The Issue - Let Laguna Live!

The Mandatory Ordinance Problem

Any home or building in Laguna Beach 70 years old or older will automatically be subject to historic evaluation. Owners may have to hire a historian to prove to the city that their property is not “historic” to do simple remodels or make other changes to the property.

The Voluntary Inclusion Solution

Let Laguna Live! wants a voluntary, incentive-based Historic Preservation Program. Implementation of financial and planning incentives to promote long-term appreciation and preservation of historic resources is the right way to preserve historic properties in our community.

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Selected Articles About The Issue

My South Laguna cottage: How I regained my property rights

My house was built around 1930 by my family. It was fondly called the barn, because it really was. Not much was ever done on the interior. It was a single-wall construction summer cottage. No indoor shower, no phone, sub wood floors, no heater, no interior doors except for the bathrooms. Over the years, the…

City Council Passes Voluntary Historic Preservation Ordinance

Congratulations to you all for the huge step toward freeing your homes from the burdens of involuntary historic designations and accompanying restrictions. Without our steady voices and support in over 30 public hearings conducted since 2016, this could have gone a different way. But we hung in, and the City Council passed the ordinance at…

4 Comments

Garnet PIgden on January 24, 2017 at 6:57 am

I object to my property being classified as a historic property and being encumbered with certain restrictions. None of these restrictions were in place when I purchased this property in 1997. Further, I except that the net result of this classification will be a decrease in property value for there is no incentive – only a disincentive – for a homeowner to posses a historic home.

David Michelsen on January 25, 2017 at 7:37 pm

I’m OK with a city Historic Preservation Ordinance. What I’m not OK with is the language and processes being discussed in this current Preservation Ordinance. Some people want to preserve their vision of ‘character’. Fine. Just do not trample on the rights of others to maintain that vision.

Roy on August 22, 2017 at 5:13 pm

The city required me to install “like for like” windows for my “C” rated house. Then the “like for like” windows were required to became double pane, tempered glass window. I don’t know of any double pane window made in 1928. This tripled the cost of the windows that are not “LIKE FOR LIKE”. I spent a lot of time finding someone to make the windows because they are unique.

Taryn Tennant on January 1, 2018 at 9:16 am

After my mother passed away we found out her house is on the historical list. We learned we cannot add a single square foot to the home when we wanted to enclose the laundry area which is currently outside. This is ridiculous. I understand preserving character but it also needs to allow for keeping up with modern times as well. Just learning about these requirements and would greatly appreciate any updates or assistance by those in this group.

Let Laguna Live!

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