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In 1974, Jim and Joy Blackman first purchased land on Inland Drive, quickly falling in love with <br />the serene beauty of the area. Jim was offered the chance to acquire additional land on the <br />Viewcrest Hill, but, regrettably, he did not seize the opportunity at that time. However, with his <br />family's future in mind, he did purchase 5.97 acres on Viewcrest Hill for his son, Steve, to build <br />a home on for his future family. At the time, the area was largely undeveloped —there were no <br />neighboring houses —and Jim took special care to ensure that there would be proper access to <br />this property by working with Marion County to establish a full access easement. <br />Over the years, Jim and Joy made their mark on Inland Drive. They eventually sold their first <br />house but remained deeply rooted in the community by building a new home right next door in <br />1987. Although Jim passed away in 2007, Joy has remained in that home, surrounded by various <br />family members who have lived with her over the years, ensuring she has never had to live <br />alone. <br />In 2021, a significant milestone was reached when Joy's daughter, Sherry Blackman, and her <br />grandson, Jason Unruh, were able to purchase back Jim and Joy's original house. The entire <br />family was thrilled to have this piece of their history return to them. <br />For decades, the Viewcrest Hill land has been more than just a piece of property; it has been the <br />cornerstone of the Blackman family's legacy, which now extends to 32 members. The land <br />purchased off Little Haven has remained in the family for all these years, with taxes faithfully <br />paid, not as a mere investment, but with the clear intention of building a home —a place where <br />future generations could create memories, just as the family has done for so long. <br />Given this deep, generational connection to the land, it is profoundly disheartening to now face <br />barriers to using the property as it was always intended. Being denied access for residential use <br />feels not just like a denial of rights, but a denial of the dreams and heritage that have been <br />cherished by the Blackman family for nearly half a century. <br />