The town has requested $500,000 from the California State Coastal Conservancy to complete the land preservation campaign.
Fairfax is vying for a $500,000 grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy to purchase a 100-acre tract known as the Wall property to preserve as open space.
The Town Council unanimously authorized the mayor to send a letter to the agency requesting the grant on April 3.
The town has been collaborating with the county and the Marin Open Space Trust to acquire the property for $2.35 million. The land, which is north of downtown, offers sweeping views of Mount Tamalpais and is a popular site for wildlife, hikers and dog walkers.
Mayor Barbara Coler said the letter validated the town’s commitment to overseeing the property.
“We are working very hard with Marin Open Space Trust and the county to complete due diligence and move forward toward the acquisition soon,” Coler said. “The entire community is really engaged in this. “
Bill Long, chair of the trust’s board, said the grant would provide the last funds needed to complete the purchase. Funds for the effort have been acquired through private donations and a commitment from the county, he said.
“For years the people of Fairfax have hiked and biked on this property. It is in danger of being developed and closed to the public,” Long said. “They want to maintain access to this open space that is right in the heart of the community.”
Long said additional funds would likely have to be raised for the remediation of the property because of concerns about landslides.
Chance Cutrano, a Fairfax councilmember assigned to a subcommittee on the project, said representatives of the Coastal Conservancy had been invited to visit the site to “see how important the property is for our community in Fairfax.”
“There really has been an incredible outpouring from all sorts of different parts of our community in Fairfax and the greater Ross Valley in support of this acquisition,” he said. “I think it’s honestly another one of these remarkable examples of the power of partnership. We’re really bringing together a lot of valuable and experienced partners to help this community realize this dream of an open acquisition.”
Taylor Samuelson, communications director for the Coastal Conservancy, said it could not comment because the grant request had not yet been reviewed by the agency’s board.
Two fundraisers are planned, said Susan Pascal Beran, chair of Fairfax Open Space Committee.
Information on the project will be part of an Earth Day event set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in Bolinas Park. Another event, called “BioBlitz,” will feature curated guides and environmental presentations on the Wall property from 10 a.m. to noon on April 27.
“The fundraisers are important because we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire the crown jewel of open space in Fairfax,” said Pascal Beran.
The property was first sold by Alan Wall for $1.75 million to a group of investors headed by Mill Valley developer Marshal Rothman in 2013. Rothman planned to build homes on the property but struggled to secure approval from the town. His limited liability company used to purchase the property defaulted on its loan and ultimately declared bankruptcy.
The property reverted to the lender at auction in 2023. According to county assessor’s office, the property is owned by Marinda Heights LLC, which is controlled by Sequoia Mortgage Capital Inc. Owner Jason Freskos approached the town about purchasing the property, officials said.
