Is George Lucas Inciting Class Warfare With a Proposed Development?

Norimitsu Onishi describes a feud ripe for the pages of a Hollywood script, between movie mogul George Lucas and his wealthy neighbors over his plans to build affordable housing in Marin County.

2 minute read

May 25, 2012, 8:00 AM PDT

By Alesia Hsiao


More than three decades ago, in the years immediately after "Star Wars" was released, George Lucas began to build and expand his movie production empire in Marin, County, one of the richest areas in the nation.  In the face of staunch opposition, Lucas recently decided to call off plans for his third sequel - a major expansion to his studio - with an emotional statement posted online stating Lucasfilm would build instead in a place "that sees us as a creative asset, not as an evil empire." Critics were likely mollified until he made public a major (viewed by some as vindictive) rewrite to his plans - he would sell the land to a developer to build low income housing.

"Whatever Mr. Lucas's intentions, his announcement has unsettled a county
whose famously liberal politics often sits uncomfortably with the issue
of low-cost housing and where battles have been fought over such
construction before. His proposal has pitted neighbor against neighbor,
who, after failed peacemaking efforts over local artisanal cheese and
wine, traded accusations in the local newspaper."

Moving forward, Lucas will sell Grady Ranch to the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) to develop affordable housing.  Both supporters and opponents seem to have come to terms with the decision.  A project advocate, Jeffrey Tanenbaum said, "It's likely that if affordable housing were to be built in the neighborhood, it would have a negative impact on property value. But that's not a major factor for me. Affordable housing has to go somewhere."

Monday, May 21, 2012 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

5 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

7 hours ago - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine