| BELWARD FARM - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY LAWSUIT |
Johns Hopkins lawsuit highlights questions about schools’ obligations to donors, Washington Post, Feb. 20,
2012
Hopkins plan fits with spirit of agreement, Gazette, Feb. 16, 2012..
To read the comments sent to the Gazette in rebuttal of the above editorial, click here.
Tim Newell Issues Statement Awaiting Belward Ruling, Patch.com, Feb. 10, 2012
Belward Farm: The 1997 Plan vs. the Current Plan, North Potomac Patch, February 7, 2012
Belward Farm, Hopkins await judge’s ruling (MD), Estate of Denial, February 7, 2012
Belward Farm, Hopkins Await Judge's Ruling, North Potomac Patch.com, Feb. 2, 2012
In pursuit of profits, Hopkins ignores donor's intent, Washington Examiner, Jan. 31, 2012
Updated: Belward, Hopkins Ready For Wednesday Hearing, Patch.com, Jan. 31, 2012
Johns Hopkins sued over plans for Belward Farm, Washington Post, Jan. 31, 2012
Feb. 1 hearing scheduled on Belward Farm/Johns Hopkins University dispute (MD), Jan. 28, 2012
Elizabeth Banks’ Intentions for Belward Farm, Patch.com, January 26, 2012
Johns Hopkins Donor's Family Sues University, NonProfit Times, January 1, 2012
Locals Voice Displeasure With Hopkins' Plan for Belward, Patch.com, January 13, 2012
Plaintiff's opposition to motion to dismiss, January 7, 2012
Owner Intent Should Guide JHU’s Development Plans, Preservation Maryland, January 6, 2012
Hearing Date Set for Belward, Hopkins, Patch.com, January 6, 2010
Hopkins sued over planned Science City, Sentinel, December 29, 2011...Keep in mind as you read this article
that Nancy Floreen received over 50% of her campaign funds from developers.
Belward farm family says Johns Hopkins violated their trust, Washington Examiner, December 26, 2011
Family: Johns Hopkins has broken promises before, Washington Examiner, December 26, 2011
Johns Hopkins: ‘No plans to build housing at Belward’, Washington Post, December 21, 2011
Hopkins plan disrespects a benefactor, Washington Post, December 21, 2011
Johns Hopkins battles for Belward Farm over dissent of former official, Washington Post Capital Business,
December 20, 2011
Former Johns Hopkins University Fundraising Official Speaks Out in Support of Belward Farm Donor Family as
University Responds to Their Lawsuit, Press Release, December 20, 2011
Colleges must respect donor intent, Tim Newell, December 19, 2011
Johns Hopkins might betray wishes of late activist who sold it Gaithersburg farm, Washington Post, December
17, 2011
Comment on the above article
Land donors sue JHU to block Science City development, Greater Greater Washington, December 1, 2011
Family sues Hopkins over Belward, Baltimore Daily Record, Nov. 23, 2011
Phi Beta Cons, National Review, November 22, 2011
Games Universities Play: And How Donors Can Avoid Them
Lawsuit strikes at heart of Montgomery County’s ‘science city’, Washington Post, Nov. 20, 2011
Heirs seek to block Johns Hopkins development in Gaithersburg, Gazette, November 11, 2011
PRESS RELEASE, November 10, 2011
WRIT OF SUMMONS and COMPLAINT, November 10, 2011
EXHIBITS
Late Farmer's Legacy protects the Darnestown land she loved, Gazette, January 6, 2005
Obituary for Elizabeth B. Banks
DECLARATION OF COVENANTS, EASEMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS, September 24,1997
DEED, January 9, 1989
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Johns Hopkins University courted Elizabeth Banks for years before she agreed, in 1989, to sell Belward Farm
to the University for the gift price of $5 million, much below the farm’s estimated value of $54 million. Ms.
Banks wanted a minimally intrusive academic or medical campus on her farm and was willing to take the lower
price in exchange for these restrictions. She wanted to preserve the character of the farm which was to
serve as a legacy to her family who had owned Belward Farm for over 100 years.
The officials at Johns Hopkins were well aware of her intentions for the farm. Elaine Amir, Director of the
Montgomery County Campus of Johns Hopkins, befriended Ms. Banks and even sat with her during
thunderstorms to comfort her. This was not an impersonal transaction.
In 1997, the University drew up plans for a 1.7 million sq ft low-rise academic or medical campus that met Ms.
Banks expectations. Ms. Banks, her family and the University agreed to the plans, but Hopkins did not follow
through with those plans. They waited for Ms. Banks to die and then proposed a 4.6 to 6.5 million sq ft
commercial complex for 15,000 to 20,000 people in buildings up to 150 feet high, rivaling the Biopolis in
Singapore. All of this would be built on a Civil War-era farm that is five miles from the nearest Metro station
and is surrounded on three sides by established residential neighborhoods.
Even though the County limited the development on Belward Farm to 4.6 million square feet, this is well
beyond anything Hopkins had ever discussed with Ms. Banks or her family. The obituary for Ms. Banks stated:
"Her love of the land led Ms. Banks and her family to sell Belward Farm at a gift price to Johns Hopkins
University to ensure its development as a campus instead of a housing or commercial complex." Obviously,
Ms. Banks’ intentions for Belward Farm are being completely ignored by the University she chose to serve as
the steward of her beloved farm.
On November 10, 2011, Ms. Banks’ heirs filed suit against Johns Hopkins University in an attempt to force the
University to honor the donative intent of Elizabeth Banks.