Major developer faces foreclosure or bankruptcy

By Dusty Smith and Joe Eaton

The largest private landowner in Loudoun County, Virginia, Greenvest LC — the focus of a series of bruising development battles — has defaul

Excerpts from this story referencing "Loudoun County":

"… do not want to take that big of a loss.” …"

"… ered.The impact of the foreclosure on the county, if any, remains unclear. Loudoun County Assessor Todd Kaufman said he could not respond to questions about the for …"

"… four separate communities. Last year, the Board of Supervisors blocked the Loudoun County Schools’ proposed $20 million purchase of 100 acres of Greenvest land. G …"

"… representing the firm did not return phone calls seeking information.While Loudoun County, Virginia, is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, its Boar …"

An introduction

By Michael J. Zuckerman

Land Use Accountability Project: An introduction

Excerpts from this story referencing "Loudoun County":

"… ing traffic, new schools, and big box stores, brought about by development.Loudoun County, Virginia, is a case in point. An hour’s drive from Capitol Hill — whe …"

"… mmunities in the Mid-Atlantic region facing clearly visible growing pains: Loudoun County, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and the exurban area outside Philadelphia, …"

A curious process for valuing land in Loudoun County

By Dusty Smith

Officials in one of the nation’s fastest growing counties defeated a plan to purchase nearly 100 acres of land, at a cost of more than $200,

Excerpts from this story referencing "school board":

"… action by the supervisors essentially kills a contract drawn by the county school board.The county still faces the potential of seeing the 100-acre tract, and the …"

"… ly was between Greenvest and the Loudoun school board. And, while only the school board can withdraw from the contract, the County Board of Supervisors holds the …"

"… lopment.Supervisors said their decisions were based on the validity of the school board’s land use requests, rather than on the price the school system agreed t …"

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The “soft underbelly” of development?

By Amy Reinink

Diana Johns had just moved into her four-bedroom, 6,500-square-foot Leesburg, Virginia, home in 2002 and was thrilled with its elegant pilla

Excerpts from this story referencing "Loudoun County":

"… l areas.So problem-prone are the alternative systems that in November, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors imposed a five-year ban on approving new ones — exc …"

"… ers, the Virginia General Assembly has crafted legislation overturning the Loudoun County moratorium, which is expected to win easy approval and hit the governor’ …"

"… is month or early in March.“It’s the soft underbelly of development in Loudoun County,” said Dale Schulz, owner of Schulz Homes in rural Middleburg. “The ar …"

"… g these systems. It’s really about zoning — not about public health.”Loudoun County Supervisor Jim Burton, the author of the moratorium, whose far western and …"

The battle for Wheatland

By Dusty Smith and M.J. Zuckerman

The Wheatland Manor House was built 35 years before the Revolutionary War. The farmland surrounding it served as a focal point of a small co

Excerpts from this story referencing "school board":

"… ks later, in late March, however, Chapman wrote a confidential memo to the school board — also obtained through the Freedom of Information Act — saying he was …"

"… mpetence on the part of both the LCPS staff and the elected members of the school board that approved the purchase — or, worse, malfeasance,” Chavez wrote.Not …"

"… ity to determine whether any improper influence was exerted on LCPS staff, school board members, or other elected officials in connection with this purchase; or w …"

"… purchase; or whether conflicts of interest existed between any LCPS staff, school board members or other elected officials and any parties to this contract.”In …"

Dealing 'New Jersey style'

Dealing 'New Jersey style'

Excerpts from this story referencing "Loudoun County":

"… nd-tumble struggle that ended with him in possession of Wheatland Farms in Loudoun County, Virginia.Consider this: As Cangiano prepared to go to settlement on the p …"

"… -acre site. He paid all cash; no mortgage, no loans. Several clerks in the Loudoun County courthouse refer to the Wheatland litigation as the largest civil file the …"

"… ish and over-trusting of these sellers.”There’s a school of thought in Loudoun County that Cangiano is a front man, a stalking horse for Toll Brothers, and that …"

"… has turned fast land deals with Toll Brothers in the past, two of them in Loudoun County.But Cangiano denies it: “I’m no one’s stooge.”And Bruce Toll, the …"

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Builders fight proposed home sprinkler requirement

By Dusty Smith

Firefighters and sprinkler manufacturers are locked in a fierce national battle against home builders over a proposed requirement for sprink

Excerpts from this story referencing "Loudoun County":

"… fighters were injured, one with severe burns, in this May 25, 2008 fire in Loudoun County, Virginia. Local officials say a sprinkler system would have prevented inj …"

"… eau. We’re looking at what we can do to get that number even lower.”In Loudoun County, Virginia, Fire Marshal Keith Bower cited a fire on May 25, 2008, in which …"

The $19 million land purchase that wasn’t

By Dusty Smith

In the end, it simply wasn’t worth it. Officials in Loudoun County, Virginia, rejected a $19 million land purchase on Tuesday, following pu

Excerpts from this story referencing "school board":

"… sue the county if it believes the denial was arbitrary and capricious, but school board member J. Warren Geurin said he was unsure how the school board would resp …"

"… cious, but school board member J. Warren Geurin said he was unsure how the school board would respond in light of the vote. He said it appeared possible that some …"

Route 15 winds through history, development target zones

By Dusty Smith

Route 15 winds through history, development target zones

Excerpts from this story referencing "Loudoun County":

"… and Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello, U.S. Route 15 passes through Loudoun County, an area that may be less known, but is no less steeped in American histor …"

"… inner suburbs. And like many other historical areas across the country, in Loudoun County preservationists and developers are struggling to determine the future of …"

"… ned “horse country” throughout his presidency.In the last two decades, Loudoun County has faced extreme growing pains as developers profited from the strong dem …"

"… ins as developers profited from the strong demand for housing. Since 1990, Loudoun County’s population has grown 225 percent to 280,000, and developers have won a …"

Bank becomes largest private landowner in Loudoun

By Dusty Smith

IStar Financial, a New York-headquartered lender, will take ownership of more than 4,100 acres of Loudoun County land previously assembled b

Excerpts from this story referencing "Loudoun County":

"… York-headquartered lender, will take ownership of more than 4,100 acres of Loudoun County land previously assembled by Vienna, Virginia-based Greenvest LC. A forecl …"

"… foreclosure auction for Greenvest’s land, held in front of the historic Loudoun County Courthouse, drew dozens of spectators Tuesday morning, but only a couple o …"

"… ool Board, scheduled for later that afternoon, was canceled.Last year, the Loudoun County Public Schools entered into an agreement to buy 100 acres of the Lenah pro …"

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