Mum on Malibu deal
SMC HDQTRS — The Santa Monica College Board of Trustees has terminated the purchase of a 7-acre site in Malibu that had been identified as the possible location for an educational center.
The action was taken Monday in consultation with the Malibu Public Facilities Authority, a joint powers authority formed between SMC and the City of Malibu following passage of Measure S — the $135 million bond measure approved by Santa Monica-Malibu voters in 2004.
“Following a comprehensive investigation of the site located at 23801 Stuart Ranch Road (in) Malibu, the college has determined that the site will not be adequate for our development needs and, therefore, we have terminated the purchase contract,” said Nancy Greenstein, chair of the board of trustees.
A legal agreement between the authority and the owners of the property, Yamaguchi Tokiye Trust, prevents all parties from disclosing any details about the sale, including reasons why SMC pulled out of the deal.
“We determined that after due diligence, the site wouldn’t adequately meet the needs of the college.” said Katharine Muller, dean of external programs. “I wouldn’t say it was too small. We just decided it wouldn’t meet our needs.”
Malibu Mayor Ken Kearsley raised some concerns about fault lines when the purchase was announced in August.
On Tuesday, Muller said she wasn’t aware of any fault lines at the site.
At least three other locations have been identified in and around the Civic Center area of Malibu, officials affiliated with the project said. One of those properties, located at 23519 W. Civic Center Way, is owned by the County of Los Angeles. An Internet search of that address lists it as the home of the Malibu Library in the Malibu Civic Center Complex.
SMC President Dr. Chui Tsang said “both the college board and city officials are optimistic that a suitable location in the Civic Center will be found for the Malibu campus.”
In August, the board had authorized Tsang to enter into an agreement for the college to purchase the Malibu site for $8 million, intending to develop it as an educational center. However, under a 90-day contingency period, the board retains the right to cancel the purchase of the property, which is adjacent to the Malibu City Hall.
Funding for property acquisition and development of an education center will come from Measure S, from which $25 million in funds has been dedicated to capital projects in Malibu.
Tsang said efforts to build the facility began several years ago during discussions with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and elected officials from Malibu. All parties wanted to expand educational opportunities for grade-school students, while simultaneously offering services to recent graduates and other residents in the area.
Tsang said the plan is to offer general education classes to help students transfer to other institutions of higher learning. Courses of general interest — to be determined following a survey of students’ needs — will also be offered, along with courses geared towards adults looking to make a career change.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 11, 2006. Read the original PDF.