From the Calabasas Acorn
A 200-acre swath of pristine, oak-studded land at Las Virgenes and Mureau roads in Calabasas will be designated as permanent open space after being purchased by Los Angeles County and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.
The land is referred to as Firehouse Hill because of its proximity to Fire Station 125 in Calabasas, but others call it the Continental Communities or Zuckerman property after the developer, Robert Zuckerman, who once wanted to build homes and a shopping center on the site.
The land will be dedicated as permanent open space in a 10 a.m. ceremony on Sat., June 12.
“I’ve had my eyes on purchasing this land for nearly 15 years,” Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said. “The National Parks Service has viewed this property as a top priority for acquisition because it is in a wildlife corridor and has other resource value.”
Yaroslavsky said that when he took office in 1994, Zuckerman took him on a tour of his property,
“That was the biggest mistake he could have made,” Yaroslavsky said. “My first look at the dozens of mature oak trees and the pristine nature of the property convinced me on the spot that the property should be part of the Santa Monica Mountains park system.”
Zuckerman lost the property more than 10 years ago. It was eventually purchased by Los Angeles real estate broker/developer Fred Sands.
Sands also wanted to develop the property, but Yaroslavsky made it clear that a major zoning change would not be allowed.
The mountains authority purchased the land for $6.25 million.
“Overall, this is one of the most significant acquisitions that has ever been made in the Santa Monicas,” Yaroslavsky said. “This property is the gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains. . . . More people see this property every day driving along the 101 than virtually any other part of the Santa Monica Mountains.”
To attend Satruday’s dedication, take the 101 Freeway to the Malibu/Las Virgenes exit and head north about 1,000 feet.
