Sign in yard: 'They took my farm'
Source: wcnc.com, by NATALIE DICK / WCNC
February 09, 2007
MATTHEWS - A Matthews man who says he built his farm with his own hands now says the town is taking it away from him.
Town leaders argue they paid a fair price for the property and that the move is for the good of the community.
Neubert Purser's farm is one of the last one's left along Highway 51. He has received plenty of lucrative offers to sell over the years, but has always planned to leave it to his family. That is until the town of Matthews decided they wanted it.
Looking out the window from the 86-year-old’s home, it's hard to believe the idyllic farm sits so close to traffic clogged Matthews-Mint Hill Road.
When he purchased the land 50 years ago, local folks called him crazy. They couldn't believe the WWII veteran would want to move out there. Then, in recent years, the developers came calling.
"Man offered me $70,000 an acre or it and if they would have sold it for 12 condos, he would have paid me $80,000," Purser said.
The problem is, Purser never wanted to sell. His lifelong dream was to pass on the property to his children and grandchildren. The dream can no longer be fulfilled.
Two years ago, the town of Matthews condemned the land and claimed it in order to preserve quickly dwindling open space and park land.
"The town only has about 45 acres of open space for a town of 25,000 people,” said Hazen Blodgett, Matthews town manager. "We really can't annex any more land so it really became an issue of how do we preserve open space for future generations?"
"There's nothing you can do,” Purser said. “If they want your property for a convenience store, for the good of the public, that's what eminent domain says.”
Infuriated, Purser fought the town in court and ultimately received $14,000 more an acre than the town's original offer. But he insists it was never about the money. So he nailed a sign at the end of his drive to remind all who pass by that the infantryman will never give up his fight.
"It was not for sale! They took it and that's what the sign says," Purser said.
Purser's family was paid $4.2 million. He's allowed to stay in the house until his death.
As for the future of the property, half of it has to remain open space. The remainder will be developed for park use.
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