Fourteen more homes to be demolished this week in addition to the market. Funding holds up
demolition on Ginger Snips, The Money House, Malibu Feed Bin and Oasis Furniture.
By Cathy Neiman/Staff Writer
The long-standing Topanga Ranch Market on Pacific Coast Highway is slated for demolition this week, which will continue the fulfillment of the California State Parks and Recreation Department to turn the Lower Topanga Canyon area into a state park. The market, along with 14 Lower Topanga homes, has been undergoing asbestos and lead removal and cleanup in preparation for demolition.
Although the abatement process is being conducted with workers covered head-to-toe in white protective suits and gloves, local residents and business owners are complaining about offensive smells during this process.
One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “They all have been working covered up in moon suits from head to toe. Is this process safe for us? There has been an awful smell in my home ever since they started this abatement process, and it makes me wonder …”
The conflict between the residents of Lower Topanga and State Parks has been an ongoing battle for the last couple of years. The mle began when State Parks bought 1,659 acres of land from LAACO, Ltd, the parent company of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and declared it would make a continuous state park from the mountains to the sea.
According to Roy Stearns, deputy director and chief of communications of State Parks, the timeline for the demolition process of the remaining Lower Topanga homes and businesses is being conducted in three phases.
The first phase was the demolition of 12 homes, which has been taking place over the last several months. The original plan was to destroy 15 homes, but due to the Topanga creek bed being too high, three homes were postponed. The second phase of demolition is slated to begin this Thursday pending the completion of the abatement process.
Scheduled for demolition this Thursday are the three homes remaining homes, the Topanga Ranch Market plus 11 more Lower Topanga homes. The date for the third phase of demolition has not been set due to legal entanglements with the remaining 20 Lower Topanga residents who have 22 individual grievances filed with the court.
A target demolition date for four other Lower Topanga businesses (Ginger Snips, The Money House, Malibu Feed Bin and Oasis Furniture) that have been deemed “not compatible with serving visitors in a state park” has not yet been set because of funding.
The Topanga Ranch Motel, as well as Wylie’s Bait Shop, has historic significance and will not be demolished, said Stearns. Something’s Fishy, Thai Cholada and Reel Inn will also not be demolished.
Roy Craig, owner of the Topanga Ranch Motel, has not yet decided if he will continue to run his business.
“State Parks, as of yet, has not made me any offers,” Craig said. “So I am not sure what will happen.
“But, if State Parks comes along with a wheel barrel full of gold bars,” Craig continued, laughing, “then I will probably have to take it.”
The majority of residents took money settlements ranging from $85,000 to $250,000, said Stearns, and have either purchased homes elsewhere or found rentals.
The hearings for the 22 individual grievances are slated to begin early September, or early October at the latest. If the judge discovers no findings on the grievances, then the 20 remaining Lower Topanga residents will receive a 30-day notice to vacate their homes. And, if every thing goes according to plan for State Parks, the agency will have its park by Christmas.