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After several public meetings on the merits of its proposed digital studio in Lucas Valley, Skywalkers Properties LTD. decided to withdraw its application for the project.
"The level of bitterness and anger expressed by the homeowners in Lucas Valley has convinced us that, even if we were to spend more time and acquire the necessary approvals, we would not be able to maintain a constructive relationship with our neighbors," the company stated in a press release Tuesday.
The 270,000-square-foot production studio, known as Grady Ranch, . , and the
According to Skywalker Properties, several movie projects they planned to shoot on sound stages at Grady Ranch are already in production and they can't wait for an approval.
"We have several opportunities to build the production stages in communities that see us as a creative asset, not as an evil empire, and if we are to stay on schedule we must act on those opportunities," the statement said.
Grady Ranch is one of three properties owned by filmmaker Geroge Lucas. The Skywalker and Big Rock ranches are located nearby the proposed Grady Ranch land. As the company grew, LucasFilm relocated the majority of their employees from Marin to San Francisco's Presidio due to the belief that Marin would not support the size of their facilities in a residential area.
The company managed to build Skywalker Ranch after a one year master plan approval and another year for the precise development plan approval, but it took over 10 years for the county to approve the master plans for Big Rock and Grady ranches.
Many of the project’s supporters believe Grady Ranch would bolster economic growth by providing construction jobs now and high-paying technical jobs in the long term.
The Marin Economic Forum estimates that the withdrawal will result in a total of $216 million in lost revenue. The project would've created 690 jobs, with 463 jobs for the two-year construction phase.
"Every 100 employees hired by Lucas Company Productions to use within the new facility, there would be an additional 276 jobs created in Marin County," Marin Economic Forum interim CEO Robert Eyler told the Planning Commission in February.
"We're devastated," said Cynthia L. Murray, President of the North Bay Leadership Council. "LucasFilm is iconic and it's a tremendous loss to have them go elsewhere."
Challengers are not convinced that the economic boost would make up for the project’s scale and design, which some say is not consistent with the residential scenic area, or the potential environmental impact the project could have on the downstream of Miller Creek.
"We are surprised by Lucasfilm's announcement," the Lucas Valley Estates Homeowners Association said in a statement. "There were clearly many factors involved in making this decision. We are sure that it was made with consideration for what is best for Lucasfilm."
Skywalker Properties plans to sell the land and revert it back to residential use.
"We love working and living in Marin," the statement said, "but the residents of Lucas Valley have fought this project for 25 years, and enough is enough.
What do you think about Skywalker Properties' decision to withdraw the application? Tell us below or on our Facebook page.
I heard today that Lucus bought this piece of property before Lucas Estate was developed, and now they are objecting to his existence? Yes, please find a good place for Lucas Film in Novato - We would welcome you - now about that 800+ acre of land behind San Marin High School off Novato Blvd going toward Stafford Lake? It seems to be a gorgeous piece of property and if anybody can develop it, George Lucas could.
That is not the case. Most of my emails have been questioning decisions made by the council and the supervisors and still, I have had prompt, respectful replies. We may not agree on the issues, nor do I necessarily manage to change anything (for example the Novato city offices going downtown without parking for the merchants and at an exorbitant cost) but I believe the Novato City Council is making an effort in the direction of rebuilding a relationship with the community. I also believe the community must make a greater effort to participate in local government. Check out the website for Novato Community Alliance. Its focus will be local government, housing, transportation and public safety; in other words strong neighborhoods where residents voices can be heard. http://www.nca4bh.org/
Interesting, Monahan is both a high end and an affordable housing developer. The AH must be for tax credits to offset the high end. The Marin County affordable housing developments are: Drake's Way, http://www.monahanpacific.com/drakes_way.html, and 33 North, http://www.monahanpacific.com/33_north.html. If Monahan is pushing Lucas out in favor of home development as some posts have implied then this is hypocrisy at its worst. It would be helpful to know more about Monahan's role. By the same token Lucas Valley's loss could be Novato's gain. Let's hope our council and supervisors make a concerted effort to let Mr. Lucas know he would be welcome here.
If that's going to happen, then rather than just have anybody buy and build on that hill, why don't we have somebody like Lucas, whom from what I read here and other places, would be an environmental sensitive, responsible owner of the land. If that assumption is not true, than all the comments here are all false and for nothing. So, with a choice given for the potential use of that land, I would rather have Lucus on that property than anybody else. Although I am a Realtor, I have a feeling that Lucas has his own real estate arm to help him negotiate the deals. I don't see $$$ in my pocket for this. So, I think we should go back on task on how to keep Lucas here, or better yet, attract Lucas to Novato.
Thank you George for tearing down that old building on the property you own in San Anselmo and Building a garden in it's place.
This planet is just too small. Yes, WE, can. And how do we awaken and change. Nimbyisim is just not productive, when what we "need" is committed and educated humans with heart and brains willing to ensure a healthy future, and not just big houses with a Prius, and jetsetting around the glob(e) How about N.O.O.P? Not On Our Planet. No Nukes, No Fracking, No Endless Wars, No G.M.O's, No bs. Take a clear look around, business as "usual" is not a good survival tool.
Please set up your studios at Hamilton Field!
Marin needs high paying jobs and this would have been a huge win for Marin, but movie studios and high tech workers are notorious for working late into the night. Not to mention the need to truck in supplies. As a counter, I will say that in my many trips down Lucas Valley, I rarely see a car or truck pulling into Big Rock Ranch or Skywalker ranch. EIR's are the weapon of choice if you want to stop any project in Marin. I hope they get used to counter ABAG's hybrid recommendation / mandate for more housing in Marin and Sonoma. Huge issues like water, sewer, and other infrastructure seem to be glossed over. Focusing on projected population growth, job growth that is counter to the 2010 census report, and the transportation problems.
The good thing is that Marin is indeed in sore need of more low income housing, and George has decided that is the use to which his holdings will go. Well, good luck Lucas Valley residents; a few short-sighted, selfish neighbors created this situation, and I hope you'll be happy with it. And, by the way, George, thank you for saving Amazing Grace Music.