At last... The News We've All Been Hoping To Hear!

Assisted by Trust for Public Land and Tiburon Open Space, the owners of the Martha Property have agreed to a purchase option of those magnificent acres above Tiburon! We extend our sincere thanks to the Reed family for this commitment to conservation. Among other things, this means that, when the transaction is completed, our collective dream will have come true: Martha will be open to all and forever!

While this gem may be located in Tiburon, when linked with the adjacent Old St Hilary’s open space and that of the Romberg Center preserve to the north and east, a new, vast open space will be created, adding 110 diverse and protected acres with world-class views and but minutes from one of the most exciting cities in the world. (see map below).

At last.

It has taken decades, yes, but there is still work to do. Funds will need to be generated from multiple sources, including a successful bond measure this Fall, a share of Measure A funds, and corporate and private donations. You’ll be hearing more about this soon. As ever, we will ask for your support and enthusiasm.

We are delighted beyond measure. Stay tuned, excited, enthusiastic… the end is in sight!

Image by Jocelyn Knight

The beginning is also in sight. You will soon be able to hike along her trails again, watch birds soar high above, appreciate the wildflowers that call her home, gaze out at those unbelievable views, that Bay, that City, and marvel, daydream, and breathe deeply. And smile, knowing that we will happily pass this joy along to those who will follow. What a fine day that will be.

Please look and listen for follow-up news.

Thank you. We are delighted... for all of us!

Tiburon Open Space

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The price has dropped. We need you more than ever.

We invite you, indeed all of you, to again click on and contribute to our efforts to Save Martha.

There’s a bit of news to share: the family who owns Martha has dramatically reduced the price that they are asking for the property. On the one hand, this is encouraging. After so many years, the price, though still wildly expensive ($63 million, down from $95 million), has dropped as many problems remain: environmental issues, the 28 landslides that remain, plants and animals with special, protected status, unavoidable and hazardous construction and traffic issues should development occur, and, as we know too well, that fact that it is located in a high fire risk zone.

Be reminded, however, that there is another possibility: this price reduction could well attract other speculators who may attempt to carry on with the ill-advised plans to blanket Martha with development. Blanket development on a ridge top benefits no one.

This will only be a positive development when coupled with our collective efforts to battle development, continue to highlight the many problems that exist, then to arrive at a fair appraised value.

Tiburon Open Space (TOS) remains steadfast in our belief that these very real environmental problems make preservation the only viable path forward. And the only right one.

Please continue your support for TOS's efforts to preserve Martha for everyone forever. We need your help to carry on.

Call us if you want to talk.

Learn more here (Reprinted with the permission of The Ark.)

The appraisal process accelerates. It is up to Tiburon Open Space to pay for it. Can you help us do that?

Photo by Jocelyn Knight

You will recall the recent and exciting announcement that the owners of the Martha Property have agreed to an appraisal process with The Trust for Public Land to determine the property’s value. We continue to be single-mindedly focused upon seeing that process through to completion.

Appraisals of this nature are complex, they often take months to complete, and they require specialized, highly skilled firms. It is critically important that both parties be satisfied with the firm and the process so that there is a comfort level with the ultimate conclusions. So that we can then move forward to purchasing the property at fair market value.

Appraisals such as these are expensive. Current estimates suggest that the cost could be nearly $60,000. The Trust for Public Land needs our help. Our role, as the champions of keeping this property open forever, will be to foot that bill. It is important that we do.

TRUST is helping raise funds for the appraisal costs. TRUST is the organization working to keep the Martha trails open.

We really need your help. This process is ready to begin and it needs to be paid for. It’s as simple as that.

Can you help us do that? We will thank you for your generosity. And so will the generations of people and kids and open space explorers who will walk upon and enjoy that land. Forever.

Thank you.

Tiburon Open Space

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There’s some news we’d like to share with you

Photo by Jocelyn Knight

Martha has agreed to an appraisal!

Yes, the owners of the Martha Property have agreed to obtaining an appraisal to help determine the property’s actual value. We couldn’t be more delighted with this exciting development. Jerry Riessen, the leader of Tiburon Open Space:

This is great news. Really great news. We have all been working hard to help make this appraisal happen, a necessary step in arriving at a fair purchase price. We now enter a delicate phase. The appraisal will be as complex as the long journey to get us to this point. It is precisely what is needed to continue towards the goal of purchasing Martha and allowing her to be open forever.

Specifically, the Martha Property owners have agreed to commence an appraisal, working with The Trust for Public Lands, an organization trusted by both the property owners and Tiburon Open Space.

Now what?

The temptation to offer a toast, while real, is premature. A breakthrough? In many ways, yes. A victory? No. Not yet. There is still much work to be completed. The parties will have to identify and agree on the appraisers, the process, the timeline. And then agree on the appraised value to effect an actual purchase.

Although there has not been any interest expressed thus far to purchase the property on the open market, it will remain for sale during an appraisal.

There will be a significant cost to completing this process. We’ll need all kinds of help with that. We are, of course, very grateful to those of you who have made contributions to keep this process alive thus far. "Thank you” cannot possibly convey how we feel about your help.

As you read this, we would ask you to consider the fact that this breakthrough moment is the culmination of years and years of work, endless hours, many buckets of frustration and, at times, grave worry about outcome. But here, today, that work has paid off in the form of an agreement to proceed; an agreement to appraise. We take a deep breath, find some comfort in the magnitude of this agreed next step, then resolve to push ahead with renewed energy: a forever open Martha feels like she is within our grasp.

Stay tuned. Help us if you can.

Tiburon Open Space

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March 2018 Update

Dear Friends of Tiburon Open Space,

Hello.  It’s been a while.  We have some very good news.  

Yesterday, United States Federal Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James ruled against the Martha Company, denying their moves to enforce the stipulated judgments of 1976 and 2007.  Judge James wrote:
 
Having considered the parties' arguments, the relevant legal authority,
and the record in this matter, the Court RECOMMENDS
the District Judge DENY the Motion.

Said differently, the court ruled 100% in our favor!  And 100% in favor of Marin County, the other party in the legal action.  This order is actually a recommendation to Federal District Court Judge Saundra Armstrong who will then make the final order.  We are optimistic that she will accept Judge James’ order in its entirety.  The Martha Company can choose to appeal. They have 14 days to do so. 

Photo by Jocelyn Knight

We, of course, hope that they will not choose that option. In fact, we will encourage them to come to the table, sit with us and other parties, and begin a meaningful discussion to determine a fair purchase price for the land.  

While we would love to, we’ll host no party just yet.  There’s still a long way to go. There will be considerable expense involved with the effort to determine that fair price.

So, yes, we are asking for your continued public, emotional and financial support.  We need money to take a major step closer to the ultimate finish line: a Martha open space that will be open, forever.

We welcome your enthusiasm, questions and support.  Thank you.

Tiburon Open Space

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