Dave Matthews buys five Kluge farms

Dave Matthews has purchased five of the Albemarle County farms that John Kluge gave to the University of Virginia Foundation last May.

The $5.3 million sale, which was completed Monday, includes 1,261 contiguous acres south of Charlottesville. Working farms with extensive pastureland, the properties are known as Spring Hill, Church Hill, Maple Hill, Oakwood and Seven Pines. In addition to homes and cottages, the properties include cattle and storage barns, silos, equipment and grain sheds, and a feed complex.

Coran Capshaw, Matthews’ manager, said Matthews plans to preserve agriculture and forest land on the farms, with an emphasis on organic farming, and that he intends to grant an open-space easement on the farms.

“The proceeds of this initial sale will allow us to begin to build an endowment ,” said Tim R. Rose, the foundation’s chief executive officer. “No University funds will be used for the upkeep of the gift properties.”