Save The Hollywood Sign!

Filed under: Politik

A Chicago-based investment group, Fox River Financial Services, put up 138 acres of land above and to the left of the 45-foot-high "H" of LA's beloved HOLLYWOOD sign for sale last month for $22 million.

Residents are afraid mansions will be built there and will spoil the sign's uncluttered, postcard-perfect backdrop.

Also, there's concern that if some big private owner snaps up the land it may no longer be accessible to the hikers and sightseers who often climb the hill for solitude and a panoramic view of the Los Angeles basin.

LA Councilman Tom LaBonge is leading residents in a fight to protect the land.

"That is our Eiffel Tower. There is the Hollywood sign. There is the open space. And that's all there is. This is ours and it should remain ours," stated LaBonge.

We were shocked to hear the news! We always assumed all the land around the sign was protected by some historical landmark preservation ruling.

But, turns out the land was actually owned by the late billionaire Howard Hughes. Those Chicago based investors 'quietly' purchased the property from Hughes' estate for $1.7 million in 2002. Based on the bargain-basement price paid by the investors, the report asserts that the Hughes estate's trustees were probably unaware of what it was worth or too busy managing the billionaire's vast holdings to care.

Smells fishy to us! The investors bought the land for $1.7 million and are now selling it for $22 million?!

Ironically, the Hollywood sign was erected to drum up business for a real estate developer.

Who cares though, right?

It's one of the few things that defines the LA area, so let's help keep it the way it is!

[Image via Mavrix Online.]

Posted: Apr 17, 2008 at 8:40 pm / Email this »

See All 106 Comments

106 comments to “Save The Hollywood Sign!”

More comments: [1] 2 »

kate says – reply to this

1

first?

SAVE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
Alissa says – reply to this

2

1
Jaxson says – reply to this

3

Save the sign! its sexy!
Minneapolis says – reply to this

4

first
Yelena says – reply to this

5

first-wow how sad
Naked Missionaries says – reply to this

6

Don't mess with the sign dude!
anony says – reply to this

7

5th"?
vicki says – reply to this

8

first

so is there anything we can do???
jujube says – reply to this

9

SAVE HOLLYWOOD SIGN!!! i have yet to climb it and shiz!
daniel radcliffe fan #1 says – reply to this

10

i would like to visit hollywood
jordd says – reply to this

11

oyy !!
i
moony says – reply to this

12

first bitches!!
Tati says – reply to this

13

what can we do Perez???????
masd@hotmail.com says – reply to this

14

hey first
David says – reply to this

15

first!
.i-ti.child. says – reply to this

16

save the sign!!!!
Rini says – reply to this

17

Nooo! Being from LA, I really love the Hollywood sign. It's a sign of home. I'd hate for anything to happen to the area around it or the sign itself. =[
josy says – reply to this

18

i do care!
v says – reply to this

19

yo
yo says – reply to this

20

first
ail says – reply to this

21

uhoh
Lee says – reply to this

22

almost first
loveyq says – reply to this

23

loves it
R says – reply to this

24

FIRST! and this is crazy!
RussB says – reply to this

25

If people want to save it they should do what other people do and buy it! If it is worth saving it is worth paying for.
rich says – reply to this

26

Yo Perez……this is news……months ago!

Get your head out of your ass.

Save the Hollywood sign? You sheep are idiots. There is absolutely no way the sign will ever be taken down.
katie says – reply to this

27

so save the sign
Beatriz says – reply to this

28

OMG!!! how can we get some signatures going to save our HOLLYWOOD? I can't believe it's people aren't commenting!!! Hello is our HOLLYWOOD sign and VIEW!?!?!?!?!?!??
anonymous says – reply to this

29

I hope they don't tear it down!!!!! I grew up in Hollywood & have the best memories….the city won't be the same without the sign.
meg says – reply to this

30

THIS IS AMERICA. The owners have the right to sell it. HOWEVER, WHY DON'T YOU ALL START A FUND AND RAISE 22 MILLION TO BUY IT, THEN DONATE IT TO THE STATE FOR PARK LAND! EASY TO SOLVE! RAISE THE MONEY!!
Lounge says – reply to this

31

Keanu Reeves lives in the very last house just before the HOLLYWOOD sign, It's little 3 bedroom house on the left.
Bella says – reply to this

32

Sorry…for those of us that DON'T live in the L.A. area, let alone Cali, well, sorry, but we've got "issues" of our own in our own locales. A tourist attraction is the least of my worries when my own state is in a recession…
barf says – reply to this

33

fuck hollywood……….LA SUCKS!!
barf says – reply to this

34

and fuck you beatriz….get a fucking life, take that sign and shove it up your pussuy bitch!!
Kate says – reply to this

35

The Hollywood sign CAN'T be torn down so some rich people can live on the hill. Hello, go find another hill in, like, the Caribbean! You're rich! You can afford it!
PEREZ YOU'RE GOSSIP IS LAME says – reply to this

36

PEREZ where's the dish on the purported tomkat split?? You never have the insdie scoop anymore!!!
chris says – reply to this

37

who cares perez? boring story.
nooo says – reply to this

38

NO SAVE THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN!!!
IVE NEVER BEEN TO LA AND IM GOING NEXT YEAR SOMETIME AND I WANT TO SEE THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN THE WAY IT IS AND SHOULD BE!
WE NEED TO START A PETITION OR SOMETHING!
cowtowncowboy says – reply to this

39

If you wanna save it, get a group together and become the high bidder. Otherwise deal with it. But you should not expect other people to do it for your lazy asses. What are you, fucking democrats! Always generous with other people's money
eric says – reply to this

40

who cares? l.a. never had any respect for their history anyway….let's put a parking lot and a mini mall there.
haha says – reply to this

41

Knock that fucking ugly eye sore down
Kim M says – reply to this

42

Fakery, Jews, Divorce, Smog, Traffic, Sin, Drugs, closet gays, Filth and silly Liberal politics is what defines the L.A. Area…..Please give me a break.
Kim M says – reply to this

43

Re: cowtowncowboy –
Yes, they are Democrats…Notice WE are posting and reading after work hours, while they are all home all day working the system. Pfft. They'd never think to come up with the money for an offer. What money?
dizzy says – reply to this

44

you know what else defines the LA area? fake orange skin, plastic tits, and ugly dyed hair.
Kim M says – reply to this

45

Re: nooo –
Oh calm down….rookie. It'll be too smoggy to see it anyways and you'll be so transfixed on trying to spot Lauren Conrad on the streets that you will forget about it.
Kim M says – reply to this

46

Re: dizzy –
and Sex tapes, Mexicans and desperation too!
kay says – reply to this

47

i'm curious to know what the Hollywood Sign Trust has to say about possible development. they are in charge of maintaining the sign and i thought the area around it.
oscar says – reply to this

48

well, seeing as the only people who really care are the famewhore hollywood celebs that make millions, why not have all of the celebs pony up some cash to save their "beloved" sign!!!
Kelly says – reply to this

49

perez the land was not "quietly" purchased. The city of LA couldn't raise a paultry competing bid and lost the parcel fair and square in a lengthy and public process that involved city officials the entire time. Now they scream but they sat there while anybody had a chance to affect the outcome. Tough. Vote.
Ted says – reply to this

50

Develop the goddamned land, it is California, and that view is great, it is worth a lot of money. Embrace change, nothing has been around out there long enough to be historic anyways. Goddamned liberals who dont understand the world…
AMERICA IS SHIT!!! says – reply to this

51

Who cares? America is shit and so are all Americans.

DEATH TO AMERICAN SCUM
BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND
RUIN ALL THEIR LANDMARKS
KILL BURN BOMB DOOM TO AMERICA
DEATH TO AMERICAN SCUM
BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND
RUIN ALL THEIR LANDMARKS
KILL BURN BOMB DOOM TO AMERICA
DEATH TO AMERICAN SCUM
BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND
RUIN ALL THEIR LANDMARKS
KILL BURN BOMB DOOM TO AMERICA
DEATH TO AMERICAN SCUM
BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND
RUIN ALL THEIR LANDMARKS
KILL BURN BOMB DOOM TO AMERICA
DEATH TO AMERICAN SCUM
BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND
RUIN ALL THEIR LANDMARKS
KILL BURN BOMB DOOM TO AMERICA
DEATH TO AMERICAN SCUM
BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND
RUIN ALL THEIR LANDMARKS
KILL BURN BOMB DOOM TO AMERICA
James says – reply to this

52

$1.7 Million for 138 acres of prime Hollywood real estate? How in the world does someone score a deal like that? It's unbelievable.
G3RM@N says – reply to this

53

THAT FUCKING SIGN NEEDS TO REMAIN WHEREVER THE FUCK IT IS. I WILL KILL WHOEVER TAKES IT DOWN. AND THATS A PROMISE.
Haleigh says – reply to this

54

Thats awful
Lakisha says – reply to this

55

GO CHICAGO!!!
WTF says – reply to this

56

So buy it then, winers.
v says – reply to this

57

i have a good source who is on the hollywood sign committee that told me they have been working on buying the land for several months now since it was put up for sale in late 07. there's really no reason for worrying- they're already signing a check and keeping the land undeveloped.
Hans says – reply to this

58

Sounds fishy that they could get it that cheap. Are you sure there's no zoning restrictions against building in the area?
AMO says – reply to this

59

Allow me to shed a tear… who gives a shit? That sign is wasting good land.
MonkeyMan says – reply to this

60

I'm going to Los Angeles for the first time in June… they'd better not fuck up the sign before I get there!
chelso says – reply to this

61

when is the building everywhere going to stop? it's getting a little bit crazy
chelso says – reply to this

62

what can we do?????
wtf says – reply to this

63

Re: chelso – They'll stop building when we stop procreating.
dbski4it says – reply to this

64

What can we do? You can get your fucking check book out. This is America! Our country is founded on the rule of law. Law as in the right to own property and do with it as you like. Buy the land and then donate it to the City of LA
kittykat says – reply to this

65

um, dont care, hollywood sure as hell doesnt care about me. let the celebrtards who make all the money buy it if they really cared.
Amy says – reply to this

66

Not being from LA, I always found the Hollywood sign tacky. I don't want the land to be developed but I wouldn't mind if the sign was taken down. It's really ugly.
Cassie says – reply to this

67

Chicago!
Missy says – reply to this

68

Nah!
Give it to Kansas, Thay could us the tourism!
Huggz, Missy.
Eminent Domain says – reply to this

69

If it was YOUR land, you'd be really unhappy if someone said YOU couldn't sell it. They can move the sign if they have to- or you can raise the money to buy the property. But half the sign fell down years ago- the "LAND" part at the end of it. No one seemed to much care then. It's kitschy- but if you want it you should start collecting money to pay the landowners what is fair.
Jenny says – reply to this

70

"It's one of the few things that defines the LA area"

Oh my god, it's one of the few things that defines the USA area for a European! I mean, the first things that pop into my head when I think about America's landmarks are Cran Canyon, the Statue of Liberty and the Hollywood sign! It would be pure, extreme idiocy to do something about it.
:) says – reply to this

71

they can't get rid of the hollywood sign!! that thing is legendary!!
... says – reply to this

72

what kind of american thinks the hollywood sign is 'tacky'? shit.
HARMONY says – reply to this

73

FIRST
WE HAVE TO SAVE THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN.I HAVENT SEEN IT .CLOSE UP.WE UP TO PROTEST PEOPLE.ITS A LANDMARK.SAD FACE
truth says – reply to this

74

WHAT HOWARD H I WANT PROOF SIGHN HAS NEEDED UP KEEP FOR YEARS what is the rumpus now ohhhhhhhmabe brad pittless can save it with ah well i guess she is awomen you know what bore a baby she is never seen with,what is up with that
Trevor says – reply to this

75

Tear the ugly thing down. Why can't Americans distinguish what is tacky & what is not? This is one of the things that separates them from we Europeans.
cincykid says – reply to this

76

IDIOTS- THE SIGN CAN"T BE TORN DOWN BECAUSE THEY DIDN"T SELL THE SIGN, THEY SOLD THE LAND NEXT TO AND ABOVE THE SIGN.
NO ONE IS GOING TO TEAR DOWN THE SIGN BECAUSE THEY LEGAL CANT.
the big concern here is the fact that the site would be obscured by homes being built around the sign. god people read the post and the news before you start freaking out.
E says – reply to this

77

Perez,

I know from interacting with you many times that you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but on this topic I completely agree with you. I live just below the Hollywood sign and hike and jog in the hills around the sign nearly every day. It's such a beautiful place beyond the symbolism for LA and the entertainment industry. The comment from V sounds much more informed than you, Perez, about this subject and I hope V is right about development being restricted in this area.

Bronson Canyon is one of the most gorgeous spots in LA and this Spring has been chock full of clear, smog-free days on which I've been able to see all the way to Catalina from just below the sign, so changes to this beautiful area would be heartbreaking.

Thanks for drawing attention to this potential problem.
sexy says – reply to this

78

well i am sure there are lots of richies out there and if one of them were to purchase it it would be a good publicity stunt and not to mention make them popular to the 'common folk' perhaps Victoria Beckham should buy it and please all of LA and say this is a gift for all you precious Hollywood people.
sexy says – reply to this

79

Buy it for the people of Hollywood and become that Saint of a Rich person.
Remification says – reply to this

80

'Rezzers, I hate to say it, but you totally dropped the ball on this one……you've made such great strides as of late to draw attention to various charitable foundations etc. and you've always reminded your audience of how important it is to make your voice heard — most especially when it pertains to voting for our elected officials…to that end, I implore you to please add an update to this post with local elected officals's contact info so that those against this potential development ccan let their voices be heard…otherwise, keep up the good work…
papa bear says – reply to this

81

liberal government at it's finest. Fuck up then cry foul.
LaBonge: if you wanted to keep it open, pay for the fucking land, dick lick. It's not like you couldn't have strolled down to city hall to check out who owned it. You fucked up. Now you are at the mercy of whoever bought dumbfuck.
Oh and Perez, there is nothing that is irreplaceable in LA. Pretty much nothing is older than 50 years old.
TC says – reply to this

82

Re: Trevor – Well…and apparently calling your allies names is so above us Americans. Not very sophisticated, I dare say…aren't you supposed to be sophisticated, too???
mag says – reply to this

83

Maybe someone should involve Hugh Hefner. Hefner was involve in sponsering one of the letters financially when preservation of the Hollywood sign was going on. Maybe he's be interested in buying the land and keeping it as a park for the hikers. Besides, there are plenty of others interested in historical preservation (like Hefner is) that he could get to go in on this with him to help defray some of the finanacial impact. Just a thought…….
RED says – reply to this

84

C'mon Perez, you wouldn't know what fish smells like you like cock!
Kara Lee says – reply to this

85

SAVE THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN!!!
Fo Realz says – reply to this

86

What has the Hollywood sign ever done for ME?
Mary Pickford's Ghost says – reply to this

87

I say that if these Pollacks from Chicago touch the Hollywood sign, we go stright into Chicago and blow up Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower! Unless they have a big Chicago sign on one of the many scenic hills that surround Chicago?
Hollywood Girl says – reply to this

88

Calm down. I live right under the Hollywood sign and can tell you with confidence that homes will NEVER be built around it. 1) the city wont allow it, 2) even if they did, the local residents would block it. Even empty lots between houses already built, lower in the hills, are amazingly hard to develop because the codes, restrictions and neighborhood preservation groups are SO tough. 22 Million would not even be worth it to the developer because he'd have to pay so much to fight the injunctions and other various legal battles that would be waged. The developer will probably just sell the land back to the city for a reasonalbe amount and consider himself lucky to get it. Chill, babies. Chill.
Stalker Alert says – reply to this

89

Please don't bother the nice people in the house that that jerkhole says is Keanu Reeves, it's NOT. I don't know if he ever lived there, but he does not live there now. That asshole is playing a joke on all of you Keanu fans. Who, btw, would probably be too cool to pester the homeowners anyway.
becky says – reply to this

90

In my book it will always say "west bev '93"
Sue says – reply to this

91

Every time I see this sign, all I can think of is Pam Anderson getting her carpet munched behind it…in her book….you all read her book, right?
nacho says – reply to this

92

i have no problem with them selling this.
all the movie studios should get together and buy it. afterall, they're the ones who have made billions over the decades off hollywood.
MARACANAZO1950 says – reply to this

93

This is a focused attack. They want to break america and its dollar along with it the goverment is preparing this is physcological Warfare…this is done all to hurt you ladies and Gentillmen…

Know Laugh Buildergberg,Rockerfeller,etc you laugh!

Perez lets turn the heat up on these people…..Why does Evil have to win….Somebody has to have the courage!

Fed tax illegal this os for the Ultra Elite…you think Madona is big She a spec compared to these People.

Facing realty is tough isnt it!
markyboy says – reply to this

94

It is a national landmark. The government should but it and let the National Park Service maintain it. This is something all Americans should be proud of.
markyboy says – reply to this

95

Re: Remification – Right on dude. This is exactly the thing for Perez to do. Good Thinking ! He should hire you !
tq says – reply to this

96

Hugh Heffner should buy that!!
Pisser says – reply to this

97

Fuck you Hilton. It's their land, they can do what they want with it.
T Lah says – reply to this

98

Fuck this shit!! That's ours!! Yo Perez what can we do??
t Lah says – reply to this

99

Re: AMERICA IS SHIT!!! – Re: AMERICA IS SHIT!!! –

Fuck you.
t Lah says – reply to this

100

We cannot let this happen!! That sign is apart of each and every person who live here and/or from here. IT'S L.A.'S HEARTBEAT.

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