Private Land Conservancy Buys Prime Chunk of Coastal Property

PACIFICA, CA-A private land conservancy yesterday scooped up a prime piece of coastal property outside Pacifica. The Trust for Public Land obtained the 105-acre tract at Mori Point with a $3.3 million bid at an auction in Burlingame. It will transfer the property to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as soon as possible to recoup its costs and go after other parcels.

The property is home to two endangered species, the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. There were three other bidders for the property, who reportedly did not reveal their intentions. Developers have eyed the property since the 1970s for myriad projects including a 230-unit condominium park, a 275-room hotel, a convention center, a residential community and, more recently, a casino.

The property was auctioned by state Superior Court, which acquired control through a bankruptcy. It recently ordered the sale of the parcel to cover claims brought against it. The trust’s transfer of the property to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is contingent on passage of a bill now before Congress that would expand the boundaries of the recreation area by 1,000 acres.