A top Lucasfilm official says it is “too late” for George Lucas to reconsider his decision to pull the plug on plans for Grady Ranch.
Lynne Hale, director of communications for Lucasfilm, said that while the firm appreciates the unprecedented outpouring of public support for the company triggered by news the filmmaker was scuttling a film studio project at the ranch, there’s no turning back now.
“We have to move on,” she told the Marin Independent Journal.
Hale underscored her point: “You asked if Lucasfilm would reconsider. Unfortunately the answer is no. We truly appreciate the outpouring of support over the last 24 hours but based on our experience we realize that even with the support of the majority, the minority has the ability to drag the process out to the point it makes it impossible to do business.”
Hale’s commentary came as county officials scrambled to woo the filmmaker, with elected leaders making extraordinary offers of aid, including help with any lawsuit filed by neighbors and easing development restrictions.
“Unfortunately it is too late for George to reconsider his decision,” Hale told the newspaper. “In order to stay on schedule for our productions, the decision to move was suppose to have been made in January. We held on a few more months hoping the county would be able to overcome the obstacles. It was clear that the neighbors were going to oppose this with lawsuits that could drag on for another year. We have to move on.”
She added: “We are so appreciative of the support but no matter what the county does we still have the federal and state agencies determined to drag this out. We have to move on.”
Moving on was also the message signaled Tuesday by Lucasfilm executives in emails to several dozen consultants and others who worked on the Grady project.
Angelo Garcia, president of Skywalker Properties, thanked the development team “for the exceptional work that you have done in the last four years…. I have to say that I have not worked with a more professional and dedicated team.” And architect John Wynne, director of design and construction art Skywalker Properties and Letterman Digital Arts, had a similar message for the team, thanking all for “the great work and dedication that you and your staff have extended to the Grady Ranch project over the past several years.”
Wynne’s email continued, “This team has performed very well developing a strong and complex project that we can all be very proud of.” He then forwarded to team members a copy of the press release announcing Lucas was pulling the plug on it.
Former Supervisor Gary Giacomini, who worked on the team as a legal adviser and was listed as receiving a copy of the email, on Thursday declined to talk about the private communication. He did say the decision by Lucas to pull out seemed to be final.
“‘My impression is that it is a sad but final decision,” Giacomini said, adding that Lucas is aware of the groundswell of support for him in Marin. “I can’t speak for George but I will tell you this … every email and article on Grady Ranch is forwarded to him immediately,” he said.
Supervisor Steve Kinsey, who has alerted Lucasfilm officials the county could help Lucas repel any lawsuit filed by neighbors, on Thursday said he was advised by a company official that Lucas, who is out of town, has not indicated whether he was willing to reconsider his decision or not.
Kinsey pledged to continue an all-out effort to get the project back on track at Grady Ranch, noting that anything is possible.
“No one but Mr. Lucas knows whether Skywalker Properties will reconsider, but a lot of folks, including members of the Board of Supervisors, local businesses, and county residents are offering to do what is necessary to gain project approval and help it on its way,” he said.
Other officials including Supervisor Susan Adams were also doing what they could to get the filmmaker to reconsider. “Part of the problem has been with the regulatory and permitting delays from local, regional, state and federal agencies,” Adams noted. “I spent all day on the phone yesterday with them in a Hail Mary attempt to remove the blockages. I am not sure if this will change things, but certainly worth a try.”
A last-minute bid by state and federal fisheries and water agencies for more review of a unique creek restoration project, and bitter opposition from Lucas Valley Estate residents including developer and next-door neighbor Thomas Monahan, posed more delay and potential lawsuits, prompting Lucas to bail out after spending millions and years pursuing the plan. The creek project promised to be a model watershed restoration program — one far too expensive for public agencies to finance.
As Lucas executives said they would sell the land for housing development and build the studio elsewhere, a raucous conversation raged online across Marin as residents chimed in, many expressing support for Lucas and contempt for neighborhood foes. Scores of emails poured in to the Independent Journal, most praising the project, noting it would generate hundreds of jobs and millions in tax revenue.
Criticism of project opponents was so fierce that Geg Stilson, a member of the Lucas Valley Home Owners Association Board, received what he described as “hate mail” — even though his board represents homeowners living in another part of the valley who took no position on the project. Although the dispatch was not a “death threat” as initially reported, it was no laughing matter, and joined an email sent to the newspaper as over the top: “Perhaps a publicly-spirited arsonist will set all the current homes ablaze, thus causing the NIMBY fools to relocate. It can be blamed on the Dark Side…”
But most letters, emails and comments posted online or sent to the newspaper simply expressed shock, dismay and sadness.
William Grady of Novato, who sold the ranch to Lucas in 1985, was among hundreds of people upset at the turn of events at his parents’ old homestead.
“We are sad as a family because George Lucas has been such a wonderful steward of his property in Lucas Valley.”
Contact Nels Johnson via email at ij.civiccenter@gmail.com
