| Re: LucasFilms to become Lucas Housing Authority ? [message #959] |
Mon, 14 May 2012 20:49 |
Duggy
Messages: 316
Registered: January 2012
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc
On May 15, 3:03 am, thinbluemime wrote:
> George Lucas Proposes Affordable Housing
> By Donna Kimurahttp://www.housingfinance.com/news/ahf/051412-ahf-Geor ge-Lucas-Propos...http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/georg e-lucas-proposes-building-a...
>
> Filmmaker George Lucas has pulled the plug on building a new film studio
> and floated another option for the Northern California site–affordable
> housing.
>
> After years of trying to develop a new facility in Marin County, Lucas
> recently dropped his application to build on a property known as Grady
> Ranch, citing a long battle with neighbors.
>
> “The level of bitterness and anger express 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,” said a letter announcing
> his plans.
>
> But, that’s not the end of the story. Lucas, the man behind “Star Wars,”
> has unveiled part two.
>
> “We hope we will be able to find a developer who will be interested in
> low-income housing since it is scarce in Marin,” said the letter. “If
> everyone feels that housing is less impactful on the land then we are
> hoping that people who need it the most will benefit.”
>
> While some have seen the move as a shot at the protesting neighbors, the
> idea has advanced a step further.
>
> The Marin Community Foundation has stepped in to work with Lucasfilm to
> explore options to develop the site with affordable housing.
>
> “We are thrilled that George Lucas is seeing this as an opportunity to
> address one of the most critical issues in Marin County—making it possible
> for a broad range of individuals and families to afford to live in Marin,”
> said Thomas Peters, president and CEO of the Foundation. “In many
> instances, this is housing for people who work in the county but can’t
> afford to live here and for people who grew up here but who now cannot
> afford safe, secure housing in their home county. And we have always paid
> particular attention to the need for affordable housing by the county’s
> expanding senior population.”
>
> The Foundation’s work has included providing loans and grants to nonprofit
> housing developers.
>
> Marin County is one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation.
> The median price for an existing single-family home was $672,620 in March
> compared with the statewide median of $291,080.
>
> It is also one of the most expensive markets to rent an apartment. The
> “housing wage,” an estimate of the full-time hourly wage a household must
> earn in order to afford a decent two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent
> while spending no more than 30 percent of income on housing costs, is a
> soaring $36.63 in the county, according to the “Out of Reach” report from
> the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
>
> In comparison, the state housing wage is lower but still a high $26.02,
> meaning a minimum-wage earner would have to work 130 hours per week to
> afford a decent two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent.
>
> It looks like the Foundation and Lucasfilm will now move toward working
> with affordable housing developers. Perhaps, the force will be behind them
> in developing the property.
Month old news.
===
= DUG.
===
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