INSIDE CITY HALL HUSCROFT HOUSE The...

INSIDE CITY HALL

HUSCROFT HOUSE

The decrepit house, perched on blocks in a local park, may still

have a chance at rehabilitation after the City Council vote Monday to

postpone the issue for another month.

Council members voted to delay a decision for one more month to

allow the city to negotiate with one of the bidders for the now

infamous Huscroft House.

Two proposals have been received from private parties interested

in buying and relocating the 1920s craftsman-style home. Michael

Steiner, of Steiner Investments, said he has the wherewithal to move

and restore the house, but would need about six months to find and

buy a property to put it on.

John Morehart, of 126 Properties LLC, said he was interested in

moving the house to his Westside lot, but his plan would require a

city-issued zoning change. His 12,000-square-foot lot is already

occupied by two single-family homes and two townhomes. Morehart wants

to demolish the front home and replace it with the Huscroft House.

Morehart also proposed that the city pay to move the house, which

officials estimate would cost about $41,000.

Demolition, the other alternative, would cost the city $35,000

because of the costly removal of asbestos and lead paint used in the

house, said Bill Morris, the city’s director of public services.

Councilwoman Karen Robinson opposed additional negotiations,

saying any more delay was just prolonging the inevitable. Even if

Morehart would agree to move the house himself, Robinson said she was

not convinced the house would be appropriate on his already-crowded

property.

WHAT IT MEANS

Staffers will have one more month to negotiate with Morehart and

bring the results back to the council, at which time council members

will decide whether to sell the house or demolish it.

WHAT WAS SAID

“It seems like we’ve been there, done that,” Robinson said.

“[Bidders] keep coming up with proposals that call for the city to

pay for the move when our bids clearly say if you are interested in

this, you need to be able to handle it yourself.”

HOME RANCH EDUCATION FUND

Council members began discussion Monday of how the Home Ranch

education money should be allocated by reporting committee

recommendations and inviting public comment.

The Home Ranch development agreement, adopted last year, called

for the Segerstroms -- the family that owns the development site --

to give $2 million in a lump sum to Costa Mesa high schools and

middle schools when the first building permits for the project were

drawn. Costa Mesa High School, which serves those grades, will

receive $1 million, and Estancia High and TeWinkle Middle schools

will split the other $1 million.

The committee has recommended that the money should be controlled

by a single seven-member foundation, to be formed by the city, that

would be governed by state open-meeting laws. Members of the

foundation would include one member appointed by the City Council,

two members from the community at large, two members from Costa Mesa

High School, one from Estancia High School and another from TeWinkle

Middle School -- all appointed by the City Council.

Council members negotiated the development agreement, which makes

them the custodians of those funds and entitles them to place

conditions on the money, officials said.

The city received the $2 million months ago, but the council

postponed the transfer so it could provide more input on how the

money was designated. The council created a committee to provide

suggestions about who should be in charge of the money and how it

should be spent.

WHAT IT MEANS

Council members have invited the public to attend Monday’s City

Council study session, when the issue will be discussed at length.

The issue will then be placed on the agenda for final approval.

-- Compiled by Lolita Harper