After more than 30 years of effort, the Palisades-Malibu YMCA has secured the rights and the funds to purchase 3.95 acres of land at the corner of Sunset and Temescal. “Thanks to the generosity of many residents in our community and a lead pledge of $250,000 from Palisadians Cindy and Bill Simon, the YMCA is now prepared to pay the full price to purchase the property,” said Carol Pfannkuche, the local Y’s executive director. On Sunday, May 6, at 4 p.m., the YMCA will host a celebratory event on the Christmas Tree/Pumpkin Patch property to acknowledge “the generations of Palisadians who have worked so hard and given of their time, talents and treasure to reach this goal,” Pfannkuche said. Everyone in the community is invited to participate. Those who have served on the YMCA Board of Managers, since the inception in 1965, will be the special guests. Honorees will include the Simons, the family of the late Corwin Davis, Everett Maguire and family, and Palisades YMCA founders, Dotty Larson and Dr. Michael Martini. The celebration will also include all capital campaign donors, annual campaign donors, YMCA members, campers, program participants and friends. ‘Our family has enjoyed the Palisades YMCA for nearly 15 years,” said Cindy Simon. “Our children have participated in the basketball program, Y-Princesses and Y-Guides, and the fitness center. I have wonderful memories of learning to swim at the YMCA in Illinois where I grew up. A YMCA is a cornerstone of a community, and Bill and I feel honored to participate in its growth.’ Pfannkuche added, ‘Thanks to the Simons’ donation, and to everyone who has supported the YMCA for these last 30 years, we will have a beautiful YMCA location for future generations to enjoy.’ In August 2006, the California Coastal Commission voted to allow the YMCA’s property purchase to proceed. Since then, the YMCA has been working with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to complete the required legal steps. “Final paperwork is now being prepared, to allow the transfer to be completed in the coming weeks,” Pfannkuche said. The YMCA will continue to operate summer day camp and hold its annual sale of pumpkins and Christmas trees on its corner parcel. When asked about two deed restrictions requested by local citizens during the protracted negotiations between the YMCA, the City of L.A. and the Conservancy, Pfannkuche said: ‘We don’t have the absolute final form of the deed because it is still being reviewed by the California Department of General Services. However, our attorney says their review relates almost exclusively to the various easements being reserved and granted; the language of the deed regarding oil drilling has not been changed over the last several drafts and has been agreed to by us. There are two aspects of the deed that relate to this issue. ‘First, the State retains all of the mineral rights, including oil and gas. Second, and more directly responsive, there will be a restriction in the deed that reads as follows: ‘SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS that shall run with the real property, that (a) no exploration or drilling for oil shall ever be conducted on, from or under said real property, a restriction that shall remain in effect in perpetuity, and (b) no construction may commence on said real property within ten years following recordation of this Deed.”
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