Laurel Canyon and Mulholland Open Space Fundraising Drive

Maps

Laurel Mulholland wildlife corridor.pdf
Laurel mulholland trail.pdf

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority has the six-acre property located at the southwest corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Mulholland Drive under option. Thanks to the support of 142 donors in the community, the MRCA successfully made the June option payment of $100,000! Through the City’s Real Property Trust Fund, Councilmember Jack Weiss (CD5) provided $15,000 of this payment.

The next step is to find a combination of funding sources to pay the remaining $4.7 million owed on the property.

The MRCA is exploring the use of City Quimby Funds and/or bringing another Benefit Assessment District before local voters.

A committee of Laurel Canyon residents now being formed independent of the MRCA will take the lead on fundraising efforts.

Most certainly, take down of the property will also require one or two generous donors along with a combination of smaller donations—such as the successful campaign to raise $100,000 for the second option payment.

Park naming and signage opportunities are available to the largest donor if the six-acre transaction is completed.

No payment is necessary until December 5, 2008.

If $4.7 million is not raised by December 5, 2008, the MRCA can keep the property under option for an additional six months at the cost of $25,000 a month. All payments count towards the purchase price.

To ensure the MRCA’s ability to make the December 5th and January 5th payments, current donations are encouraged. Any donated funds that are not used for an option payment will be promptly returned.

Permanent protection of this gateway to Laurel Canyon property will take the efforts of many people.

$25,000 must be raised by December 5th this year

Checks of any size are welcome

Call or email the below contacts for an update on the amount of funding received to date.

The subject six acres, comprised of six legal lots, would be permanent public open space. The area can be linked by a trail to Laurel Canyon Community Park via the Mulholland Drive right-of-way and adjacent MRCA parkland. The two aerial photographs show the relationship to surrounding public lands and the property's importance as a wildlife corridor across Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The property can be restored over time to oak woodland and contains a small spring.

The MRCA has paid a total of $300,000* in option payments, but has no additional uncommitted funds from the Santa Monica Mountains Open Space Preservation Assessment District No. 1. Most of the funding must come from private sources if either City Quimby Funds or a new Benefit Assessment District do not pan out. The total acquisition price for all six lots is $5 million. All option payments count toward the purchase price. Alternatively, five of the six lots can be acquired for $4.5 million. In the interim, we can continue to make $25,000 monthly option payments for an additional six months.

Funds donated to the MRCA are tax deductible.

Contact Paul Edelman, MRCA Chief of Natural Resources and Planning, at 310-589-3200 ext. 128 or email him at Questions can also be addressed to Diane Sacks at ext. 122 and

Checks should be made out to MRCA with a note: for Laurel Canyon and Mulholland. Any amount will be accepted. Funds received that are not expended on an option payment will be returned in full. A letter confirming the receipt of any funds will be mailed to every donor within three days of receiving the donation.

*The initial $200,000 option payment came from the Santa Monica Mountains Open Space Preservation Assessment District No. 1. For more info go to www.preserveopenspace.org.