News about the "Yellow House" stretch on the LJ

afishinado

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Posted by Bill Anderson from the LJRA:

"Despite a valiant try by PFBC and Clearwater Conservancy and LJRA (yes we were vital to the effort through our advocacy), tract 3, which contained the river access and the yellow house, was lost to a higher bidder with very deep pockets. The Total paid for the Morrow properties was $4.5 million, far more than expected. Clear Water Conservancy's bid of $1.3 million for Tract 3. This bid was well over the appraised value but fell short when an individual, "Dave" , a fly fisherman, who simply "wants to protect the river from development", bid $1.35 million.

I spoke with Dave after the auction and he told me he grew up in Alexandria and, although he lives elsewhere now, he intends to fish the Little j often, now that he owns part of it. Dave also said that he had just returned from Manitoba where he fly fished for brook trout. I gave him my LJRA contact information and asked him to consider a Public Fishing Easement for at least part of the Morrow access. He said he would consider it. Bill Anderson"
 
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I'm confused.

'Dave' bid $1.35M; but it went for $4.5M?

Or, several properties bundled in the auction sold for a total of $4.5M, and Dave got the tract 3 parcel for $1.35M outbidding the LJRA
group?

(1993-1995, I can't tell you how many times I parked by the bridge @ Baree in my blue 2 door Pontiac Sunbird & fished LJ. Many wonderful memories, many nice browns. Despite having been back to PA multiple times every year since then, I steer clear of it. I do the same with my childhood home. I guess I am weird that way with stuff that is almost too special to me.)

Joe
 
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I'm confused.

'Dave' bid $1.35M; but it went for $4.5M?

Or, several properties bundled in the auction sold for a total of $4.5M, and Dave got the tract 3 parcel for $1.35M outbidding the LJRA
group?

(1993-1995, I can't tell you how many times I parked by the bridge @ Baree in my blue 2 door Pontiac Sunbird & fished LJ. Many wonderful memories, many nice browns. Despite having been back to PA multiple times every year since then, I steer clear of it. I do the same with my childhood home. I guess I am weird that way with stuff that is almost too special to me.)

Joe
Tract 3 went for $1.35 million. The Conservancy bid $1.3 million on that tract.

All the tracts combined went for $4.5 million.
 
I believe this area is a pretty close outline of the tracts purchased.

Screenshot_20260613-115653.png
 
Imagine spending 1.35 million dollars so a piece of property won't get developed, but you are bidding against a conservancy that would prevent the property from getting devloped.

Rich people gonna rich. Our kids are ****ed.

💯

Joe
 
At least his name is Dave and not Donny.

Was the Conservancy the only other bidder?

I'm not at all surprised that 140 acres with 1.5 miles of Little J went for that amount. I bet it would have been twice that or more if the river wasn't deemed navigable.

It sure would have been nice if the CWC could have secured it.
 
It is too bad it didn't get purchased by the public entities. The way I look at it, we need to secure more public access for the future generations.

The more public space, the better. I know many who oppose public land, though.
100%
I would like to see an access fund/mandatory stamp similar to the Lake Erie Erie Stamp/fund.
Use it for acquisitions and easements but pay market price for these sareas.
New Your State has been doing that for years why not PA?
The difficult part will be having the PA Legislation vote for such a program.
 
It is too bad it didn't get purchased by the public entities. The way I look at it, we need to secure more public access for the future generations.

The more public space, the better. I know many who oppose public land, though.
Dear jifigz,

Up until such time that they purchase an acre or 2 that abuts public land and figure the whole damned place belongs to them.

I'm just glad I'm old. I've already seen access lost in so many places that I honestly don't care to bother with trout fishing much anymore unless it is 100% public.

To CRB's point, shut the hatcheries down completely and you'll see the legislature start carrying the tune of increased access and availability to all. But this is Pee-Aye, where no change is ever welcomed and most change is fought to the death. The exceptions being warehouses, housing developments, and data centers in YOUR neighborhood! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
Dear jifigz,

Up until such time that they purchase an acre or 2 that abuts public land and figure the whole damned place belongs to them.

I'm just glad I'm old. I've already seen access lost in so many places that I honestly don't care to bother with trout fishing much anymore unless it is 100% public.

To CRB's point, shut the hatcheries down completely and you'll see the legislature start carrying the tune of increased access and availability to all. But this is Pee-Aye, where no change is ever welcomed and most change is fought to the death. The exceptions being warehouses, housing developments, and data centers in YOUR neighborhood! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
Just need a Statewide Trout fishing economic impact study. Erie County Does one every 10 years or so on the Steelhead and Lake Erie Fishery impacting businesses in the area.
 
Imagine spending 1.35 million dollars so a piece of property won't get developed, but you are bidding against a conservancy that would prevent the property from getting devloped.

Rich people gonna rich. Our kids are ****ed.
Rich people do good things too. I think we should be as hostile to him as possible so that he understands who he is preserving it for.- obvious sarcasm.
 
I don't consider myself 'rich' at all, nor am saying this to boast, but if a donation of $75k could have cinched this for the good guys, an 'anonymous' donor might have helped. Maybe some other time he will?

'Course, no way to know to if Dave/someone else would have gone higher yet. The 'anonymous' donor could have helped maybe up to $100k. (he is probably nowhere rich as 'Dave' LOL) IDK. Maybe we all need to talk more? (not blaming here, just making a simple statement) I have to believe there are 'Angel' sportsmen out there that give a sh*t. Would much rather have seen the State/Conservancy Coalition get this. Lesson learned-maybe? Solidly into my 50's, I would rather see my $ used for good. Not crap.

Joe
 
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It would have been nice for public access, but hopefully the new owner will be a good stewart of the land.

Also, the owner will have the BigBoy 4014 rolling through his/her property!

 

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It would have been nice for public access, but hopefully the new owner will be a good stewart of the land.

Also, the owner will have the BigBoy 4014 rolling through his/her property!

Fringe benefits; could charge admission. LOL

Joe
 
Rich people do good things too. I think we should be as hostile to him as possible so that he understands who he is preserving it for.- obvious sarcasm.
No intention of being hostile....I don't know the guy or his intentions and he is free to buy the land and do what he wants......HOWEVER........you can't tell me that saying he purchased it so it doesn't get developed after outbidding a conservency group that was willing to drop 1.3 million dollars, you know......to conserve it.......isn't a gross display of upper class arrogance.
 
No intention of being hostile....I don't know the guy or his intentions and he is free to buy the land and do what he wants......HOWEVER........you can't tell me that saying he purchased it so it doesn't get developed after outbidding a conservency group that was willing to drop 1.3 million dollars, you know......to conserve it.......isn't a gross display of upper class arrogance.
💯

Joe
 
No intention of being hostile....I don't know the guy or his intentions and he is free to buy the land and do what he wants......HOWEVER........you can't tell me that saying he purchased it so it doesn't get developed after outbidding a conservency group that was willing to drop 1.3 million dollars, you know......to conserve it.......isn't a gross display of upper class arrogance.
What did you do to protect the land?
 
No intention of being hostile....I don't know the guy or his intentions and he is free to buy the land and do what he wants......HOWEVER........you can't tell me that saying he purchased it so it doesn't get developed after outbidding a conservency group that was willing to drop 1.3 million dollars, you know......to conserve it.......isn't a gross display of upper class arrogance.
What makes you think he knows who was bidding against him. Why shouldn’t he enjoy it and control access and still have conservative in mind? Stop chirping from the sidelines
 
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