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By Michael Ray
As you drive down Laguna Canyon Road from the 405 freeway , you run into what Laguna used to be : myriad funky uses that create their own ecosystem . Some of it is automotive , like the fix-a-dent shop . Some of them are utilitarian , like the lumber yard ( the real lumber yard , not the restaurant , which I love ). Some of it is retail , restaurants , antiques , the Boys & Girls facility , etc .
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And an exceedingly small portion is where real artists really live and work .
Unfortunately , two facilities that house 20 artists are now at risk . The reason ? The owner , who quite deliberately built the facility to house and cultivate artists , is aging , and the two facilities will probably be sold for estate reasons .
As a collector of art created in Laguna , I know several of the inhabitants , and they are worried . If the two facilities are sold , what will happen ? Surely , most potential new owners would not be so eleemosynary as the current owner ; to them , making a ( big ) buck will be more important than preserving a way of life . That translates into big increases in rents , the substitution of non-artist ( and higher paying ) tenants , or the worst : demolishing all of it and building something---anything---more lucrative .
The issue will be discussed at a city council meeting on April 4 . No one has a solution , but everyone seems determined to help .
Let me offer a few potential suggestions .
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First , any sophisticated buyer will know that 20 artists would form their own lobbying group , which will oppose any change . Plus , each will have at least five friends who will join . What developer in their right mind would want to buy those facilities with such a built-in lobbying group opposing them ? I ask this because if the seller is unsophisticated , the facilities ’ asking price will likely be much higher than any economic return could justify . If the seller is represented by the typical broker , that broker will whisper sweet nothings into the buyer ’ s ears about the potential upside ( and please , I do not demean brokers---that is their job ).
The city could buy the facilities . Hmmm , I don ’ t like this approach because it would put the city into the commercial landlord business , and it would face the unavoidable task of managing the properties . One must then ask , how would the city do it ? Their first instinct would be to create a task force to “ study ” the issue .... and it would fester from there . So , please , not the city , anything but that .
I think the best answer is for a
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private developer ( s ) to buy the facilities , create a non-profit to manage it ( or hire one ), and otherwise let the facilities be ; make no changes except professional maintenance . The city should contribute half the price to demonstrate its support of local artists . Finally , I believe the perfect local developers / landlords would be those who already own substantial properties in Laguna and manifestly have benefited from Laguna ’ s charm . My two picks would be Mark Christy , who owns The Ranch , Hobie and more ; and Joe Hanauer , who owns the Sapphire restaurant shopping center and much more . Both Mark and Joe are of great character and would be wise owners .
Whatever , please do attend the April 4 council meeting or email staff or council members . This opportunity to help our artists should not be ignored . After all , this is the city of the arts . It says so on signs leading into the city .
Michael is a Laguna Beach resident and principal officer emeritus of Laguna Forward PAC .
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Schoolpower PAGE 1
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SchoolPower President Amy Dechary welcomed more than 325 guests in the ballroom , decorated with fresh florals by Gary Samuelian of FLOWER DADDY . A surprise flash mob entertained guests made up of men from the SchoolPower board of trustees joined by LBUSD administrators . Both attendees and supporters from home bid furiously on auction items procured by the SchoolPower board of trustees under the leadership of auction chair Danielle Roedersheimer . The silent auction included jewelry pieces from Frederic H . Rubel , Gorjana and Rock Martin ; a collector Death Star Lego set ; beauty treatments from Laguna Aesthetics and HēBē Skin Health ; and an activity-filled Sunday at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club with Farmers & Merchants Bank . The live auction featured travel and experiences , including getaways to the Big Island of Hawaii , Montage Healdsburg , a private home in Aspen during the X Games , a Nueva Vallarta penthouse , and an In-N-Out Burger party truck , a Monster Jam extravaganza and a VIP Coachella package .
At the podium , SchoolPower Executive Director Sarah Durand highlighted the success of three SchoolPower programs this last year : the enrichment After School Program now coordinated by SchoolPower , the Family Resource Center in partnership with LBUSD and the
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SchoolPower President Amy Francis- Dechary and SchoolPower trustee Paul Dechary at JOY !, SchoolPower ’ s 37th Annual Gala . Photo / Candice Dartez Photography
SchoolPower Grant Program for educators . Grant recipients , including Jacquie Cohn ( TOW ) and Kathleen Margaretich ( El Morro ), Ivonne Redard ( LBUSD ), Jun Shen and Sarah Benson ( LBHS ), Grace Jones ( LBHS ) and Joe Vidal ( TMS ), then spoke of the impact on their students .
“ The gala was really magical ,” attendee and El Morro parent Lauren Boeck said . “ Since we moved here three years ago , I ’ ve appreciated how enthusiastically parents give back . It ’ s been said before that giving is not about making a donation--it ’ s about making a difference . What a huge difference it makes when our Laguna
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Event co-chair Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal and SchoolPower Past President Harpal Sadhal at JOY !, SchoolPower ’ s 37th Annual Gala . Photo / Candice Dartez Photography |
LBHS Principal Jason Allemann , Thurston Principal Joe Vidal and Superintendent Jason Viloria at JOY !, SchoolPower ’ s 37th Annual Gala . Photo / Candice Dartez Photography
community comes together in support of our students . Bryan ( Boeck ’ s husband ) and I are thrilled to support SchoolPower ’ s programs , including teacher grants and the After School Program classes .”
By the end of the night , over $ 220,000 was raised for Laguna Beach students through the fund-a-need and auctions . Tickets are allocated through donations to SchoolPower ’ s annual campaign , which has raised over $ 500,000 in the 2022-2023 school year .
“ What a joyful event ,” Durand said . “ I am so thankful for the team of staff and volunteers who put an extraordinary
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amount of time and energy into executing such a spectacular evening . I am always awed by the incredible generosity of our guests and love seeing the connections that are made when we gather together , united in our support of Laguna Beach students .”
SchoolPower wishes to thank the 2023 Gala sponsors who helped make the event possible , including Greenberg Traurig , Montage International , Angels Baseball Foundation , Fredric H . Rubel , FLOWER DADDY and Coast Film & Music Festival .
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