http://www.movies.com/movie-news/george-lucas-grady-ranch/7883
QuoteGeorge 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.
So I disagree with the headline as I think this is a rather jerk move. After all, why would people in Marin want more jobs in the area / a movie studio for tourists? When taking his ball home, apparently Lucas thought it fitting to take a big dump as well.
Isn't the whole point of this that it was a jerk move? Few things make commoners as happy as laughing as the misfortunes of the wealthy.
Seems to me that if he's developing low-income housing because he thinks it's a good thing to do, that's fine. If he's doing it to be spiteful towards his neighbors, well, then it's just spiteful.
They fucked with his plans, so now he's fucking with theirs. Good luck with the property values on your McMansions when they're being robbed twice a year by darkies.
Quote from: dps on May 13, 2012, 09:16:03 PM
Seems to me that if he's developing low-income housing because he thinks it's a good thing to do, that's fine. If he's doing it to be spiteful towards his neighbors, well, then it's just spiteful.
It can be a good thing and spiteful.
Who cares? It's funny.
Quote from: Zoupa on May 13, 2012, 09:47:06 PM
Quote from: dps on May 13, 2012, 09:16:03 PM
Seems to me that if he's developing low-income housing because he thinks it's a good thing to do, that's fine. If he's doing it to be spiteful towards his neighbors, well, then it's just spiteful.
It can be a good thing and spiteful.
Who cares? It's funny.
This. He might be doing it for the wrong motives, but low income housing is definitely a good move.
And if his neighbors are offended at the idea of living beside poor people, all the better.
[My old house in Whitehorse had several subsidized housing apartments 5-6 houses down. I never had a problem with that.]
I'd wager Marin would be a horrible place for a poor person to live - what with lack of jobs and shoddy public transport.
It's a dick move, and out of proportion to his plans (understandably) getting frustrated by his neighbours.
Good on him :nelson:
Quote from: Zoupa on May 13, 2012, 09:47:06 PM
Quote from: dps on May 13, 2012, 09:16:03 PM
Seems to me that if he's developing low-income housing because he thinks it's a good thing to do, that's fine. If he's doing it to be spiteful towards his neighbors, well, then it's just spiteful.
It can be a good thing and spiteful.
Who cares? It's funny.
Agree, 100%
Quote from: Zoupa on May 13, 2012, 09:47:06 PM
Quote from: dps on May 13, 2012, 09:16:03 PM
Seems to me that if he's developing low-income housing because he thinks it's a good thing to do, that's fine. If he's doing it to be spiteful towards his neighbors, well, then it's just spiteful.
It can be a good thing and spiteful.
Who cares? It's funny.
Bingo.
If only more of us could have that kind of leverage against dickhead neighborhood associations.
If he wanted to piss off people couldn't he just make another movie?
:D
Meesa want low-income housing.
Quote from: Barrister on May 13, 2012, 09:51:35 PM
[My old house in Whitehorse had several subsidized housing apartments 5-6 houses down. I never had a problem with that.]
The only difference between Lucas' construction project and low income housing development is that with the construction project, the noise eventually stops.
BANG BANG BANG at construction project =/ BANG BANG BANG OH MAH BABY DONE BEEN SHOT OH LOADY LOADY LOADY WHY JESUS at low income housing development
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 14, 2012, 01:25:18 AM
Quote from: Barrister on May 13, 2012, 09:51:35 PM
[My old house in Whitehorse had several subsidized housing apartments 5-6 houses down. I never had a problem with that.]
The only difference between Lucas' construction project and low income housing development is that with the construction project, the noise eventually stops.
BANG BANG BANG at construction project =/ BANG BANG BANG OH MAH BABY DONE BEEN SHOT OH LOADY LOADY LOADY WHY JESUS at low income housing development
:D
Quote from: The Brain on May 13, 2012, 11:47:31 PM
If he wanted to piss off people couldn't he just make another movie?
Seeing how George Lucas seems to be willing to throw away huge amounts of cash just to be a dick, the two last parts of the second trilogy could have been a revenge for people not liking the Jar Jar movie.
I approve.
Extra amusing because the opponents will find it hard to oppose this without really showing themselves to be not particularly nice.
Quote from: The Brain on May 13, 2012, 11:47:31 PM
If he wanted to piss off people couldn't he just make another movie?
He said he was tired of that too :lol:
After Red Tails, I'd be tired to. Tired of sucking.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 13, 2012, 11:33:42 PMneighborhood associations.
They need to be stigmatized like child molesters. They're the modern domain of nazis.
Low income in Marin County - what is that, less than $120,000 a year?
Quote from: PDH on May 14, 2012, 11:27:28 AM
Low income in Marin County - what is that, less than $120,000 a year?
Right? :D
Quote from: Pitiful Pathos on May 13, 2012, 09:54:48 PM
It's a dick move, and out of proportion to his plans (understandably) getting frustrated by his neighbours.
Agree. Peron purposely built low-income housing right next to the nicest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, with the result that there are now a lot fewer nice neighborhoods, and the ones that remain are like walled fortresses.
The nerve of those poor people!
Quote from: Zoupa on May 14, 2012, 12:22:01 PM
The nerve of those poor people!
...what poor people?
Quote from: Valmy on May 14, 2012, 12:26:39 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on May 14, 2012, 12:22:01 PM
The nerve of those poor people!
...what poor people?
QuoteIn May 2009, the county had the fifth highest income per capita in the United States at $91,483.
LOLZ
Quote from: derspiess on May 14, 2012, 12:17:12 PM
Quote from: Pitiful Pathos on May 13, 2012, 09:54:48 PM
It's a dick move, and out of proportion to his plans (understandably) getting frustrated by his neighbours.
walled fortresses.
Celtic, roman or medieval?
It is most certainly a douchebag move, and I don't see how it makes Lucas more likable.
Quote from: Berkut on May 14, 2012, 01:12:52 PM
It is most certainly a douchebag move, and I don't see how it makes Lucas more likable.
he's kind of like a half robinhood. He takes from the masses but still screws over the rich. Well, other rich people. he's still rich and you can bet he lives no where near affordable housing.
But it isn't like Robin Hood at all - Robin Hood was supposedly motivated by his desire to help the poor, not a desire to screw over some people because he could not get his way in a scheme to make himself even richer than he was already.
If Lucas wants to actually help poor people, building affordable housing is a good idea - but I bet there are much, much better places to do so than Marin County. Or rather, there are parts of Marin County that can use it, but it isn't his backyard.
Quote from: Berkut on May 14, 2012, 01:12:52 PM
It is most certainly a douchebag move, and I don't see how it makes Lucas more likable.
The poor people are going to end up in a place they struggle to find jobs, the homeowners won't be able to sell their homes, and George Lucas lives on to create a new digitally remastered version of Star Wars where Luke wakes up at Uncle Owen's farm and realizes it was all a dream. There is no justice in this story.
Quote from: Berkut on May 14, 2012, 01:27:21 PM
But it isn't like Robin Hood at all - Robin Hood was supposedly motivated by his desire to help the poor, not a desire to screw over some people because he could not get his way in a scheme to make himself even richer than he was already.
If Lucas wants to actually help poor people, building affordable housing is a good idea - but I bet there are much, much better places to do so than Marin County. Or rather, there are parts of Marin County that can use it, but it isn't his backyard.
+1
Quote from: garbon on May 14, 2012, 11:28:09 AM
Quote from: PDH on May 14, 2012, 11:27:28 AM
Low income in Marin County - what is that, less than $120,000 a year?
Right? :D
That's why it's such a great idea to do it: bring that average down to appropriate national levels.
High income areas need low income housing more than low income areas though.
In a poor area everything is low-income housing. But in a rich area the average or median income may be high, but you still have low-income people. Except nowthey are trapped with nowhere to live because housing prices are so high.
Quote from: alfred russel on May 14, 2012, 02:59:35 PM
Quote from: Berkut on May 14, 2012, 01:12:52 PM
It is most certainly a douchebag move, and I don't see how it makes Lucas more likable.
The poor people are going to end up in a place they struggle to find jobs, the homeowners won't be able to sell their homes, and George Lucas lives on to create a new digitally remastered version of Star Wars where Luke wakes up at Uncle Owen's farm and realizes it was all a dream. There is no justice in this story.
:yes:
Quote from: Barrister on May 14, 2012, 03:24:14 PM
High income areas need low income housing more than low income areas though.
In a poor area everything is low-income housing. But in a rich area the average or median income may be high, but you still have low-income people. Except nowthey are trapped with nowhere to live because housing prices are so high.
Indeed.
Its a big problem in the UK that there is a shortage of lower income housing in much of London for instance- yet they still have need of all the same lower income jobs as elsewhere in the country.
Quote from: alfred russel on May 14, 2012, 02:59:35 PM
Quote from: Berkut on May 14, 2012, 01:12:52 PM
It is most certainly a douchebag move, and I don't see how it makes Lucas more likable.
The poor people are going to end up in a place they struggle to find jobs, the homeowners won't be able to sell their homes, and George Lucas lives on to create a new digitally remastered version of Star Wars where Luke wakes up at Uncle Owen's farm and realizes it was all a dream. There is no justice in this story.
Looks like 33% justice to me, which is higher than usual.
Quote from: Tyr on May 15, 2012, 03:52:19 AM
Quote from: Barrister on May 14, 2012, 03:24:14 PM
High income areas need low income housing more than low income areas though.
In a poor area everything is low-income housing. But in a rich area the average or median income may be high, but you still have low-income people. Except nowthey are trapped with nowhere to live because housing prices are so high.
Indeed.
Its a big problem in the UK that there is a shortage of lower income housing in much of London for instance- yet they still have need of all the same lower income jobs as elsewhere in the country.
Marin County is not London. Far, far, FAR from it.
50
Marin county is mostly just little high priced bedroom communities. There is one "large" town (Novato) that has all of 50,000 people in it.
I am sure there is some need for low income workers in Marin (hell, I lived there before I got my degree, and worked as a waiter in a restaurant) but it's nothing like London where you need a lot of them.
The idea that there is any *need* for more low income housing in Marin County is completely unsupported. Perhaps there is, I don't know - but Lucas wanting to screw over his neighbors is certainly not evidence that such a need exists.
I wouldn't mind living in a 250/month rent controlled in Marin County.
Quote from: alfred russel on May 14, 2012, 02:59:35 PM
The poor people are going to end up in a place they struggle to find jobs,
How is it possible that an area with lots of money also has few jobs? Don't the rich people need services and don't they buy things and go out to eat and the like?
Wealth does not create jobs? All the jobs are, in fact, in impoverished areas? :hmm:
I told my aunt about this and she said right on. She'd love to move to Marin on the cheap. :D
Heh, would it not burn Lucas' ass most royally if his rich neighbours all welcome the new development with open arms (and get their staff to live in it)? :D
Quote from: Valmy on May 15, 2012, 08:30:16 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on May 14, 2012, 02:59:35 PM
The poor people are going to end up in a place they struggle to find jobs,
How is it possible that an area with lots of money also has few jobs? Don't the rich people need services and don't they buy things and go out to eat and the like?
Wealth does not create jobs? All the jobs are, in fact, in impoverished areas? :hmm:
They are here in the UK. If you want a job you go to the towns and cities, which have high unemployment, and get your job there. In the rural areas, with low unemployment, there are rather fewer jobs. Doesn't mean that you can't make a lot of money in agribusiness or opening a boutique restaurant out in the country, but for your bog-standard broke employee places like London, Manchester and Birmingham is where its at.
There are jobs. Not all of Marin is Tiburon. Along Hwy 1/101 there is the normal California type light highway parasitic economy.
Hell, I bet Lucas would pony up for bus service.
I was surprised how empty Marin county was when I went through with Katmai a few years back, it is so close to SF. But then highway 1 seems to avoid the population centres in the county.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 15, 2012, 08:53:17 AM
But then highway 1 seems to avoid the population centres in the county.
It was designed that way.
There are no population centers there. Marin has "special financial arrangements" that date way back to keep the riff-raff out.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 15, 2012, 08:54:37 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 15, 2012, 08:53:17 AM
But then highway 1 seems to avoid the population centres in the county.
It was designed that way.
....and it works well, a fantastic drive :cool:
Quote from: PDH on May 15, 2012, 08:51:31 AM
There are jobs. Not all of Marin is Tiburon. Along Hwy 1 there is the normal California type light highway parasitic economy.
I just looked up where his ranch is. Is that really that fancy right there? Given how wooded/hilly it is, will the neighbors even see the poor people?
Quote from: garbon on May 15, 2012, 08:59:49 AM
I just looked up where his ranch is. Is that really that fancy right there? Given how wooded/hilly it is, will the neighbors even see the poor people?
California does obstructionist really well though - look up some of the Coastal Commission laws.
Quote from: garbon on May 15, 2012, 08:59:49 AM
Quote from: PDH on May 15, 2012, 08:51:31 AM
There are jobs. Not all of Marin is Tiburon. Along Hwy 1 there is the normal California type light highway parasitic economy.
I just looked up where his ranch is. Is that really that fancy right there? Given how wooded/hilly it is, will the neighbors even see the poor people?
They could smell them. :x
QuoteThere are jobs. Not all of Marin is Tiburon. Along Hwy 1 there is the normal California type light highway parasitic economy.
Is this road clinging sprawl a particularly Californian thing?
It's always struck me as quite generally American but then California is the main example we see of the US.
Quote from: Berkut on May 15, 2012, 07:54:30 AM
Marin County is not London. Far, far, FAR from it.
50
Marin county is mostly just little high priced bedroom communities. There is one "large" town (Novato) that has all of 50,000 people in it.
I am sure there is some need for low income workers in Marin (hell, I lived there before I got my degree, and worked as a waiter in a restaurant) but it's nothing like London where you need a lot of them.
The idea that there is any *need* for more low income housing in Marin County is completely unsupported. Perhaps there is, I don't know - but Lucas wanting to screw over his neighbors is certainly not evidence that such a need exists.
London is just the famous example which is regarded as a national problem. The same happens in small, wealthy towns too.
Marin isn't a small wealthy town. :hmm: