|
Post by KarenZ on Aug 23, 2010 13:45:52 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by KarenZ on Aug 23, 2010 13:47:57 GMT -8
|
|
Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,800
|
Post by Brian on Sept 4, 2010 23:00:34 GMT -8
I couldn't find the link to the online version of the Glendale-Crescenta VOICE eBlast that went out two nights ago. But here's the gist, big news indeed:
Michael Hoberman of Snowball West Investments LLP, owner of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course, will address the Land Use Committee of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council on Monday, October 18th. We thank City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Daniel Brumer and the CD2 office for arranging this meeting and Michael Hoberman for taking this opportunity to bring us up to date on the status of the proposed development...
Land Use Committee meetings start at 7 p.m. and are held at the North Valley City Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd. in Tujunga. We do not know whether the meeting will precede or follow the release of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).
One has to wonder: with the golf course under new management and with the continuing recession in new home sales, do they still plan to build 229 houses there? Perhaps we'll learn more in the next six weeks.
|
|
|
Post by karenz on Sept 6, 2010 21:10:02 GMT -8
Sorry about the broken link, Brian. We were having problems with the website. One whole portion of the site evaporated The September 2nd eBlast is now up and running at: www.gcvoice.org/emails/2010Sep2.htm Please save the date: Monday, October 18th for the meeting Brian wrote about in the previous post. It should be interesting! Also, I hope you will be able to attend the Thursday, September 9th fundraisier at Frank's Famous Kitchen & Bakery in Montrose. Details in the eBlast.
|
|
|
Post by karenz on Sept 16, 2010 2:00:00 GMT -8
September 15th eBlast is online: www.gcvoice.org/emails/2010Sep15.htmThis edition includes the VOICE Newletter for Summer 2010, which is delivered the old fashion way...by postal carrier. ;-D The eBlast includes a link to the digital version of the newsletter. Two events coming up: Fundraiser at Joselitos West on Monday, September 20th and Land Use Committee meeting on Monday, October 18th. The Land Use Committee is part of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. On the 18th Michael Hoberman/Snowball West Investments Llp will be making a presentation to the LUC. The public is invited to attend. This should be a good opportunity to find out what the owners have in mind - Have they altered the original development? If changes have been made, do they address the environmental concerns many voiced last summer? Should be an interesting meeting! Karen
|
|
|
Post by karenz on Sept 28, 2010 23:32:33 GMT -8
Where does the time fly? The September 28th eBlast is up and running. You will find it at: www.gcvoice.org/emails/2010Sep28.htmThis issue focuses on two important public meetings coming up in October: 1.) Rim of the Valley Study www.nps.gov/pwro/rimofthevalley/2.) Owner/develper Snowball West Investments presents updates on golf course to the STNC Land Use Committee. These are public meetings and you are invited to attend and contribute your own thoughts/insights. There's also a fundraiser at Los Rapidos Mexican Eatery in La Crescenta at the corner of Pennsylvania & Foothill Blvd. Specifics included in the eBlast. Los Rapidos Mexican Eatery 3231 Foothill Boulevard La Crescenta, 91214 818 248 2850 Remember to put your receipt in the Save the Golf Course box! And try to stay cool! Karen
|
|
Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,800
|
Post by Brian on Oct 11, 2010 23:00:37 GMT -8
Glendale-Crescenta VOICE reports in its latest eBlast that the Final Environmental Impact Report on the proposed development at Verdugo Hills Golf Course has been delayed again -- and may not be released by the City of Los Angeles' Planning Department this year: www.gcvoice.org/emails/2010Oct10.htmI've been looking forward to next Monday's presentation so much that I'm leaving work early in expectation that every chair in the auditorium at North Valley City Hall will be filled, as they were 15 months ago when the community's response to the Draft EIR was launched.
|
|
Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,800
|
Post by Brian on Oct 18, 2010 23:28:47 GMT -8
The meeting of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council's Land Use Committee lasted longer than Anni and I had planned, so we failed to say hello to Karen and good-bye to Sharon, which are the only things we regret. Mondays are busy for us but tonight's presentation by the developer and his attorney was crucial.
I took notes and may say more later, but all I have time for now are some headline impressions:
Ideally, Michael Hoberman would be glad to sell the three parcels that make up the Verdugo Hills Golf Course to some government agency to become a park. Nonetheless, his lawyer Fred Gaines thinks he has a great case against the city if they prevent the development. They're less interested in building those homes than selling the rights to do so in a future economy. The earliest construction could begin is 2014, Gaines said.
At the end of the questions and answers, Councilman Paul Krekorian's aide read a statement saying he "will continue the fight" to acquire the site. We also learned the the city had required the developer to offer a low density alternative in the final EIR. Meanwhile, Hoberman seemed dedicated to improving the golf course and making a profit there, starting with a beer and wine license, while mainly trying to enlist local support for possible modifications to the plan to perhaps "save an extra (oak) tree."
|
|
|
Post by Sharon W on Oct 19, 2010 6:32:34 GMT -8
It was good to see you there last night - and the full house. I think Snowball wants to sell to the city or anybody who'll buy and they're trying to jack up the price. I think it was $12 million they floated around a couple of years ago - property values haven't gone up so why they think it's worth $15 million now I don't know.
|
|
Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,800
|
Post by Brian on Oct 25, 2010 23:03:48 GMT -8
The latest Glendale-Crescenta VOICE eBlast leads with an excellent report of last week's presentation: www.gcvoice.org/emails/2010Oct22.htmHoberman and Gaines are decent men who only want to make maximum bucks as easily and legally as possible. Most of what Hoberman and his partners own is land, which never depreciates, and most of their development costs have to be amortized for 15 years or until they sell the property. Even then, the losses they sustain are subject to passive activity rules, which means they can't deduct their annual losses over $25,000 unless they have other rental income to offset them. So owning the golf course might not be giving them write offs while they face spending tens of thousands more on legal and planning fees next year when the Bush tax cuts expire, including the long term capital gains rate of 15 percent. The speculator and the attorney shrewdly demurred from addressing any "technical" questions in the Draft Environmental Impact Report, especially about traffic and drainage, yet were eager to assert that the 229 houses wouldn't generate any more traffic than the golf course if it were busy and profitable -- or the regional park many envision -- which Land Use Committee member Lloyd Hitt shot down beautifully. Gaines started off by mentioning that Councilman Paul Krekorian's office had asked Hoberman to make the presentation to the community, and Krekorian's aide ended by announcing a task force to find the funds to buy the golf course. Now every constituent knows where to go to be heard.
|
|