Settlement paves way for Vail Ranch restoration

| Friday, May 9, 2003 10:00 PM PDT ∞

ROB O'DELL
Staff Writer

TEMECULA ---- A recent settlement allowing for the construction of a Wal-Mart in Redhawk has paved the way for the restoration of the historic Vail Ranch.

Under an agreement between the county and the site's developer, the site that is home to many of the region's historical buildings will finally begin to be restored.

The agreement, which is expected to be approved by the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, will allow for restoration of and commercial development in the historic buildings.

"This is one of the key historic sites. ... It touches on all of the previous segments of Temecula and Southwest County's history," said Supervisor Bob Buster.

Buster said it is more than just the seven historical buildings on the four-acre site, he said that particular piece of land has had a part in so much of the history of Southwest County.

He said it was originally home to Indian trails, which later gave way to Pony Express routes and eventually became the center of Vail Ranch, which encompassed much of the area. A historic Pechanga Indian cemetery also lies on the site.

"It is really the center of old Temecula," Buster said.

Charlotte Fox, of the Temecula Historical Society, said the site's importance goes back to the early 1800s.

It includes such historic buildings as Wolf's Store, a general store built by Louis Wolf, an entrepreneur from Los Angeles, about a century ago. Another building was used as a weather station by the pioneering Vail family on their cattle ranch, Fox added.

In all, seven buildings will be restored under the deal between the county and developer Price Legacy. Under the deal, Price Legacy will dedicate the entire four-acre historic site and six buildings to the county. The county will then lease the site back to Price Legacy for 30 years, with two options for another 19 years.

Price Legacy will then spend $7 million to refurbish the historic site, including rebuilding the structures on the site to make them habitable. At the end of the 49-year lease agreement, the county will have ownership and possession of the entire four-acre property and the restored buildings.

In addition, the developer will sublease the county 1,400 square feet on the site and will get a license to use the entire site for educational purposes. That will allow the Vail Ranch Restoration Association to conduct educational tours on the site, said Darryl Farnbach, president of the association.

In addition, the agreement will give 1,000 square feet to the association to create a visitors center, he said.

The agreement will allow commercial development in the refurbished buildings, along the same lines of what was done in Old Town San Diego, he said.

"It is the most important piece of historical property in the valley," Farnbach said. "The commercial aspect works well in Old Town San Diego, so we don't see why it can't work here."

As part of the deal, the county will also pay $3.2 million to the developer from the sales tax generated at the adjacent Wal-Mart center. The Wal-Mart will be the centerpiece of the $39 million Redhawk Towne Center project on 47 acres along Highway 79 South between Apis Road and Redhawk Parkway.

Many of the stores in the center are open or getting ready to open, but the Wal-Mart was held up by a lawsuit challenging traffic projections. The lawsuit was settled last month, but the terms of the settlement have been sealed.

Contact staff writer Rob O'Dell at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or at rodell@californian.com.

5/10/03