Giant Yard Sale Helps Neighbors Fight Development in the Bargain

A desire for preservation rather than profit fueled weekend entrepreneurs along the 6000 block of Oakdale Avenue where the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization held a giant garage sale.

Proceeds of the sale, held Saturday and Sunday, were earmarked to fight development of 250 acres of pristine land next to Pierce College.

As shoppers walked on to the driveways and front lawns of about half a dozen Woodland Hills homes Sunday, they found bargains on used sofas, clothes, exercise equipment, books and even a copy of Elvis Presley’s album “Blue Hawaii.”

There was surprisingly little haggling over prices, a practice that usually adds to the fun of shopping garage sales.

A reason bargain-hunters were unquestioningly handing over their cash could be found in a hand-lettered sign that exhorted them to spend so the West San Fernando Valley activists could “Pressure Pierce College.”

For the past few years, the homeowners organization has been in the forefront of the battle against development of the vacant Pierce College land. Money raised by the garage sale will go to the group’s legal fund so it can continue the fight.

By early Sunday afternoon, the merchants with a mission had raised more than $2,000 and were well on the way to reaching their goal of adding $4,000 to $5,000 to the organization’s coffers.

The Woodland Hills group has battled Pierce over a proposed $150-million office complex on 22 acres of Warner Ridge, construction of a retirement village on 17.5 acres near Victory Boulevard and Topham Street and proposals for an equestrian center.

Additionally, homeowners have vowed to stop the San Fernando Valley Fair, an annual 5-day event that promoters estimate attracted 80,000 visitors last year, from relocating on Pierce pasture area.

Officials of the Los Angeles Community College District say they have moved cautiously in making decisions about development of its land. But homeowners and environmentalists disagree. They believe the district is trying raise money through the piecemeal development of the last significant expanse of open land in the West Valley.

“I’m always amazed at how many people outside of Woodland Hills care about the Pierce land,” said Edith Roth, who gives guided tours of the college’s farmland and wild bird preserve. “When they see a cow, it makes their day.”