Timeline

There is much evidence that the Tongva Tribe lived in this rural area nestled in the Verdugo Mountains.

At the outbreak of World War II, the CCC camp was converted into the Tuna Canyon Detention Station to imprison Japanese, German, and Italian immigrants considered (without evidence) to be threats to U.S. national security.

A group of doctors formed a partnership to purchase the land that would become the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. The course opened in June 1960. The partnership was designed to dissolve upon the death of the last doctor.

From 2005 to 2009, the property continued to be run as a 3-par golf course and driving range.

In 2005, the public became aware of the change of ownership and plans to remove the golf course and more densely develop the property. Through much work at each stage, including the environmental review process, the public made known it did not support such a change.

On June 25th, the City Council voted to designate an acre of oak trees for HCM status and the Tuna Canyon Detention Station site became Historic Cultural Monument #1039.

The Council in the same action established a working group to begin the process of memorializing TCDS.  This group eventually became the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition.

Snowball West Investments, the owner of the property filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles to remove the HCM designation. That lawsuit was dismissed and thus the historic designation stands.

The owner filed applications with the City for numerous approvals needed for the construction of its planned 215 housing units. All were approved, but on December 12, 2019, the City Council denied the zone change. In response, Snowball West filed a lawsuit against the City. The Superior Court rejected the lawsuit and Snowball West filed an appeal. That appeal is still pending.

Representatives of MWD Development attended the STNC Design Advisory Committee (later called Land Use Committee) meetings to promote the development and soliciting suggestions for architecture design and color palettes.  Committee and community members considered this premature and said so.

Late in the year, a small group of foothill community members from Sunland-Tujunga, La Crescenta and Glendale gathered to organize the Verdugo Hills Golf Course Committee (VHGC Committee).  Their goal:  to preserve the VHGC, its recreation, surrounding native habitat, and history, as well as avoid the negative environmental impacts that would result from a residential and/or commercial development at the corner of Tujunga Canyon Blvd/La Tuna Canyon Rd/Honolulu Ave.

In May, City of L.A. Councilmember Wendy Greuel learned that then Sacramento Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes had introduced a bill, AB 212, which would have directly benefited MWH Development and Snowball West Investments.

The bill, created at the behest of Mark Handel/MWH Development, would have violated the City’s “home rule” and inserted State authority over local land use matters.  AB212 would have forced the City of LA to grant a zoning change within the parameters set by a current zoning law, even if that law was not in compliance with the City’s general plan.

Greuel launched a vigorous lobbying effort on behalf of the City and Fuentes was forced to withdraw the bill before it went to a vote.   This episode raised further questions in the minds of community members as to the credibility of the developer and property owner.

In October, Michael Hoberman and his attorney, Fred Gaines, addressed the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee.   Hoberman stated that he inherited the project from MWH Development, implying that he was the new owner of the property and had not been involved with Handel (notwithstanding the fact that his name was on the original documents).

The LA Citizens Oversight Advisory Committee (COAC) voted to add the Verdugo Hills Storm Water Project to the Prop O funding queue.

In October, having learned about the federal grant possibilities for the site that required local designation, then City Councilmember Richard Alarcon proposes the Tuna Canyon Detention Station for Historic Cultural Monument (HCM) status.

After the City amended and recirculated portions of the EIR, the City Planning Commission held a hearing on the matter. The community vigorously opposed certification of the EIR and approval of the tract map. Councilmember Rodriguez also opposed the approval. However, the LA City Planning Commission certified the EIR, approved the vesting tentative tract map for 215 units and recommended approval of the vesting zone change.

The owner filed applications with the City for numerous approvals needed for the construction of its planned 215 housing units. All were approved, but on December 12, 2019, the City Council denied the zone change. In response, Snowball West filed a lawsuit against the City. The Superior Court rejected the lawsuit and Snowball West filed an appeal. That appeal is still pending.