THOUSAND OAKS : City Gets Arts Plaza Site for $2.8 Million

Thousand Oaks has agreed to pay $2.8 million for two pieces of land needed to build an entrance for a civic arts plaza at Jungleland, city officials said Tuesday.

Landowner Alan Woskow agreed to sell a half-acre parcel to the city for $1.45 million, Mayor Frank Schillo said. Escrow on the property closed Monday.

The city has agreed to purchase another half-acre parcel from landowner Bob Caplan for $1.35 million, Schillo said.

The city plans to build a $63-million city hall, 400-seat forum and 1,800-seat performing arts auditorium near Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Conejo School Road.

Four buildings on the two properties will be demolished to make way for groundbreaking on the project later this year, said Ed Johnduff, city administrative service manager.

The price excludes relocation costs for four businesses that occupy the buildings, City Atty. Mark G. Sellers said. That could cost the city $200,000 to $300,000 more.

Critics of the Jungleland project said the purchase price is too high.

Joan Gorner, a spokeswoman for a citizen group that opposes the project, asserted that city officials were secretive during their negotiations to buy land.

“Any way you look at it, $2.8 million is certainly a lot of money for one acre of land,” Gorner said. “You have the city throwing money into a project like this when it could be serving the people in so many other ways.”

Sellers said the price reflects the value of buildings located on the property.

“We have appraisals that show that this is what property is selling for up and down Thousand Oaks Boulevard,” he said.

The two properties are part of four parcels that make up a 23-acre site at the former wild-animal park. A 20-acre parcel was purchased last year for $17.9 million from landowner Assad Morovati after the city condemned the property.

The remaining piece of land, a 1.6-acre parcel on Oakwood Drive, is owned by the Goebel Family Trust and is still under negotiation, Sellers said.