American Beauty Homes

Long suffering owners of units at Canyon Oaks Condominiums have received a $12-million out-of-court settlement to their suit charging the condo developer used substandard construction techniques and materials. American Beauty Homes built the 752-unit Canyon Country complex in the mid-1980s. The suit by condo owners was filed in 1990. Originally known as American Beauty Condominiums, the units were sold by the developer for $59,000 to $79,000.

Long suffering owners of units at Canyon Oaks Condominiums have received a $12-million out-of-court settlement to their suit charging the condo developer used substandard construction techniques and materials. American Beauty Homes built the 752-unit Canyon Country complex in the mid-1980s. The suit by condo owners was filed in 1990. Originally known as American Beauty Condominiums, the units were sold by the developer for $59,000 to $79,000.

Two Los Angeles-area home builders have sued First Nationwide Financial Corp., alleging that the San Francisco-based savings and loan is attempting to sabotage their operations by seizing control of thousands of single-family home lots in Southern California.

Two Los Angeles-area home builders have sued First Nationwide Financial Corp., alleging that the San Francisco-based savings and loan is attempting to sabotage their operations by seizing control of thousands of single-family home lots in Southern California.

Jack Shine, chairman of the board and CEO of American Beauty Homes in Encino, has been elected president of the California Building Industry Assn. (CBIA). Shine is a past president of the Building Industry Assn. of Southern California, which named him "Builder of the Year" in 1991. He is also past president of the L.A. County Music and Performing Arts Commission and is a board member of the L.A. Music Center Opera Co.

At least four Santa Clarita Valley developers have eased their opposition to new school taxes and signed agreements that will raise at least $7 million for new schools. Although the California Building Industry Assn., which represents most developers in the valley, is opposing the taxes in court, some developers have agreed to pay the school districts rather than continue to fight.

A committee of business leaders and two major developers in the Santa Clarita Valley said Monday that it may be time to ask voters to approve a special tax to finance badly needed road improvements. The committee is studying a proposal, still in its infancy, that calls for the creation of an assessment district that would raise funds for improvements by imposing an extra fee on property tax bills.

Bowing to pressure from business leaders and developers, the city of Santa Clarita has backed away from taking over two county-run sanitation districts that serve most of the Santa Clarita Valley. The City Council rejected the takeover 3 to 2 late Tuesday after hearing testimony from opponents who feared the move would result in higher sewer fees and give the city a means to control growth in outlying areas.

As a resident of Canyon Country, I am against plans to build a new airport in the Baker Canyon area. The flight path of the proposed airport is over three elementary schools--Pinetree, Sulphur Springs and Mitchell. Baker Canyon is a brush area, prone to fires, and its terrain does not make firefighting easy. Even a minor plane crash could destroy large housing tracts--Pinetree, Timberlane, American Beauty, Garden Homes, and others--only half a mile from Baker Canyon. Those tracts are nice, quiet places to live and raise a family.

CANYON COUNTRY: Phase 1 of Carriage Homes at Canyon Park, 51 of 264 2-3-bedroom townhouses; 3 plans with 1,324-1,539 square feet; $157,995-$183,995; builder, American Beauty Homes; early 1991 move-ins; $137 monthly association dues for pools, spas, cabanas; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at 18126 Flynn Drive, reached from northbound Via Princessa exit of Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.