Fair Game
By TOM JOHNSON
Neighborhood Congregational Church sees affordable housing in their future; Village Laguna wants to save “unique village character”
I received a letter this week from Anne Caenn. Anne, of course, is the president of Village Laguna, the local “nonprofit mutual-benefit community organization” whose mission includes “to preserve, enhance, and celebrate the unique village character and cultural heritage of Laguna Beach.” The letter she sent focused on the “historical significance of the Neighborhood Congregational Church (NCC)” in town.
Why NCC? Well, NCC drew the attention of Village Laguna and others recently when the church, located at St. Anne’s Drive and Glenneyre Street, began looking into a plan to possibly build affordable housing on their land.
Obviously, a plan to do so would bring significant change, good or bad, in daily use of the property in that area and the elimination of some “historical buildings” in town.
NCC Pastor Rodrick Echols and his church leaders have noted in a detailed statement outlining the proposed plan and reasons for it prominently on their website, saying that “in 2020, our congregation decided to come to terms with reality. For years, on any given Sunday, we had fewer than 50 people in a church built for over 200. It didn’t feel right to have so much space serving the needs of so few people.
“Faced with the choice of spending down our dwindling endowment to survive for a few more years, or selling the property, our congregation was advised to close the church and sell the property to the highest bidder. But that didn’t feel right, either.
“After all, the church dates back some 80 years, when a small group of folks in Laguna cobbled together $25,000, and bought a piece of land at the corner of St. Ann’s Drive and Glenneyre Street.
“Together, they built Neighborhood Congregational Church (NCC), a quirky, non-traditional organization on a mission to inspire spiritual growth and advocate for a world organized around love and justice.
“For decades, NCC thrived, serving the needs of generations of Laguna Beach families. (But today) we live in different times. Now, the largest religion in America is no religion. Churches all over the country are closing as they struggle to remain relevant to millions of Americans who identify as spiritual but not religious.”
Back to the letter from Anne, representing the thoughts of Village Laguna; their concern is with the change that the loss of the buildings on the NCC property would have on the “unique village character.”
So much so, in fact, that Village Laguna recently asked architectural historian Francesca Smith to evaluate the Neighborhood Congregational Church property.
Smith is an architectural historian with decades of experience as an architectural historian and in her work under the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards. She has successfully nominated properties for local, state and national designations. The State of California has recognized her as a “professionally qualified staff at its highest level, as a Principal Architectural Historian.”
In her very detailed report returned back to Village Laguna, Smith found that the “three related, contributing buildings (at NCC) are eligible for the California Register of Historical Resources (under Criterion 3) and for the Laguna Beach Historic Register (under Criteria 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9).
According again to Smith’s detailed evaluation, “The buildings on the site were constructed between 1948 and 1963 and include a parsonage (now the Montessori School), Bridge Hall and the Sanctuary.
“The buildings on the property embody the distinctive characteristics of three architecture types – minimal traditional, tudor revival and mid-century modern with organic/expressionist influences, representing the work of two important local architects, Aubrey St. Clair and Bill Blurock, whose substantial bodies of work influenced the built environment of Laguna Beach and elsewhere in Southern California.
“(Other) extraordinary artistic values are expressed as well in the Mogens Abeland Harold Eckman wood carvings,” added Smith.
According to Caenn, “Like many Lagunans, we lament the possible loss of this historic property, noting that it is beautiful, well-designed and important to the community. We wanted to learn as much as possible about its history and significance.
“Our goal is to foster appreciation of the historic buildings by the community, city leaders, the developer and church members.”
So I asked Caenn, what would Village Laguna like to see for the future of the property, including possible use?
“We hope the congregation, the developer, the general public and the city will have a greater appreciation for the importance of these buildings, and they will find a design for the property that preserves them while creating affordable housing,” said Caenn.
She added, “From a practical standpoint, the buildings are also a financial asset to the church, built from generous donations over the decades. The cost to re-create buildings like these with today’s construction costs would be out of reach. Why destroy them and then try to build a new spiritual center?”
She believes a “unified approach to the project that starts with preserving the buildings and working with neighbors to create a project that builds enthusiasm with the congregation and community, will provide an appropriate and harmonious living space for the new housing clients.”
Meanwhile, NCC is saying that their “research and hearts tell us it’s time to tear it down and create space to address two synergistic opportunities we believe are in our destiny to pursue.
“Affordable housing built on NCC property (would) address the number one need for many: limited-income seniors, city and school employees, artists, retail workers and other lower-wage employees who help us thrive as a community. No new 100% affordable projects have been built in 20 years.
“NCC hopes this vision will attract widespread community support to make this effort a success for the city, its residents, its businesses, and all of South Orange County.”
I contacted Mayor Alex Rounaghi to see where the city stands on the whole issue and he replied, “While they (NCC) have streamlined approval under State Law (SB4), the request for any city funding could be an issue that is totally discretionary and up to the council.”
It’s certainly a story to follow as 2025 develops.
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Here’s a sampling of a couple of programs to possibly take advantage of from the many offered monthly at Susi Q: Join accomplished pianist and composer Jeffrey Briar for six Fridays to enjoy musical highlights and a complete story summary of world-famous operas. Works include Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Verdi’s La Traviata and Aida, Wagner’s The Valkyrie, Puccini’s La Boheme, Strauss’s Der Fledermaus and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore.
It’s $28 and runs Fridays, January 10-February 21 (excluding February 14) from 10-11:30 a.m. You may register here.
Or, how about Ask a Nurse, offering private consultations. Cathy Patton, Community Nurse Navigator from Hoag, conducts one-on-one 45-minute consultations with participants to address their health concerns, collaborate on planning better care and continuing their education journey, empowering them to take better care of themselves.
These happen on Thursday, Jan. 9 from 9a.m.-12 p.m. Registration is required and you may call Christine Brewer at 949.715.8105.
Check out all offerings at Susi Q at https://thesusiq.org/calendar-of-classes/.
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Laguna Live! brings a couple of programs into the first full week of the new year. This Sunday, Jan. 5 from 1-2 p.m., features a musical performance with prize-winning harpist Koni Choi and internationally recognized flutist Erin Bouriakov to the monthly chamber music concert at Laguna Art Museum. The concert is free for members or $14 for non-members. Reservations recommended.
And then next Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 7 p.m. to close, is Beth’s Tuesdays at the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center (235 Forest Ave.). This one is hosted by Beth and Steve Wood, who welcome the talents of Bob Bennett and Lizzy Mulroy.
Tickets are $21.50 in advance (including fees); $25 at the door.
