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George Lucas Does Something Cool For A Change

5StringFool

5StringFool

Jun 10, 2011
1,086
178
Greenup, KY
www.facebook.com
#1
This is absolutely beautiful imo.

George Lucas' rich neighbors don't want him building a movie studio in their backyard. His response is the best thing he's done in years.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, for four decades Lucas has owned a large swath of land in Marin County in the North San Francisco Bay and has spent the past few years trying to transform the ranch on it into a massive, nearly 300,000 square foot, state-of-the-art movie studio complete with day care center, restaurant, gym and a 200-car garage. His neighbors, however, have rejected it every step of the way. Despite the promise of bringing $300 million worth of economic activity to the area, the already-well off neighbors are worried about years' worth of construction activity and the additional foot traffic it will bring into their neighborhood once completed.

The local homeowners association has been such a thorn in Lucas' side that he's decided to abandon the studio construction entirely, issuing this official statement about Lucasfilm's withdrawal of the new studio:

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.

We love working and living in Marin, but the residents of Lucas Valley have fought this project for 25 years, and enough is enough. Marin is a bedroom community and is committed to building subdivisions, not business. Many years ago, we tried to stop the Lucas Valley Estates project from being built, but we failed, and we now have a subdivision on our doorstep.

So what is George Lucas going to do with his property now that he's tired of his rich neighbors putting up a not-in-my-backyard stink? He wants to transform the property into low-income housing, naturally, ending their official statement with this zinger, "If everyone feels that housing is less impactful on the land, then we are hoping that people who need it the most will benefit."

He's working with the Marin Community Foundation to instead construct affordable housing for either low-income families or seniors living on small, fixed incomes. In order to smooth along the development, he's already given them all of the pricey technical studies and land surveys Lucasfilm spent years conducting. And we think that's just great. Because if there's one thing rich people will hate more than having movie magic made in their backyard, it's poor people moving in.

Mr. Lucas, we may hate you for turning your back on the original trilogy, but our hat is off to you on this one. Well played.
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http://www.movies.com/movie-news/george-lucas-grady-ranch/7883
 
#7
MJ5150 said:
Maybe he'll get his movie studio after all.

-Mike
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This would not surprise me. He can probably blackmail them into a few tax concessions now, too.

NIMBY, coming soon to a town near you. Check your local listings.

About 15 miles outside of Buffalo, there is a community of nouveau riche, fake pond, 6500 sq ft house owners whose 15 yr old development is trying to shut down the 50 yr old rural airport that they built their houses beside. Seriously, they built their homes beside an active airport, and they don't want it there anymore. The irony is that some of these people's neighbors own planes.
 
#12
This is good for Marine. I actually grew up in Marine (lived there from when i was 11 till 16). I like that place, but lower income family have difficult time surviving. This could be a very good project if they can keep the gangs out of the location. Not sure how Marine City and San Rafael is like now, when i was in school it was filled with dumb little gang-bangers. Hopefully that's changed and hopefully this project gets done and is successful.
 
#13
kserg said:
This is good for Marine. I actually grew up in Marine (lived there from when i was 11 till 16). I like that place, but lower income family have difficult time surviving. This could be a very good project if they can keep the gangs out of the location. Not sure how Marine City and San Rafael is like now, when i was in school it was filled with dumb little gang-bangers. Hopefully that's changed and hopefully this project gets done and is successful.
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The point of Lucas saying he is going to transform his property into low income housing is not so that he can actually do so, but rather so that the rich people in his area, who have been opposing the idea of his movie studio construction, will be more in favor of the studio being built than the low income housing.

Basically he is saying "So you oppose my movie studio? Then how about I bring poor people into your rich neighborhood?"
Because his neighbors would most likely prefer his original idea to have the studio built.

He's not actually doing any good for anyone, but rather has found a clever way to manipulate his neighbors to get what he wants.
 
#14
Lucas is a class act. Or is he? Not so much in this case.

Personally I wouldn't want a movie studio in my neighborhood if I were rich or not. He can't get his way so he decides to be a big Richard about it. Neat! :rolleyes:
 
#15
MatticusMania said:
The point of Lucas saying he is going to transform his property into low income housing is not so that he can actually do so, but rather so that the rich people in his area, who have been opposing the idea of his movie studio construction, will be more in favor of the studio being built than the low income housing.

Basically he is saying "So you oppose my movie studio? Then how about I bring poor people into your rich neighborhood?"
Because his neighbors would most likely prefer his original idea to have the studio built.

He's not actually doing any good for anyone, but rather has found a clever way to manipulate his neighbors to get what he wants.
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I understand why he is doing it. However, I have not found any opposition for this project so far. Aside from his motives, if it does happen it is a good thing. That's all i am saying.
 
#19
MatticusMania said:
The point of Lucas saying he is going to transform his property into low income housing is not so that he can actually do so, but rather so that the rich people in his area, who have been opposing the idea of his movie studio construction, will be more in favor of the studio being built than the low income housing.

Basically he is saying "So you oppose my movie studio? Then how about I bring poor people into your rich neighborhood?"
Because his neighbors would most likely prefer his original idea to have the studio built.

He's not actually doing any good for anyone, but rather has found a clever way to manipulate his neighbors to get what he wants.
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Well in that case, his neighbors should get back at him and hold him to it. Make the problem his if it gets out of hand, and bring a negative spotlight to his devious ways. :spit:
 
#20
nickbass79 said:
Well in that case, his neighbors should get back at him and hold him to it. Make the problem his if it gets out of hand, and bring a negative spotlight to his devious ways. :spit:
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They certainly could do that; however, I think that Lucas is right, in that his wealthy neighbors would most likely prefer to have the movie studio built than welcome in low income residents.
 

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