Neighbors oppose SU Foundation home purchase
In October, The Salisbury University Foundation bought this property in the Riverton community in Mardela Springs. However, Tom Mooney and most of his neighbors are totally opposed to it. He organized a meeting Wednesday night to tell the University why.
Tom Mooney, a neighbor in the area says, “We’re not happy with the university being here, this is 15 miles away the college there are other places that they could go to.”
Betty English, another neighbor says, “This is our home and that’s how we want Riverton to stay.”
The property is on Riverton Road, and its location is right along the Nanticoke River. That’s what stood out to Salisbury University, which has plans to use the house as an example of sustainable building methods. The garage will be for scientific observation and experiments.
Maarten Pereboom, Dean of Fulton School of Liberal Arts says, “The garage is going to be a field lab where students can bring in soil samples that they might find nearby or if they bring in water samples.”
The house will provide field experience for small seminars and classes, mainly in Biology. These educational benefits are what the Salisbury University Foundation is trying to get residents to understand, but Mooney is not wavering, he’s already written letters to Public Works and has a petition to stop the University from using the house. However, not all of his neighbors feel so strongly.
Nicole Bradley, another Riverton neighbor says, “We have no problem with it, we think it’s kind of a good idea, with the education.”
The foundation is hoping to have more neighbors walk away with that mindset. They say one of their main priorities is preserving the quiet and peaceful Riverton neighborhood, while also educating their students.
