Beverly Hills taxpayers may face millions of dollars in new real estate spending if the City Council moves forward with the purchase of two adjacent properties on South Robertson Boulevard near the city's southern border.

City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey negotiated on behalf of the city during a closed session on Tuesday, June 9, at City Hall, according to the meeting agenda. The council discussed buying 401 South Robertson Boulevard from GRL Partnership and 419 South Robertson Boulevard from Page Academy, the private preschool that has operated at that address since 1908, according to the school's website.

The 401 South Robertson parcel is a 15,836-square-foot vacant lot at the corner of Robertson and West Olympic Boulevard. A commercial listing from WESTMAC Commercial Brokerage Company prices the property at $7,125,000, though the city's negotiating position has not been disclosed.

Next door, 419 South Robertson houses Page Academy's Beverly Hills campus, which serves infants through age 5 and is run by fourth-generation family member Kristin Dickson, M.Ed. The city has not said what it would do with either property if purchased.

The council also discussed amending its lease with United Talent Agency at 331 Foothill Road. Beverly Hills owns the building and has leased space to UTA since November 2021. The talent agency now occupies three floors, paying $20,124 per month for its most recent expansion space as of August 2022, with 3.5% annual increases. That lease runs through October 31, 2032. The specific terms of the proposed amendment have not been made public.

The city's interest in 401 South Robertson dates back months. The Real Estate Committee discussed the same property at a special meeting on Tuesday, January 6, but at that time the negotiating party was listed as Century Beverly Hills LLC / ETCO Homes Inc., not GRL Partnership. Why the negotiating party changed is not explained in public records.

No outcomes from the June 9 closed session have been publicly reported. Under California's Brown Act, closed session results must be disclosed only when a final action is taken.

The next Beverly Hills City Council regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 7. Residents can submit public comment by calling (310) 288-2288 or emailing [email protected].