Memorial services were held last week for Qroe CEO Robert Baldwin and Qroe Regional Director David Brown in Bedford, New Hampshire, and Hartford, Connecticut, respectively. The two men died in an Albemarle County plane crash on June 14 while trying to land in bad weather on the Bundoran Farm property they were working to develop.
The men leave behind Qroe Companies, an entity founded by Baldwin to further his vision of development—a vision that sought to respect and preserve the environment surrounding Qroe’s projects. Starting in 1974, Baldwin followed his limited-development principles with several New England properties. By selling these sites at a premium, Baldwin was able to create a model for profitable development that didn’t send the neighbors running.
Bundoran Farm, a property his company bought last year from Fred Scott, would have been Baldwin’s biggest project to date. When word circulated that Scott’s property had been sold, fears of view-decimating McMansions abounded. But these fears were soon smoothed over by Baldwin, who spent considerable time explaining his unique view of development. Overall, the company is planning only 88 buildable sites on a property that could easily be zoned for 163. Perhaps more importantly, those sites were all chosen for minimal disturbance of streams, forests, fields and views, and will be protected by interlocking easements.
“[Baldwin] was a pivotal figure in one of the most important trends in urban development,” said Richard Peisar, professor of real estate development at Harvard Graduate School of Design, as quoted by The New Hampshire Union Leader.
Baldwin, 75, is survived by his wife, four children, and 10 grandchildren. Brown, 55, leaves a wife and three children (his daughter Pamela graduated this year from UVA).
There is no word yet on how the company will handle the loss of both its CEO and regional director. Preliminary plans for the Bundoran Farm development were submitted June 12 to the Albemarle Planning Commission.
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