Township’s agreement to purchase would protect 62-acre property from development
Lower Salford Township officials have reached an agreement to purchase the 62.65-acre Allebach Farm, ensuring that one of the community’s most recognizable landscapes will remain permanently protected as open space.
The farm, located between Main Street, Quarry Road, and Stover Road, has long been viewed as both a scenic and historic centerpiece of the township. Once the sale is finalized, the tract will join more than 2,000 acres already preserved through township, state, and private partnerships.
“This acquisition represents a significant investment in the community’s future,” township officials said in a statement. “It will safeguard one of Lower Salford’s most visible and treasured landscapes for generations to come.”
The Allebach Farm purchase increases Lower Salford’s total preserved open space by 3.03 percent, bringing township-owned open space to 13.36 percent of the municipality’s footprint. In total, the township spans 9,408 acres, including Evansburg State Park holdings, private agricultural districts, and homeowners’ association parcels.
Township officials said the property had been appraised at $21.8 million, with the negotiated sale price set at $21.5 million — about $343,000 per acre. Lower Salford anticipates receiving roughly $7.5 million in grant funding to offset the cost.
The remaining balance would be supported through a proposed one-quarter percent Earned Income Tax dedicated solely to open space. Officials estimate the additional cost to residents would average about $203 per year.
What could have been built
Under the parcel’s current mixed-use zoning, township planners said a single development of the Allebach Farm could have included six office or commercial buildings, 156 apartment units, 108 twin homes, and two single-family houses.
Preserving the land, officials said, prevents significant increases in traffic, density, and infrastructure demand while maintaining the township’s rural character and scenic views.
Lower Salford has been steadily growing its open-space portfolio for decades through a mix of public ownership, agricultural easements, and partnerships. Prior to the Allebach acquisition, the township owned 1,347 acres of open space, in addition to 565 acres preserved under the Agricultural Security District and 127 acres held by local homeowners’ associations.
If finalized, the Allebach Farm deal would stand as one of the largest single-parcel preservation efforts in township history.
