October 24, 2000

NEWS RELEASE

The Seeing Eye Sells Breeding Farm Site to Mendham Township

The Seeing Eye, the world renowned school that provides Seeing Eye dogs to the blind or visually impaired, has agreed to sell its 104 acre breeding farm on Ironia Road to the Township of Mendham for $3,225,000.

The agreement was announced jointly by Kenneth Rosenthal, President of the Seeing Eye, and Kathryn Porter, Mayor of Mendham Township. The agreement is subject to completion of a final contract.

"The Seeing Eye property is a beautiful large tract of rolling hills, fields and woodlands" said Mayor Porter. "It has the potential to support active playing fields, along with passive recreational activities such as cross country skiing and hiking. The property also connects with the Township owned Buttermilk Falls Preserve and India Brook Natural Area creating an expansive, contiguous green-way."

Under the terms of the agreement the Township will acquire the property in three installments. The first installment of $1,725,000 will be paid to the Seeing Eye at the closing on the property, tentatively scheduled for December of this year. A second installment of $800,000 will be paid in April 2001 and a final installment of $700,000 will paid in April 2002. The Township has also agreed to lease back the facilities on the property to the Seeing Eye through April of 2002.

The funding for the Seeing Eye acquisition will come from a variety of sources. The State of New Jersey through the Green Acres Program has committed $1,100,000 in grants and loans for the project. The Morris County Open Space Trust Program has committed an additional $500,000 in grant funding. The remaining funding will come from the Township’s open space trust, a fund supported by a local $0.04 open space tax. The Seeing Eye acquisition is the 5th Township property to be funded by the local open space trust.

The Seeing Eye purchased the property on March 10, 1948 from Samuel and Selma Ungerleider and the same year constructed kennels there to house the school’s breeding program. Since that time over ten thousand (10,000) puppies have been born at the Mendham Township facility, 75 percent of them ultimately succeeding as Seeing Eye dogs.

The farm-like acres became available after The Seeing Eye purchased 244 acres in Chester Township to relocate its breeding program to a larger site. Construction on a new 62,500 square foot cutting edge canine maternity center got underway last April.

"The Seeing Eye has had a long friendship with Mendham Township" said Seeing Eye President Rosenthal. "Generations of Seeing Eye dogs were born there and one of our founders, Morris Frank, lived there with the Pioneer Seeing Eye dog, Buddy, and his wife Lois. Lois Frank served as Mendham Township Clerk for many years."

Because the Township has always been so supportive of The Seeing Eye’s program, Mr. Rosenthal said, "we are pleased to be able to sell the property to the town for use by its residents. It is in keeping with the spirit of our founders that the property benefit the public"

In addition to the abundant open lands, the 100+ acre site also includes two residences and three kennel buildings. Mayor Porter said, "the Township Committee has established a sub-committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the property’s numerous amenities and make recommendations for the future use of the open space and facilities. This sub-committee will also make a recommendation on the name to be given to the park."

For further information, please contact Stephen Mountain at 543-4555 or Kenneth Rosenthal at 539-4425