Acquisitions in Malibu, Hollywood Expected : Law Clears Way to Buy 2 Parcels

SACRAMENTO —  Two long-sought acquisitions--of acreage in Malibu’s pristine Solstice Canyon and of historic bungalows near the Hollywood Bowl--are expected to go forward as the result of two bills that will take effect next year.

Gov. George Deukmejian on Wednesday signed into law a bill by Sen. Dan McCorquodale (D-San Jose) that sets aside about $20 million in state tideland oil revenues, including $1.4 million that could be applied to the purchase of 345 acres of Solstice Canyon near Corral State Beach.

Also on Wednesday, Deukmejian allowed another bill, which earmarks $6 million in tideland oil revenues for projects around the state, to become law without his signature. Among the appropriations in the bill, by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), is $500,000 for the Highland-Camrose Bungalow Village.

The two bills were among hundreds that Deukmejian dealt with last week as he rushed to meet a midnight Wednesday deadline to complete his review of measures sent to him before the Legislature went home for the year.

Plans for Funds

The funds for Solstice Canyon are earmarked for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The conservancy plans to funnel the money to the Trust for Public Lands, a nonprofit environmental group, which has an option to purchase 345 acres of the canyon for $3 million.

Joseph Edmiston, the conservancy’s executive director, said he was elated by the governor’s action. “For one thing it means we keep our highest priority project . . . on track,” he said.

Edmiston said that the Trust for Public Lands will still need to seek another $1.6 million to complete the purchase.

Earlier this year, the conservancy, a state agency that has purchased more than 9,000 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains for parkland and open space, acquired 211 acres of Roberts Ranch in Solstice Canyon for about $2.5 million.

“It’s going to be our next showpiece project because it’s so close to the beach,” said Edmiston, who has sought the funds for several years.

Historic Homes

County Supervisor Ed Edelman and Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) also have sought funds for the Highland-Camrose bungalows, a cluster of 13 historic homes built between 60 and 70 years ago.

Their aim has been to preserve the village because it is representative of the California Craftsman style of architecture and because many of Hollywood’s film-making pioneers are believed to have lived there.

Supporters want to turn the village into a home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute for Young Musicians and Conductors.

At least once before, funding for the project had been rejected in Sacramento.

“Obviously, we’re pleased at the governor’s signature, said Robert Ballenger, Edelman’s press deputy. “This is something the supervisor has worked on for a long time. We’ve had a difficulty convincing officials in Sacramento.”

This year, the key was that the funds for the bungalows were included in a bill that lumped together funding for more than 60 projects statewide sought by Democrats and Republicans.

Donna Lucas, the governor’s deputy press secretary, said Deukmejian signed the McCorquodale bill because legislative leaders indicated “that these are priority projects and this is what they wanted the money used for this time.”