Equestrian News
Ron Samsel: A Court Case Equestrians Should Know About
Navigating codes and permit issues can create confusion and headaches for clients who seek to build a horse barn in a state or municipality that lacks special classification for agricultural buildings. Several states, including Pennsylvania, offer building permit exemption if a horse barn can be classified as an agricultural building. This usually means that the barn is privately owned and used and is not a place of employment or residence. If a jurisdiction does not allow a horse barn to be classified as “agricultural,” the property and its buildings are subjected to rather excessive restrictions. (I should note that agricultural buildings still must meet the established zoning and building code requirements.) At Blackburn Architects, we run into excessive restrictions in many states and local jurisdictions if the equestrian facility cannot be classified as agricultural.
That’s why when I came across the following article about a horse farm owner in Pennsylvania, I knew I had to share it. Ron Samsel, the owner, simply wanted to build a private horse barn for his friends and family to enjoy. Instead, he entered a battle with his township that landed them both in court: all over a building permit. While Samsel eventually won the case– his horse barn was declared an agricultural enterprise and, therefore, a building permit was not required– he spent a large chunk of time and money fighting a battle against the township he felt was acting irrationally and irresponsibly.
The court ruling may set a precedent for similar cases or disputes, of which I’d guess there are many, in Pennsylvania and possibly even surrounding states. I am glad attention has been brought to this issue and can only hope for greater clarity and consistency in what has become a convoluted issue for many equestrians who seek to build a horse barn to call their own.
EXCERPT FROM PENNSYLVANIAN EQUESTRIAN
Considering this nightmare, Samsel says he can understand why individuals rarely seem to fight township rulings, even when the townships are clearly wrong. “The townships always win because they push the little guy out,” he says. Each time he won his case in court, the township was given 30 days to appeal the decision. Each time, the township waited until the 29th day to announce that they would appeal.
Old Woodlands is a private horse farm in South Carolina
Farms with Open Doors: Open Houses (FARMS) this Year
Just a quick note to share the following list of farms that are offering open houses this year as posted by Throughbred Times. Lane’s End Farm, a Blackburn project in Versailles, Kentucky, is offering tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through January 14th. If you own or work at a farm that would like to be included on the list, email copy@thoroughbredtimes.com with your information. I’d welcome your thoughts if you happen to tour Lane’s End or any of the other farms. We designed Lane’s End Farm in collaboration with Morgan Wheelock, the talented landscape architect, as the Farm greatly expanded its operations from 1990 to 1995. However, the design intent – striving to provide as much natural light and ventilation as possible within the barns – remains as important today as it did then.
Lane's End Farm in Versailles, KY
Capitol Hill Information Hub Project: A Design by Matt at Blackburn Architects
View from the Metro
An intern architect at Blackburn, Matt Himler, who recently graduated from Catholic University, has the opportunity to possibly see one of his school studio projects constructed. This is a rare opportunity for a young designer, so I’d really like to promote his outstanding work by showing it off to all of you.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) here in D.C. joined several local business organizations in an effort to enhance the hospitality experience at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza, a metro stop in the Capitol Hill neighborhood on D.C.’s public transit system. In doing so, the group ran a design competition for an information hub/kiosk that will be used to direct visitors to attractions in the area while serving as a local events and news center for residents. Several designs were selected and are now in the comment period, during which the public can provide feedback that will be used to form a recommendation for a final design.
Matt’s project is the custom design/build structure 2: MUTATIO. You can view his and alternative designs on the Capitol Hill Information Hub Project blog.
The swooping design is a play on the glass canopy at several of Metro's entrances
Elevations
Re-Use Architecture by Chris van Uffelen – Braun Publishing
We just received a copy of Chris van Uffelen‘s new book called Re-Use Architecture from the German publishing house, Braun. This substantial book highlights adaptive reuse projects throughout the world: Blackburn’s New River Bank Barn project is part of the stunning collection.
As van Uffelen asserts, building conversion is more relevant than ever as recycled and eco-friendly solutions are becoming the norm. It’s a gratifying challenge for me to “save” an old barn or convert a worn out structure into something different while paying respect to its former use. I can’t help but appreciate a book that makes showing off these type of projects a mission.
We’ve been fortunate to have received attention for the New River Bank Barn, which was a memorable and exciting project for our firm. I still can’t help but feel proud when I look at the “before” photo of the 1800s bank barn, which was in severe disrepair. Most of the structure was preserved, but re-clad in SIPs panels to provide insulation and structural support. The SIPs panels are sandwiched between the original barn walls and a new board-and-batten exterior. The northeast-facing wall of the original structure was removed entirely and glazed, opening the interior to expansive (and very private) views of the property to the Potomac River. Steel columns were added and wrapped in indigenous fieldstone to support the new glass wall, which was designed with mullions that align with the original frame columns and purlins so that the framework fits aesthetically with the original structure.
Our work could only be done thanks to the owner’s foresight to envision a new future for the old structure. I couldn’t be more pleased to have been given the opportunity to “save” the bank barn, which now hosts gatherings and parties for the owner’s friends and family. Re-Use Architecture is available at Amazon and major book retailers.
New River Bank Barn in Re-Use Architecture
New River Bank Barn is a part of Re-Use Architecture, a collection of adaptive reuse projects designed by architects (and in locations) across the globe. The selected project salvaged an 1800s bank barn in Leesburg, Virginia, converting it into a “party barn” for its owners to host gatherings of friends and family. Re-Use Architecture by Chris van Uffelen is available from the German publishing house, Braun, and can be purchased through Amazon and other major book retailers.
Congrats to Sagamore Farm and Shared Account!
Zenyatta may have gotten most of the press, but my eyes were on Shared Account at the 2010 Breeders’ Cup. I didn’t have the pleasure of attending this year’s event, but I was thrilled to watch (thanks to ABC and, later, YouTube) Shared Account’s win of the $2 Million Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs. It was only three years ago that Kevin Plank, owner and CEO of UnderArmour, purchased the historic Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Md. with the intent to revitalize the racing industry in Maryland.
As Blackburn Architects headed the architectural renovations that took place at Sagamore, I can only hope that Shared Account and her fellow horses are safe and comfortable in their stables in between races. With the hardworking and talented staff at Sagamore, I’m not surprised in the least that the great ambitions of Kevin Plank are quickly coming true before their eyes (and the eyes of thousands of spectators at the Breeder’s Cup!).
Congratulations to Shared Account, her trainer Graham Motion, and everyone at Sagamore Farm. I look forward to watching your continued success in the years to come.
Grazing horses at Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Md.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SsOphmx-o]
The American Horse Council: A Free Tax Seminar in VA
I’d like to pass along the following information from The American Horse Council for my Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC area readers.
The American Horse Council will be hosting a FREE Tax Seminar featuring Tad Davis on Thursday November 4, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Tri-County Feeds in Marshall, VA. This is an open invitation, so feel free to share it with other members of the horse industry so they can learn how current federal tax laws affect them and their equine businesses. Please see the attached invitation for more details.
This invitation is also posted on the AHC website, so feel free to visit the Events Page on the AHC website for information. We are asking that anyone that plans to attend please RSVP so w e can have an estimate of how many people to expect. Please direct all RSVPs to Bridget Harrison at bharrison@horsecouncil.org or 202.296.4031.