jordan spizike Neverland Could Become a State Park

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Cash-Strapped State Cut Back on Parks Funding
Michael Jackson’s 2 [link widoczny dla zalogowanych],600-acre former estate, which once housed an amusement park - complete with carnival rides, a zoo and a 25-room Tudor mansion - is owned by Colony Capital LLC, a private equity firm. Jackson handed over control of Neverland to Colony Capital for $35 million US, after nearly losing the estate to foreclosure one year before his death in 2009.
Still, Davis’ plan couldn’t have come at a worse time, given California’s current financial crunch. Faced with a $19 billion US deficit, the administration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken drastic steps in recent months to slash wages and social services in hopes of saving money. Lawmakers have also decided to shut down half of the state’s 279 parks on certain days, according to
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Which is why Davis might hit rough seas in garnering support or raising the cash to purchase the estimated $100 US million property and keep the would-be park up and running.
“I think Michael’s history is world history and I think it would become the No. 1 attraction for the state parks if we could pull this off,” said NACCP head Alice Huffman.
Neverland Considered as Jackson’s Final Resting Place
However [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], there’s no indication of a possible deal with Colony Capital at this time. The private equity firm declined comment but the NACCP is backing the proposal.
Democratic lawmaker Mike Davis is hoping to propose a bill when state legislature resumes at the end of August that would urge the California Department of Parks and Recreation to take over Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County.
“Given that we have an economic shortfall… I suspect it would be difficult for the state parks department to purchase the property alone,” Davis was quoted as saying in a recent Canadian Press report. “I am committed to finding out all the details possible to make this a good proposal.” Davis, who also chairs a committee on arts, entertainment, sports, tourism and Internet media, is hoping to secure a public-private partnership.
Ranch Often in the Media Spotlight
Jackson bought the sprawling ranch in 1987 for $17million US and converted it into a child’s fantasy land where underprivileged children were regularly invited to spend time playing with the pop icon. In 2005, Jackson was acquitted on child molestation charges following a highly-publicized trial. He never returned to live at Neverland.
What’s more, opposition from area residents, who are rejecting the idea of a tourist attraction in their quiet country area, could prove to be another potential setback for Davis.
Upon Jackson’s sudden death following a cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009, Colony Capital floated the idea of burying the entertainer at Neverland, seeing a great potential in making the site a tourist draw. The proposal was endorsed by the Jackson family. However [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Jackson was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park near Los Angeles since it would have taken months to get the green light for the zoning changes necessary to turn a private residence into a cemetery.