George Lucas Downtown San Anselmo Park Project Moving Forward

San Anselmo resident George Lucas has filed a permit with San Anselmo town officials to demolish the downtown building he donated to the nonprofit San Anselmo Community Foundation earlier this summer, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

The vacant building, at 535, 539 and 541 San Anselmo Avenue, will be demolished next year and turned into a park complete with bronze statues of Indiana Jones and Yoda. See a rendering of the park, designed by San Anselmo-based Blasen Landscape Architects, at the right.

Lucas has agreed to donate the statues and pay for the demolition of the building, according to the IJ. However, Lucas is anticipating community outreach and donations to help build the bulk of the town center project, according to San Anselmo Chamber President Connie Rodgers.

Work had previously started to relocate a historical fresco from the building that used to hold Rossi Brothers Pharmacy, but San Anselmo town officials said the relocation efforts must wait until a demolition permit — including a historical analysis — is approved, according to the IJ.

The fresco will be preserved and donated to the Spanish consulate in San Francisco.

The community has appeared to rally behind the project and Lucas’ donations.

San Anselmo town officials have said Lucas has been a great neighbor in the San Anselmo community. His contributions have included paying for the under-grounding of power lines on Miracle Mile near the San Rafael border and constructing a new building in the median of the road that is now home to Amazing Grace Music, according to San Anselmo Town Manager Debbie Stutsman. 

Lucas recently made headlines around the world when . He planned to donate the $4.05 billion he made from the deal to his foundation Edutopia, which is based in San Rafael and supports education programs.

Lucas also recently made the best of his stunning decision to pull the plug on his proposed film studio at his Grady Ranch property in North San Rafael by offering to work with Marin Community Foundation to bring affordable housing to Grady Ranch. 

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