Planning for the 7,400 acres of land that philanthropist John Kluge donated to the University continued Monday afternoon in a presentation to interested University and community members.
Morven Farms Director Heather Craddock spoke with a small group in Newcomb Hall, presenting an in depth description of the property and discussing plans to organize proposals for how best to use the land.
The donated properties, which spread over southeastern Albemarle county, total to an acreage greater than the city of Charlottesville and more than double the University's land holdings.
"Morven Farms is a very precious gift and is a very exciting opportunity for the University," said Clo Phillips, special projects director in the Office of the Provost.
Kluge divided the estates into core and non-core land. The core estate must be retained by the University exclusively for academic purposes, while the non-core land can be sold to provide an endowment to support the property, Craddock said.
Last month, Dave Matthews purchased five of the non-core estates for $5.3 million. Another of the farms, Lone Oak, now is on the market for $3.3 million, University Foundation CEO Tim Rose said.
Craddock said any buildings the University erects on the land must preserve the farms' authentic atmosphere.
"The buildings must be in keeping with the architectual style of the property and look like a traditional Albemarle County estate," she said.
A planning committee, headed by University Provost Gene Block, is charged with developing an academic theme for the properties.
The committee will accept proposals for academic programs from faculty, administrators and students through the beginning of next fall.
The original proposal for the donation, as negotiated between Kluge and University President John T. Casteen III, called for the property to be used for leadership development, environmental and landscape studies and the performing and creative arts.
Craddock said the property currently contains 10,000 plant specimens that are recorded in a database that has been shared with nine countries - an asset that could possibly be integrated into an educational program.
University Rector John P. Ackerly III, who helped negotiate the Dave Matthews purchase, was optimistic about the property's potential.
"I think it brings a lot of opportunities we've never had before," Ackerly said.
He cited a veterinary school, which the University currently does not have, as an example of an academic pursuit for which the property would be ideal.
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