George Lucas disses neighbors by doing something awesome [View all]

[babylonsister]

http://now.msn.com/entertainment/0512-lucas-neighbors.aspx#scptm2

George Lucas disses neighbors by doing something awesome


​George Lucas has long wanted to build a massive studio complex on his posh property near San Francisco, but has been foiled by his Marin County neighbors for 25 years, even as subdivisions have gone up around him. Now he's fighting fire with fire, giving up on his dream and instead building low-income housing on the property. We know -- it's pretty sweet. In the exquisitely titled article, "George Lucas Does Something Likeable For a Change," Peter Hall nails it: "If there's one thing rich people will hate more than having movie magic made in their backyard, it's poor people moving in." That the second Star Wars trilogy, or ... you get the point, but bully for Lucas here.


http://www.movies.com/movie-news/george-lucas-grady-ranch/7883
George Lucas Does Something Likeable For a Change: Revenge on Rich Neighbors

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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.