Cottages may yet find a home

Three cottages slated for demolition got a new lease on life Tuesday.

The City Council granted a reprieve for the cottages when last-minute offers were submitted to move them from a city-owned parcel at Big Bend to private property and restore them, just as the temporary use permit for the relocation was due to expire.

The cottages had languished at Big Bend since they were relocated in March 2007 from Third Street to make way for the Community/Senior Center.

“Needless to say, I am thrilled — speaking for myself and I am sure the Heritage Committee will be, too,” committee member Bonnie Hano said.

The council voted to extend the temporary use permit for six months to allow time to process the proposal submitted by Facundo Malbran, identified as Option A.

Malbran proposed to move the cottages to property he owns on Laguna Canyon Road and rehabilitate them as an artist live/work units or possible student housing for the nearby Laguna College of Art & Design.

Artist live/work projects are permitted in the M1-A zone, where the Malbran property is located.

“We are in the canyon, which makes the move easier,” said Luz Malbran, speaking for her husband.

No additions to the cottages were proposed by Malbran.

Two other parties indicated interest in the cottages: Tresor Properties and the Coastal Greenbelt Authority.

Tresor proposed moving the cottages to the Arch Street property occupied by the former home and studio of Laguna Beach landscape painter William Wendt, identified as Option B.

The Wendt property was purchased by Tresor this spring.

The house was built in 1918, roughly the same time as the Third Street cottages, which were constructed between 1918 and 1921.

All three cottages were included in the city’s Historic Inventory. None were rated E for Exceptional, the highest ranking.

One was rated Key and the others Contributive. They range in size from 572 to 910 square feet.

“We have developed a lot of historic homes,” Tresor legal counsel Ben Benumof said. “We would like feedback on our proposal.”

The proposed project, which included enlarging the cottages, would triple the site coverage. No proposal from the Greenbelt Authority was included in the agenda.

Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman expressed pleasure that offers have been made for the cottages, but wanted assurances from staff that the chosen developer would have the financial wherewithal to complete the project.

City Community Services Director Susan Cannan said financial capability was not included in the city’s review of the proposals presented to the council Tuesday.

“Option A is my preference, but I don’t want [Option] B to go away, in case A falls through,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson said.

City Manager Ken Frank said criteria should be set, with a six-month deadline to file an application.

Staff recommended the Malbran proposal because artist live/work units meet zoning requirements and his proposal preserves the footprint of the historically rated cottages and requires fewer studies in the review process.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or coastlinepilot@latimes.com.