West Vincent’s Capricious Taking of Private Property


On Monday, November 28, the West Vincent Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance condemning the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Grounds exercising its power of eminent domain to take the property.

For the past 68 years the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Association has kept the property as open space and used it for equine events, dog shows and other forms of active recreation. The township took this private property in order to use it for park and active recreation. Pennsylvania law will require the township to pay fair market value for the mostly commercially zoned property. LCHSA would have transferred the develop rights for 30% to 40% of the residential value, with LCHSA retaining control of the property.

Needless to say the natives are restless. Today to protest the action by the supervisors, about 300 folks from all across northern Chester County gathered at the West Vincent Township building. Politicians, both Democrat and Republican, came together to challenge the supervisor heavy-handed use of eminent domain and to pledge support to sustain the culture and tradition of the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show.

Photos from today’s protest, for more information visit the Ludwig’s Horse Show site