Maybe there is a visionary developer who would take Gelson’s space and convert the building to several two-bedroom, working-wage affordable apartments.
Rotate the use of building space so the residence front faces the park across the street for a nice view. Keep the parking underground, and make a smart-looking back of the building facing the shopping center parking lot.
Laguna seldom has an opportunity to add a number of living units in one place to meet the state-required increased housing and density adjacent to public transportation. Maybe the floor plate of a grocery store is an unrealistic turn to residential use, but hopefully, the building’s owner and someone who knows the challenges will take a look.
Laguna can get by with no more restaurants or grocery stores. We need resident-serving affordable apartments for employees within the city. We want a skate park, more pickleball courts, and a place to put a moderate-sized community swimming pool. Let’s hope a dialogue with the property owner leads to fulfilling a community need/want.
Jeanne Sleeper, Laguna Beach
Laguna should take the cue from other coastal cites and sue the governor to stop the required low cost housing, who says you have to live where you work, it’s nonsense. I commuted 100 miles round trip for my job for years, others can do the same.