Meanwhile, the Carrolls are back where they started, as are preservationists and residents who oppose development west of existing water and sewer lines, where Doughoregan lies. "All we can do is look at our options, as we were doing before Erickson came on the scene," Camilla Carroll, who lives on the estate, wrote in an e-mail message. She and her brother, Philip D. Carroll, own the land and are famously private and fiercely dedicated to maintaining ownership and control of the property.
Doughoregan, once the heart of a 10,000-acre Colonial farm, lies in an area of Howard County increasingly known for its very expensive homes.
"There is no money now to restore anything, and historic buildings are falling down as we speak," Camilla Carroll said.
The family still hopes to limit development and preserve most of the remaining property, she said. They applied in April for protection of 500 acres of their 892-acre property through the county's agricultural preservation program, which pays up to $40,000 per acre over time. That process usually takes months before decisions are reached.
Another branch of the Carroll family has 1,200 adjoining acres, called South Manor, much of which is already in permanent preservation.
The Erickson plan had been under review by county planners. Erickson had announced in September 2007 that it would buy 150 acres of the Carroll land, with an option for 38 more acres. As part of the deal, the Carrolls were to donate 36 acres to help expand a county-owned park at the northeast corner of the estate, near Frederick Road.
The fate of the land has been of public concern since May 22, 2007, the end of a 30-year protective easement granted by the Maryland Historic Trust on much of the property. The Erickson plan was welcomed by county officials and much of the public because of the builder's reputation and the family's intent to use profits from the deal to restore and preserve their remaining property.
"I think it's sad," said Cathy Hudson, a preservation and land-use activist in the county. "It's a very, very important part of our history and an important part of our county."
Erickson's pullout rekindles concerns over what might be built on the estate. To many, if the area west of public water and sewer lines was going to be developed, senior housing seemed to be the least burdensome because it would not create more school crowding or excessive traffic problems. "I always thought it was a good solution," Watson said about the plan. "I'm disappointed it's falling apart, but I still believe we can preserve most of the land."
