With a $1.5 million bid, Chabad of Upper Montgomery County stands to take ownership of the Garrett Farmhouse/Maple Spring Farm at Darnestown and Dufief Mill roads in North Potomac.
Rabbi Sholom Raichik, director of Chabad of Montgomery County, on May 26 outbid 18 contenders for the property. He said the site will be used to build an educational center. Bids were made online as well as in person.
Bidding began at $500,000, according to Williams and Williams Real Estate Auctions, which operated the auction. The property had been listed for as much as $2.5 million, and includes a historic dairy barn that the previous owner operated as a veterinary hospital.
The main building has 13,000 square feet of finished space, plus 7,000 square feet of unfinished space in the barn. “We are looking for partners in this project to help complete the purchase and for the future renovations of the property,” said Raichik.
“There’s a potential for something great in the neighborhood,” he added. “We’re looking forward to enhance the local Jewish community. The educational center will be good for youngsters and adults; that’s the goal.”
The sale is expected to be finalized by the end of June, according to Raichick.
