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by **guitarsmashley** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:17 pm

George Lucas' rich neighbors don't want him building a movie studio in their backyard. His response is the best thing he's done in years.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, for four decades Lucas has owned a large swath of land in Marin County in the North San Francisco Bay and has spent the past few years trying to transform the ranch on it into a massive, nearly 300,000 square foot, state-of-the-art movie studio complete with day care center, restaurant, gym and a 200-car garage. His neighbors, however, have rejected it every step of the way. Despite the promise of bringing $300 million worth of economic activity to the area, the already-well off neighbors are worried about years' worth of construction activity and the additional foot traffic it will bring into their neighborhood once completed.

The local homeowners association has been such a thorn in Lucas' side that he's decided to abandon the studio construction entirely, issuing this official statement about Lucasfilm's withdrawal of the new studio:

The level of bitterness and anger expressed 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.

We love working and living in Marin, but the residents of Lucas Valley have fought this project for 25 years, and enough is enough. Marin is a bedroom community and is committed to building subdivisions, not business. Many years ago, we tried to stop the Lucas Valley Estates project from being built, but we failed, and we now have a subdivision on our doorstep.

So what is George Lucas going to do with his property now that he's tired of his rich neighbors putting up a not-in-my-backyard stink? He wants to transform the property into low-income housing, naturally, ending their official statement with this zinger, "If everyone feels that housing is less impactful on the land, then we are hoping that people who need it the most will benefit."

He's working with the Marin Community Foundation to instead construct affordable housing for either low-income families or seniors living on small, fixed incomes. In order to smooth along the development, he's already given them all of the pricey technical studies and land surveys Lucasfilm spent years conducting. And we think that's just great. Because if there's one thing rich people will hate more than having movie magic made in their backyard, it's poor people moving in.

Mr. Lucas, we may hate you for turning your back on the original trilogy, but our hat is off to you on this one. Well played.

by **Victorian Squid** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:22 pm

Good for him!

by **Timbales** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:26 pm

I fucking love it.

by **Jack Burton** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:28 pm

That's pretty freaking awesome. A nice way to say fuck you and help people at the same time.

by **Benderbrau** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:29 pm

"Lucas" Valley? Coincidence?

by **Cat-Scratch** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:30 pm

Future phone call to the cops in the neighborhood.

Caller: "Hello, I'd like to report a big brown fur covered thing in my backyard."
Caller: "No, it's not a bear."
Caller: "No, I already said it's not a bear."
Caller: "No, it's not a big dog."
Caller: "No, it's smoking a cigarette and drinking a coffee."
Caller: "It's got something that looks like a crossbow too."
Caller: "Yes, George Lucas is my neighbor."
Caller: "No, it's not him nor one of his daughters... I think it's not one of his daughters..."

by **Lord Ice** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:33 pm

by **Timbales** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:35 pm

I read about the studio he wanted to build. It was going to be really green, hidden from view, all sorts of good shit.

by **habitual** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:37 pm

George Lucas has done more for business in Northeren California than anyone, especially San Francisco and the North Bay. The Presidio LucasArts business complex (also the location of Starfleet Academy), is one of the most scenic and beautiful complexes I've ever seen.

Seriously fuck those people.

Hab

by **The Shadow** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:48 pm

Lucas is, once again, my hero! :-D

by **Jack Burton** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:52 pm

Timbales wrote:I read about the studio he wanted to build. It was going to be really green, hidden from view, all sorts of good shit.

Skywalker Ranch is basically a lot of Ranch houses on acres of green fields. If it's anything like that I don't see the problem. It would look at worst like a golf course.

by **Timbales** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:54 pm

Benderbrau wrote:"Lucas" Valley? Coincidence?

yup, apparently it's named for a turn of the century land developer

by **covalesky** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:14 pm

One hell of a fuck you. Well done mister Lucas.

by **Grayson** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:28 pm

I wonder if George Lucas has already started to receive calls along the lines of "you know what George? I have thought about it and I would like to offer to help you build that movie studio. You just let me know if there is anything I can do to help."