiful property which has approximately 1,000 feet of road frontage on Georgetown Pike, Virginia's first officially designated "scenic byway" (1974). We will accept donations to further this end at the appropriate time. In the mean time, spread the word... Check our FB site. The Sun-Gazette ran an article on our group's efforts to enlist the aid of the Fairfax County Park Authority, during the week of August 17th, 2015. Here is the link: http://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/great-falls-residents-working-to-keep-marmota-farm-parcel-undeveloped/article_bf8431d2-44c8-11e5-933e-6b0ea34d0f29.html

Please give donations. And vote against all non school bonds this November. If we can't afford to pay our county and school employees we can't afford to buy farms parks that won't frankly serve a whole lot of people.

Dang. I mean "we can't afford to buy farms to turn into parks that frankly won't serve a whole lot of people."

Great location for a Wawa to be built. Gasoline, beer, snack foods, tasty chicken salad sandwiches, coffee, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.

Not to mention the tax revenue, and job creation.

Hmmmm...I wonder what existed previously in the spots where the neighbors' houses are now.

Yep. That's right. Undeveloped land.

Great Falls needs some diversity. Let's get some section 8s there.

A public park is a great idea! The county really needs more soccer fields, baseball fields, a dog park and maybe a large playground with a splash fountain. Large parking lot essential of course. The fields should be lit to 11 pm or so-so the taxpayers can get the maximum value out of them.

And a paint ball field!

A mattress store, or a collection of mattress stores. I think it is far away from Vienna as to not interfere with that mattress store territory.

So 2 years ago.

Let me get this straight OP: You have a parcel that the County has assessed at $4M and which currently generates around $40,000 in real estate taxes. The County is seeking authorization in 2016 to issue bonds, and Dranesville District's share is $9M. Are you actually proposing allocating that entire $9M plus and additional $4.75M in County funds that would have to come from cutting other proposals, plus who knows how much to make the necessary improvements, to buy this parcel so residents could have open space for pet owners, equestrians and gardeners?

Also you do understand that we are talking about money that the County would not have authorization to raise until voters approved it in 2016. Even then typically approved bond funds are raised over a four year period after approval. That means that if the builder did hold off until the funds were approved and the first installment raised, other projects throughout the County would have to be put on hold so that this purchase could have first crack at those funds. And remember also that in buying the property the County would be forgoing nearly $175,000 in real estate taxes that could be used to help pay for those bonds. That is an awful lot to forgo.

Here's a novel idea. If the owner is GENEROUSLY offering to sell the property at $13.75M, let's reassess the property at that value TODAY.

Perfect spot for an H Mart

Put up a few more Mc mansions. that would result in less traffic than a park would generate on a daily basis...

It would generate jobs(construction), and more tax renevue which Fairfax Co needs...

Something tells me this is being set up by some of the downtrodden residents of Great Falls, finding a way to use other people's money to keep a big lot undeveloped. These are the same folks that kept a turf field out of the middle of Great Falls, and moved it to someone else's backyard in Nike Park. Check the property values of the surrounding lots. They want to retain the equestrian friendly nature of that area, and are happy to spend FC money to do it.

Let them buy it themselves.

The Lamb Center could build the Great Falls location there.

You've already fucked this once quaint county in to carpetbagger central so let's finish it off.
"damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"!
Besides, horse hides make great jackets.

I remember when there was this great open space called Evans Farm, right on Route 123 in McLean. All the people of McLean loved it.

Then, the owner started hollering that he couldn't support paying taxes on the space, and reached out to the local landowners to buy it as a park. But the local landowners, all Democrats, did nothing. They expected the government to do something.

They were all rich, but didn't want to contribute a single dime of their own money to save Evans Farm.

Then, when the owners of Evans Farm sold to developers, the local landowners cried foul. They even organized to prevent the sale. Yet, they still didn't want to give a red cent of their own money to save the farm. So now, there's a huge development there.

That's how Democrats work: they have grand ideas how to spend your money, not theirs.

"The local landowners, all democrats".

How on earth do you know what their political persuasion was?

Yes to section 8 housing and zero lot line development as well as some retail and commercial development. Throw in some city sewer and water to prevent GF from becoming another Clifton with contaminated drinking water. While we are at it get rid of those stupid one lane bridges that hold up traffic. Rural my ass!

Nip

We operate a small farm in Great Falls, VA. We raise dairy goats and use their milk to make amazing skincare. We are looking for land currently to expand our herd and start a larger dairy where we can sell milk direct and produce wonderful cheese. Here is a short video about what we do: http://www.amalthearidge.com/#intro

I moved to Great Falls in 1987 and grew up in Great Falls. It would be sad to see this property turned into developers. We can use this land to raise goats and preserve it as is. The community benefits will be great, we will hold classes to teach children (and adults) about farming and produce amazing products right here in the heart of Great Falls. What else could you ask for.

You could always buy it yourself. Or are you asking that the County subsidize your business by purchasing an extremely expensive piece of real estate, thus removing it from the tax roles, and then turning around and letting you use it for a much lower price?

22.8 acres = Four 5 acres building lots, plus some open space.

I see no problem with this.

I do see a problem w/spending $9 million county taxpayer dollars to support another park for people who live in homes on multi-acre lots.

If the residents of Great Falls are so intent on 'preserving Marmota Farm', let them pay the tab.

Keyvan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We operate a small farm in Great Falls, VA. We
> raise dairy goats and use their milk to make
> amazing skincare. We are looking for land
> currently to expand our herd and start a larger
> dairy where we can sell milk direct and produce
> wonderful cheese. Here is a short video about
> what we do: http://www.amalthearidge.com/#intro
>
> I moved to Great Falls in 1987 and grew up in
> Great Falls. It would be sad to see this property
> turned into developers. We can use this land to
> raise goats and preserve it as is. The community
> benefits will be great, we will hold classes to
> teach children (and adults) about farming and
> produce amazing products right here in the heart
> of Great Falls. What else could you ask for.

Doesn't the county already do this at Frying Pan Farm Park?

Sorry, but I have no problem with the land being turned over to developers to build some more Great Falls mansions. If the county is going to buy the land then let's put it to good use like baseball and soccer fields.

Good Uses Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Keyvan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > We operate a small farm in Great Falls, VA. We
> > raise dairy goats and use their milk to make
> > amazing skincare. We are looking for land
> > currently to expand our herd and start a larger
> > dairy where we can sell milk direct and produce
> > wonderful cheese. Here is a short video about
> > what we do:
> http://www.amalthearidge.com/#intro
> >
> > I moved to Great Falls in 1987 and grew up in
> > Great Falls. It would be sad to see this
> property
> > turned into developers. We can use this land
> to
> > raise goats and preserve it as is. The
> community
> > benefits will be great, we will hold classes to
> > teach children (and adults) about farming and
> > produce amazing products right here in the
> heart
> > of Great Falls. What else could you ask for.
>
> Doesn't the county already do this at Frying Pan
> Farm Park?
>
> Sorry, but I have no problem with the land being
> turned over to developers to build some more Great
> Falls mansions. If the county is going to buy the
> land then let's put it to good use like baseball
> and soccer fields.

Pile them high with crumb rubber and turn on those lights!

Is this the owner, Souhail El Farouki?

http://www.arabnews.com/node/410987

http://www.tradearabia.com/news/ind_215773.html

Jeff S. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is this the owner, Souhail El Farouki?

No. The owner is listed as:

MORIARTY STEPHEN H TR, EL-FAROUKI SOUHAIL G E TR (The TRs mean Trusts)

The mailing address is a law firm: Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn P.C.

Those two facts lead me to believe that the land is owned by multiple trusts, probably as an investment vehicle, and not by Mr. El Farouki directly.

Excellent point.

So Mr. El Farouki might be representing the Bin Laden family?

Jeff S. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Excellent point.
>
> So Mr. El Farouki might be representing the Bin
> Laden family?

Perhaps. Would that displease you?

jGPPK

Perhaps. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jeff S. Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Excellent point.
> >
> > So Mr. El Farouki might be representing the Bin
> > Laden family?
>
> Perhaps. Would that displease you?

No, I was trying to troll but I guess I was too subtle.

Fuck that farm we need more McMansions!!

waste of money. Parks are only for poor and perverts.