2003 LOCAL: AHMANSON SAGA ENDS WITH PARK LONG STRUGGLE PAYS OFF FOR ACTIVISTS.Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer This month, visitors could for the first time roam the hills of Ahmanson Ranch and see what two decades of activism was all about - the preservation of 2,983 acres of oak-dotted slopes, grasslands and streams between Calabasas and West Hills. The state closed escrow escrow Instrument, such as a deed, money, or property, that constitutes evidence of obligations between two or more parties and is held by a third party. It is delivered by the third party only upon fulfillment of some condition. on the property in November, finalizing the $150 million open-space purchase from Washington Mutual “WaMu” redirects here. For the Washington, DC radio station, see WAMU. Washington Mutual (or WaMu; NYSE: WM) is the United States' largest savings and loan association. . The sale put an end to numerous lawsuits challenging the proposed 3,050-home development and a well-organized opposition that began as a grass-roots effort that drew high-profile Hollywood supporters. Opponents long argued the development would snarl traffic on Highway 101, exacerbate air pollution and worsen urban sprawl. Ventura County supervisors approved the project at the end of 2002. But political opposition was strong and neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. cities and environmental groups lined up lawsuits to derail de·rail intr. & tr.v. de·railed, de·rail·ing, de·rails 1. To run or cause to run off the rails. 2. the project. Earlier this year Washington Mutual, which took control of Ahmanson Ranch in a multibillion dollar thrift acquisition, indicated it would consider selling the property. In the end, it was California voters who helped seal the deal. The Proposition 50 water bond measure paid for $135 million of the purchase price. The State Coastal Conservancy chipped in $10 million and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is an agency of the state of California in the United States founded in 1979 and dedicated to the acquisition of land in the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills, north and west of Los Angeles, for preservation as open paid $5 million. Now the park is open to hikers, bikers and bird watchers while the Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. Mountain Conservancy develops a park plan, an educational center and restroom facilities. The current entrance is at the northern end of Las Virgenes Canyon Road but the conservancy will eventually develop an entrance at the west end of Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. . CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Rorie Skei of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy looks out over newly purchased Ahmanson Ranch - 2,983 acres of oaks, grasslands and streams. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer |
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