Welcome to the Crownsville ConservancyThe Crownsville Conservancy is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2002 to protect any parcel of land no matter how small, within suburban neighborhoods in Anne Arundel County, Maryland by owning the land and/or attaching conservation easements to private properties. Even the smallest lots offer environmental and quality of life benefits. In 2020, we expanded our reach outside of Crownsville by adding more properties throughout Anne Arundel County including Pasadena, Edgewater and Annapolis. In 2022, our property holdings include over 300 individual lots. The Crownsville Conservancy is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2002 to protect any parcel of land no matter how small, within suburban neighborhoods in Anne Arundel County, Maryland by owning the land and/or attaching conservation easements to private properties. Even the smallest lots offer environmental and quality of life benefits. In 2021, we expanded our reach outside of Crownsville by adding more properties throughout Anne Arundel County including Pasadena, Edgewater and Annapolis. In 2022, our property holdings include over 300 individual lots. |
How We Began
Crownsville, located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is minutes from the capital city of Annapolis, south of Baltimore and West of Washington D.C.. With a population of over 5,000 people, Crownsville is a quiet but growing area with communities situated along the banks of the Severn River. Pressures from decades of development have showed the need to preserve as much green space as possible.
In the 1920's successful businessmen and families from Washington and Baltimore began looking for summer vacation and second home locations where they could escape from the summer heat of the cities.
Many communities began as a series of sales gimmicks to convince prospective buyers to purchase what was essentially swampland. Several elders in Herald Harbor remember receiving their building lots for $25 and $100 in exchange for purchasing subscriptions to the Washington Times Herald Newspaper. Arden on the Severn was once a sand mine.
After WWII many summer homes were converted to all season residences throughout Anne Arundel County. In the 1980s and 1990s a building boom took place in Crownsville and Edgewater and continues today under the grandfathered antiquated lot laws. Many 25' x 100' lots held by families for decades were combined and developed.
The threat of development real, our non-profit organization is acting to conserve what is left of Crownsville Maryland's unique landscape while preserving forested buffers, wildlife habitat and natural stormwater drainage areas.
Crownsville, located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is minutes from the capital city of Annapolis, south of Baltimore and West of Washington D.C.. With a population of over 5,000 people, Crownsville is a quiet but growing area with communities situated along the banks of the Severn River. Pressures from decades of development have showed the need to preserve as much green space as possible.
In the 1920's successful businessmen and families from Washington and Baltimore began looking for summer vacation and second home locations where they could escape from the summer heat of the cities.
Many communities began as a series of sales gimmicks to convince prospective buyers to purchase what was essentially swampland. Several elders in Herald Harbor remember receiving their building lots for $25 and $100 in exchange for purchasing subscriptions to the Washington Times Herald Newspaper. Arden on the Severn was once a sand mine.
After WWII many summer homes were converted to all season residences throughout Anne Arundel County. In the 1980s and 1990s a building boom took place in Crownsville and Edgewater and continues today under the grandfathered antiquated lot laws. Many 25' x 100' lots held by families for decades were combined and developed.
The threat of development real, our non-profit organization is acting to conserve what is left of Crownsville Maryland's unique landscape while preserving forested buffers, wildlife habitat and natural stormwater drainage areas.
How Land Gives Back
Preserving animal and bird Habitat Decreasing carbon and cleaning air Giving people a peaceful place to bike and hike Soaking in polluted stormwater runoff Preventing crowded neighborhoods Increasing nearby property values |
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