Recent Press

MALT gets its biggest gift ever - $4 million
Marin Independent Journal, Mark Prado
Wednesday, May 1, 2007

The Marin Agricultural Land Trust, which protects West Marin farmland from development, has received its biggest donation ever: a Mill Valley estate valued at some $4 million.

The estate of the late Robert Held, who died Feb. 18, features a classic French Normandy chateau-style home known as "Robin Hill."

Built in the 1920s, the three-bedroom home sits on about one-third of an acre and has views of San Francisco and Mt. Tamalpais and extensive gardens.

MALT will sell the property at 235 Hillside Ave. through McGuire Real Estate and reap the profits, just as Held wanted. MALT buys development rights from farmers, who use the cash for their operations while agreeing not to subdivide.

"This gift comes at a critical time," said Robert Berner, executive director of MALT. "In the next year alone, we hope to acquire agricultural conservation easements on some 5,000 acres of farmland at a cost of about $13 million."

Held was a unique character who frequented MALT events in the past decade, said Elisabeth Ptak, MALT associate director.

Usually alone and always well-dressed, he was known to burst into song in the middle of a conversation.

Born and raised in Chicago, Held moved to New York and became a stage actor.

He moved to San Francisco in the 1960s and to Mill Valley in 1972.

According to his friend and neighbor, John Polhemus, he "surrounded himself with things he loved."

Those many things included antique furniture, jewelry, a collection of Asian and American art and his garden.

"He cherished the garden," said Wendy Barbaria, another friend and the executor of his estate. "He spent from morning until night there, enjoying the views of San Francisco and Mt. Tamalpais."

His exact age at death was unclear; shortly before his death he told MALT officials he was 90, although others said he was younger.

"It's not usual for people to add years to their age," Ptak said. "He was unique and we miss him. His donation is bittersweet."

Held had told MALT officials he would donate his estate.

Founded in 1980, MALT's agricultural easement program has preserved more than 38,000 acres on 58 family farms and ranches, permanently protecting them from subdivision and non-agricultural development.

"His legacy will benefit everyone who counts on MALT to help preserve Marin's rural open space and family farms for future generations," Ptak said.

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