Point Reyes Light - October 21, 1999
Marconi Cove and Nicholas Turkey Ranch are the latest big, commercial properties to sell
In two complicated real estate transactions two weeks ago, Marshall's Marconi Cove marina and ranch sold for $1.4 million and Dillon Beach's defunct Nicholas Turkey Farm sold for $1 million.
Both properties had been on the market for some time, and in 1992, a group of Pomo Indians from Cloverdale created a furor when they briefly proposed developing a hotel on the 363-acre Marconi Property. Among those who objected were Coastal Miwok Indians, who noted the site is in the center of their traditional territory.
This month, the Marconi Cove property sold in two purchases, said attorney Neil Bloomfield of Fairfax.
Dillon Vision Limited Liability Company, a new venture, bought the seven bayfront acres, said Bloomfield. He declined to identify the investors. "I'm their lawyer," said Bloomfield, and they are "protective of their privacy."
Along with a marina, a recreational-vehicle campground operated for 10 to 15 years, ending around 1980, said Morgan Noble of Belvedere, one of the sellers. Noble, a retired harbor engineer, said he built the marina in 1965.
The sellers, Marina Developers, consisted of Noble, David Fraser, Norman Gamble, and their families. The marina property has 1,540 feet of bay frontage and is one of the very few sites along the coast that is zoned for coastal recreation, such as a resort.
Noble will retain two small bayfront parcels immediately south of the marina.
As part of the deal, Dillon Vision Ltd. bought 150 acres across Highway 1 from the marina. The property, which includes a lake and waterfall, is now being rented by rancher Ray Gallagher for grazing beef cattle.
Immediately south of the 150 acres is a 207-acre parcel, which Ken Frankel of Ross, a real estate broker and contractor, bought at the same time. Bloomfield is Frankel's business associate, client, lawyer, and real estate broker.
Frankel this week said he will keep his 207 acres in some kind of agriculture, but he - like Bloomfield - said they prefer forms of agriculture that don't involve slaughtering animals. Frankel told The Light his philosophy has been shaped by Tibetan Buddhism.
The second property to change hands was the 200-acre farm in Dillon Beach which Frankel bought from the Nicholas family. The farm produced eggs for turkey breeders until about 10 years ago.
Frankel, who bought the property, which includes 130,000 square feet of agricultural buildings, has given Bloomfield a long-term lease to the site.
Bloomfield told The Light Tuesday he plans to grow organic mushrooms in some of the buildings. He said he was in "very advanced discussions with Gourmet Mushrooms of Sebastopol," which sells mushrooms to restaurants.
In addition, Bloomfield said, he plans to grow orchids in some of the buildings. But with so much square footage available, Bloomfield and Frankel are looking for "several other agricultural subtenants," said the attorney. He invited those interested to call him at his San Rafael office, 454-2294.
Bloomfield said his family, including his wife Sheri and daughter Erica Hava Lang, will move to the Dillon Beach ranch where they will also raise horses, including four miniatures.
The attorney said his daughter won the reserve championship in Western Pleasure Riding last year. She now has a new horse "to make a run on the world championship," he added.
Bloomfield said he will call his home the "Dillon Vision Ranch," as opposed to the Dillon Vision Limited Liability Company at Marconi.
As for the Marconi Cove site, the attorney invited West Marin residents to call him with suggestions for his clients. A small inn or resort may be built on the marina property, he said, but "no decisions have been made."
Because the many buyers and sellers had differing ideas, the transactions were extremely complex, all parties agreed. Noble gave particular credit to the Leading Edge real estate company in Tomales and Petaluma for working out the deals.
Scott Murphy of Leading Edge said the Marconi Cove buyers "know the political environment" of West Marin. Referring to that portion of the property inland of Highway 1, Murphy said, "All it's ever going to be is a farm."
Frankel said neither he nor Bloomfield expects to make large amounts of money from the purchases, but "we both are interested in this being financially successful and emotionally rewarding."
Frankel, who described himself as a 1960s hippie musician who played on occasion with Jerry Garcia, owned the Cotati Cabaret from 1980 to 1990. Bloomfield, who described himself as "a surfer," owned a second home in Bolinas until August, 1998.
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