POST Purchases Bressler Property to Complete Arastradero Preserve
October 10, 2002
The Peninsula Open Space Trust got the go ahead to acquire the 13-acre parcel known as the Bressler property by the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of California in San Jose this afternoon. The purchase was made to help the city of Palo Alto save an island of land in the middle of the 609-acre Arastradero Preserve from development.
POST paid $3.56 million in a competitive bidding process to purchase the land, which was placed in chapter 7 bankruptcy. The property was previously listed at $5 million.
"We are thrilled our bid was accepted," POST President Audrey Rust said. "Our purchase ensures the opportunity is there for the City of Palo Alto to preserve the scenic entrance to the preserve, and that it isn't obstructed by the construction of a large estate."
The land, situated in the Palo Alto foothills near the west end of Page Mill Road between Highway 280 and Skyline Boulevard, is surrounded by the preserve and fronts the scenic Arastradero road for about one third of a mile. A fire on the property destroyed a home and stable structures totaling 28,000 square feet nearly 17 years ago, and a luxury residence could be built in their place.
"The City of Palo Alto will now have the opportunity to enhance an important recreation area," Rust said. "The city has been trying to protect the land as a part of the preserve since 1991, but hasn't had the resources available to purchase the property."
The purchase will give the city and its residents time to raise money to buy it in three years. POST will work with the city to transfer the property into the preserve.
Once the Bressler property is incorporated into the Arastradero preserve, it will provide convenient recreation access to miles of trails directly across the road from the preserve parking lot. The oak woodlands and rolling grasslands on the land provide habitat for a host of native wildlife, including deer, bobcat, coyotes and many varieties of birds. Native bird and plant restoration projects are currently underway on preserve land adjacent to the property.
POST is a leading private, public benefit land trust dedicated to preserving the beauty and character of the Peninsula's natural resources. Since its founding in 1977, the organization has been responsible for saving over 50,000 acres as permanent open space and parkland in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.