Advertisement

State Parks Land Deal Falls Apart

Share

A long-anticipated land deal that would have added a key section of Malibu Canyon to the state parks system has collapsed, officials said.

The Adamson Cos., the firm that controls the real estate holdings of the pioneer family that once owned most of Malibu, recently rejected a $5.17-million offer made by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to buy 575 acres on the west side of Malibu Canyon Road above Pepperdine University. The land was to be added to Malibu Creek State Park.

Joseph Edmiston, executive director of the conservancy, said he was stunned when the organization’s certified check was returned by Adamson officials a few weeks ago.

Advertisement

“We were really quite taken aback,” he said. “We thought it was just a matter of getting the money, since we had the property acquisition agreement signed by them in November.”

Edmiston said the parcel is considered critical to the state parks system because it connects several other pieces of undeveloped land.

“If this piece were part of a jigsaw puzzle of a clown’s face, the smile would be missing,” Edmiston said. “It would mean a major loss for us and a significant loss for Malibu.”

Advertisement