The leased home of the Virginia Outdoor Center and Friends of the Rappahannock along the river in Fredericksburg has new owners.

The longtime owner, Petra Franklin, in April sold the 20-acre tract to a partnership—Sandy Bottom at the Fall Line—for $2.1 million, according to a deed filed in city Circuit Court.

Tom Van Arsdall, fund-raising chair for FOR, said yesterday that he’s “optimistic that everything will work out well concerning the permanent protection of the land” along Fall Hill Avenue.

The principal partner and financial backer is Doug Stewart, vice chairman of Stewart Wealth Management Group in Fredericksburg.

Stewart said today that he has great hopes for the property, but can’t discuss details just yet.

For more on this story, see tomorrow’s Free Lance–Star.

To reach RUSTY DENNEN: 540/374-5431 rdennen@freelancestar.com