Lower Merion Conservancy

Success Stories

Family Protects Historic Home's Scenic Setting
Kurt and Linda Soukup: "The pleasure of open space"

Kurt and Linda Soukup recently moved into a richly historic Lower Merion estate house set on almost six acres of land at a scenic intersection of two prominent Bryn Mawr roads. Behind the home is a long sloping setate lawn bounded by numerous mature trees, including sweet gum, sourwood, magnolia, tuliptree, horsechestnut, and more. A small grove of oak trees anchors the northwestern corner, which a lovely beech grove holds reign in the southeastern corner. A massice European beech sits alongside the house and driveway, not far from an astonishing katsura tree--that one is Kurt's favorite--and one apple tree remains from a small orchard that graced the estate in a previous century.

"I love this property," says Kurt, "but one of the things that was discouraging in moving to Lower Merion was to see properties like this one being subdivided. Larger homes deserve to have space around them." The Soukups decided to do something about the development and subdivisions they had seen around them.

They contracted the Conservancy, and we passes along a variety of materials explaining the full range of conservation options available to them, the same options listed on this site. Then in 2001, after thinking hard about their commitment to conservation, the Soukups decided to move forward. They asked us to work with them to premanently protect the property from subdivision by deed-restricting the land through a conservation easement. The six acres will stay intact forever.

"We could have subdivided three additional building lots out of our property," Kurt acknowledged. The easement means they give that ability to subdicide. In crafting the easement, our staff first gave the Soujups a generous portion of land around the house within which the family is free to renovate and expand as need--while maintaining only one residence. Then, we created an open space area along a public road and across teh backyard that will remain an estate lawn with scenic mature trees. The family can use this open space area for recreation and gardening, but cannot build upon it.

The easement was signed in the last week of December 2001, a lovely Christmas present to the community. "To have open space in this era of congestion and suburban sprawl is simply phenomenal," Kurt summarizes. "The easement is beneficial to the community--it reduces stress on municipal services while protecting flora and fauna indigenous in the area. The community also has the pleasure of seeing the open space and knowing for generations the view will not change."

The Soukups have many dreams for the property, one of which is to restore the ancient apple orchard. One dream, however, is now a reality: the land is protected.

Concerned Couple Creates Private Nature Preserve
Margaret Maurin & Albert Stunkard; "This will last forever"

Margaret Maurin and Albert Stunkard have lived at the end of a cul-de-sac perched on teh edge of Haverford Township for almost 30 years, their two-acre heavily wooded property adjoining a 15-acre Radnor forest. For decades, the couple watched the rich woodland mature, and thoroughly enjoyed the foxes, raccoons, opossums, and birds the forest brought near their home. Owls hoot at night; wood thrush croon during the day.

Margaret recalls her reaction on the day she heard that this forest was purchased by a developer for a six-lot subdivision. "Horror!" she says. "I just could not imagine all the woods cut down."

The couple spun into action, calling around, desperately seeking conservation options. The Natural Lands Trust, a Media-based preservation group that works thoughout the Delaware Valley, referred the couple to the Lower Merion Conservancy. The Conservancy's staff visited their home, examined the proposed subdivision, discussed a range of options with Margaret and Albert, and settled on a course of action.

Lacking the financial resources to purchase the entire 15 acres, the couple approached the developer to acquire the two-acre wooded lot immediately adjoining their property. This lot was not only fully forested, it also contained a small wetland and tributary of Darby Creek. Purchased at full market value, the lot was united with the Maurin-Stunkard's two-acre property to form a new four-acre parcel, then deed-restrictd in perpetuity through a conservation easement. THe four-acre property can be sold by the couple at will as they retain full ownership, but the land will always be restricted to one residence. The two-acre Radnor forest will remain forest forever, as will the additional woodland on the couple's Haverford land.

In December 2000, the couple signed a conservation easement with teh Lower Merion Conservancy. The easement substantially reduced teh value of the adjoining parcel, entitling the couple to a significant tax deduction that year. Albert notes that "I really enjoyed adding that land to our already-existing property. It created a substantial area saved, and gave me a really good feeling to think that we are saving some of the remnants of nature in this neighborhood."

"Living alongside the forest," Margaret says, "makes you attuned to the cycles of seasons. We are very much part of the forest, part of the great surge of life. There are not many things one can do in life that have long-term consequences," Margaret summarizes. "This will last forever."

Updated: 12/14/2004 © 2010Lower Merion Conservancy. All rights reserved.

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