House

(Do you think this woodcarving resembles Barbra?)


Back in the early 90’s, When Barbra Streisand couldn’t sell her compound in Malibu after five years of trying, she donated the 12 million dollar Ramirez Canyon property to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Barbra purchased the original house and land in 1974 – through the years she added more land until there was a total of four houses and over 22 acres. When she gave it to the city she got a massive tax write-off and never looked back. The Conservancy was grateful, but needed a LOT of money to maintain the houses and lush grounds that include a stream and several bridges. At first the Conservancy rented out the place for weddings and conducted private tours to pay the upkeep. But neighbors (Britney Spears is two houses away) got riled up and banned tours or wedding parties on their private gated street. Now the four once exquisite houses are falling into ruin – rats, water damage, and neglect. Barbra’s pricey leather outdoor furniture is in tatters. The hand carved wood is warping. The grand piano that Paul Simon gave her is out of tune. Without revenue, the conservancy is just letting the houses fall apart and they don’t know WHAT will be done with the property. It’s a sad, wasteful story.