CITY BUYS OAKMONT VIEW V LAND $25.25 MILLION FOR 238 VERDUGO MOUNTAIN ACRES.Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer GLENDALE - The City Council unanimously approved a $25.25 million deal Tuesday to buy the controversial Oakmont View V property, ensuring that the 238-acre plot of Verdugo Mountains The Verdugo Mountains are a small mountain range located just south of the western San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, Southern California, The United States of America (USA). The range is commonly known simply as the Verdugos. will not be developed. With 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 and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority contributing $12 million - 91 cents for every dollar that the city put in - Glendale City Council rounded up $13.25 million to purchase the pristine pris·tine adj. 1. a. Remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization. b. Remaining free from dirt or decay; clean: pristine mountain snow. 2. North Glendale wilderness, which will be conserved as a nature park with hiking hiking Walking, often among hills or mountains, as recreational sport. It represents an activity in its own right and also figures in backpacking, camping, hunting, mountaineering, and orienteering. trails. Tuesday night in a crowded Glendale City Hall, state officials, city councilmen and community activists spoke with profound excitement and relief. ``Call it the miracle of Christmas - it's just going to seem unreal not to be talking about Oakmont off and on anymore,'' said Councilman Dave Weaver. ``This is a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,'' said Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Dario Frommer Dario Frommer (born October 22, 1963 in Long Beach, California) was a member of the California State Assembly from 2000 until 2006. He served as Majority Leader from 2004 until 2006. Frommer also served as Chair of the Health Committee. , D-Glendale. ``The Oakmont purchase will unite our community in resolution of an issue that has divided this city for too long now, and make Glendale a leader in efforts to preserve open space.'' The Oakmont property was owned by Gregg's Artistic Homes, which planned to build a 572-home development on the land. In March, the City Council blocked the Gregg plan, prompting a number of lawsuits against the city that could have totaled more than $50 million in damages, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Lee Gregg, owner of the development company. To date, the city has spent millions of dollars in litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. over those lawsuits, City Manager Jim Starbird said. Tuesday night, that all came to an end. Lee Gregg, one of the developers, said he reluctantly compromised. ``This was not our first choice - we wanted to build the homes - but sometimes compromises are necessary,'' Gregg said after watching the council meeting on TV from home. Frommer applauded the Greggs, the city and the state for their cooperation. ``The Oakmont purchase is a bold and innovative model that shows that state and local governments, that builders and environmentalists can come together,'' Frommer said. Frommer was instrumental in the cooperation of the state and the city. ``This sets a wonderful precedent,'' he said. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has been saving up money for the Oakmont View purchase for years, starting in 1999 when then state Sen. Adam Schiff
Adam B. Schiff (born June 20 1960) is an American politician. He first served in the California State Senate. helped appropriate $5 million for the project. Since then, Frommer has helped raise the rest of the money, some of which would have been in jeopardy due to the state budget crisis if the Oakmont deal had not been accomplished by January, Frommer said. The Greggs will receive $8 million by Friday and the rest in increments to be paid through April 30. Most of the city's $13.25 will come from the city's general fund reserve account, which Starbird said can easily endure the impact of the purchase. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: - Assemblyman Dario Frommer |
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