For Immediate Release

For More Information:
Rex Linville
Albemarle County Conservation Officer, PEC
(434) 977-2033
rlinville@pecva.org

PEC, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Partner to Conserve Montalto

PEC has partnered with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (TJF) to permanently protect 150 acres of Montalto, the "high mountain" that forms the view from Thomas Jefferson's "little mountain," Monticello. By protecting the view from Monticello, PEC and TJF are following in the footsteps of Jefferson, who purchased, in 1777, "as much of the nearest mountain as can be seen from mine, and 100 yards beyond the line of sight."

The view that Jefferson took care to safeguard became vulnerable to development in 2004 when the property (also known as Brown's Mountain) was listed for sale. TJF-which has owned and operated Monticello since 1923-acted swiftly to protect the land, purchasing 330 acres for $15 million. PEC then raised $1.5 million to purchase a conservation easement on a 150 acre portion of Montalto that faces Monticello. This agreement will help defray some of the costs incurred by TJF and ensure that the hillside will not be developed even if the land changes ownership.

PEC's Rex Linville says, "It's an honor to help preserve the setting of Monticello, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the most significant tourist destinations in Virginia. As Jefferson understood, this hillside is essential to the experience of Monticello as a peaceful country home. It would be a major loss to our cultural heritage and to Virginia's tourism industry if anything happened to degrade the setting of this historic and architectural landmark." Now, of the 2,500 total acres owned by TJF, nearly 1,400 acres are permanently protected with conservation agreements.

Kat Imhoff, the former Chief Operating Officer of TJF, said before beginning a new job in Montana this January, "It shows such a leadership role on the part of PEC that one non-profit would in to come to the aid of another non-profit on a project that fulfills their common vision."

Tony Vanderwarker, Chairman of PEC's Board, said that, "PEC felt it was imperative to raise the funds for this acquisition and thereby assist the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in the permanent preservation of this locally and nationally important landmark."

Not only visitors to Monticello will benefit. Montalto is prominently visible throughout much of the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. A portion of the protected property is accessible by public walking trails provided by TJF that run parallel to Route 53. The property is also located at the northern end of the Southern Albemarle Historic District.

The Piedmont Environmental Council is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the rural economy, natural resources, history, and beauty of Virginia's Piedmont.