March 2010, The Southern New Jersey Chapter of the Appraisal Institute contracted with Susanne Curran to instruct two seminars to be held in November 2010 at the NJ DOT offices in Ewing, NJ.  The seminars are: Introduction to Conservation Easements and Introduction to Residential Subdivision Valuation.  The seminars will offer required continuing education credits for both NJ State Certification and Appraisal Institute designations.

February 2010, The Bucks County Economic Development Corporation “Bucks Prospectus” Winter 2010 Newsletter is published including a lead article written by Susanne Curran: “The Census is Coming: Bucks County Snapshot”, which noted the importance of the upcoming 2010 US Census and described County and Municipal demographic forecasts and land use trends dating from the 1980 Census. The article and newsletter archive can be viewed at www.bcedc.com.

Susanne Curran completed an appraisal of the scenic “Mine Hill” property owned by the “Rattlesnake and Mine Hill Wildlife Preservation Trust“, and located in Durham Township, Bucks County.  The trust is managed by the Rufe family.  This site is located in the historic Durham Furnace area and provided iron ore for the munitions manufactured by the Furnace during the Revolutionary War.  The property is to be preserved via a conservation easement purchase to be jointly funded by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the County of Bucks Open Space office and the Heritage Conservancy.

January 2010, Susanne Curran served as Review Appraiser for the County of Atlantic, NJ.  Two farm preservation reports in Buena Vista Township were reviewed.  She also worked with NJ SADC as a Review Appraiser of appraisals on potential farm easement acquisitions in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, NJ.  Also, she prepared a farm preservation easement appraisal of an approved residential subdivision site in Winslow Township for the Camden County Land Preservation office. 

December 2009, Susanne Curran worked with the Tinicum Conservancy on an Appraisal Review assignment of an appraisal submitted for a potential open space easement property.  The Tinicum Conservancy actively works to preserve open space in Tinicum Township, Bucks County PA.  Tinicum Township has one of the most successful land preservation programs in Bucks County.  

Also, she prepared six appraisals for farm preservation easements in Salem County, NJ: the clients included the Salem County Farm Preservation Department, NJ SADC, and the Township of Pittsgrove.

October 2009, Susanne Curran presented "Appraising Historic and Land Easements: Valuation Issues" at the joint D&R Greenway/NJ Historic Historic Trust Conference in Princeton on October 28.  The discussion included valuation issues related to charitable donations under IRS and Federal "Yellow Book" appraisal standards, definition of "qualified" appraisers, key Highest and Best Use issues in appraisal of easements, and evaluating the functional utility of buildings to be preserved through facade easements.  Also presented was her "Top Ten Ways to Make Your Easement Appraisal Go More Smoothly".

 

Also presenting at the conference was Paul Edmondson Esq., Vice President, Law and General Counsel, National Trust for Historic Preservation, John Snook, Senior Advisor, Brandywine Conservancy, Kate Marcopul, Supervising Historic Preservation Specialist, NJDEP Historic Preservation Office, Alex Greenwood, of the New Jersey Barn Company (barn preservation), plus a preservation case study by property owner Kevin Tremble. Attendees included NJ DEP personnel, the staff of various Preservation Trusts, and property owners.

In September 2009, Susanne Curran prepared three appraisals for the Boy Scouts of America, Cradle of Liberty Council, Philadelphia PA.  They include the 150 acre Marshall Island in the Delaware River, Tinicum Township, Bucks County, and the historic 50 acre Treasure Island Scout Camp, also an island in the river, located in Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County NJ.  Also a Ranger’s House, three residential and storage buildings, and a dock, boat ramp and other riverfront property in Tinicum Township, Bucks County are included. The Natural Lands Trust is assisting the BSA in evaluating these properties for possible disposition.

In August 2009, Susanne Curran appraised the historic Elm Lowne estate in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County PA.  The Township acquired the property in 1999 as open space.  It is proposing to place façade-easements on the main dwelling, and development easements on the 12 acre land site, prior to selling it as a preserved site.  The property includes one of the first homes built by the Yardley family, originally constructed in the eighteenth century.

In June 2009, 13 road improvement appraisals on Georges Road in South Brunswick Township, Middlesex County NJ were appraised for the Middlesex County Engineering Department.  The include valuation of fee simple acquisitions, temporary construction easements and permanent drainage easements.  Included in the assignment were a restaurant, large church, townhouse development, single-family residential properties and parkland.

In March 2009, Susanne Curran appraised the Robert Hillier estate in Princeton Township, NJ for Hopewell Valley Community Bank.

In January 2009, Susanne Curran completed appraisals of various Bucks County, PA and Montgomery County, PA sites for two PENNDOT projects: Route 202 Bypass construction and County Line Road widening.

In December 2008, Princeton University retained Susanne Curran to appraise a historic retail / office building on Palmer Square for possible acquisition.

In November 2008, Susanne Curran passed the "Appraising Historic Conservation Easements" seminar presented by the Appraisal Institute in Chicago, IL.

In July 2008, Susanne Curran served as an Associate Instructor for the Appraisal Institute's General Cost / Site course presented by the Chicago, IL chapter.

In June 2008, Susanne Curran addressed the Central NJ Chapter, Appraisal Institute meeting in Toms River, NJ on the topic of "Got Market Analysis".
She also became an Approved Appraiser for the Bucks County (PA) Open Space Program.

In April 2008, Princeton Insurance Co. retained Susanne Curran to appraise their two-building office headquarters complex on Alexander Road in West Windsor, NJ.

In April 2008, Susanne Curran was invited to address the Bucks County Open Space Board on County Appraisal Problems and Issues.

In March 2008, Susanne Curran appraised the first of three large parcels within the historic "Snipes Farm" holdings in Lower Bucks County, PA.

In January 2008, Susanne Curran successfully passed the Appraisal Institute / Land Trust Association (LTA) Seminar "Conservation Easements" and became Approved Appraiser for the LTA.

In December 2007, Susanne Curran was retained by the NJ SADC farm Preservation Department to appraise approximately 2,000 acres and an estate house within the historic Seabrook Farm holdings in Salem County, NJ.

In November 2007, the Bucks County Open Space Bond Issue dedicating $86 Million dollars to future land preservation was overwhelmingly approved by Bucks County voters.

October 2007, Susanne Curran was approved as an Associate Instructor for the Appraisal Institute's Highest and Best Use / Market Analysis Course.

In September 2007, Susanne Curran was retained by Rohm and Haas Corp. to appraise an industrial site to be developed as the Lower Bucks County Fire School.

In November 2006, Susanne Curran was selected as a Review Appraiser for the County of Middlesex, New Jersey.

Also in November 2006, Susanne Curran was selected for a third contract as a Review Appraiser for the NJ Farm Preservation Program.

In August 2006, Susanne Curran was selected to serve on the Bucks County Open Space Task Force II by the Bucks County Commissioners. The Task Force will advise the Commissioners on future Open Space and Farm Preservation purchases to be included in a proposed Bond Issue in November 2007.