A few weeks ago, Wal-Mart won voters' support by securing a portion of the Wilderness Battlefield in Virginia to build a new super center. Much protest came from local politicians, historians, and celebrities. Now 93 acres are being offered to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT) for purchase. This parcel of land is about one mile from the proposed Wal-Mart site.
According to CVBT President Erik F. Nelson, the contract is drawn up, the price is locked in (at $10,000 an acre, for a total of $930,000), and the closing date should take place within the year. The group plans to do fund-raising to help cover the cost of the down payment on the mortgage. State grants might also become available.
Talks have been in the works for several years, but the land owners finally decided to come to an agreement and make a deal after what happened with Wal-Mart. They are in favor of having the land saved, rather than being built upon. This is a huge victory for battlefield preservation, in that the land will now be unavailable for commercial and residential use.
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