Recently, a person I highly respect, Tyler Russell of KX 93.5 radio station, highlighted the social media criticism Mo Honarkar has received regarding his five major real estate projects in Laguna. Over the past 60 years, I’ve seen many creative developers add to the charm of our village. Could Mo be our new Jack Eschbach, visionary behind Peppertree Lane, or Joe Hanauer, creator of Pottery Place, or John Mansour and Alan Fuerstman, leaders of the Montage Resort – three of the most commercially successful and charming developments in our wonderful village? Perhaps that kind of unique Laguna vision and imagination will, over time, be included in Mo’s architecture, which is currently in preliminary stages, but vastly over-built and architecturally banal. Let’s hope so. I think it’s only fair to give him a chance. He may succeed for us all, not just himself!
Greg MacGillivray, Laguna Beach
“which is currently in preliminary stages, but vastly over-built and architecturally banal. ” The good news is there is a conversation about reducing mass and scale by changing building constraints more compatible with a LB vision, not the Reno one. It’s been 19 years since the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan, so what is the new LB Vision? Many residents are waiting for the next design iteration from Laguna Creative Ventures, surprise us Mo!
Good point! New development can be worthy. We’re just not seeing it yet. I do worry that Honarkar’s tactic of spending pots of money electing Council members he thinks amendable to his goals may be a substitute for good, compatible design, not a preliminary to it.
How objective is Tyler Russell? Mo and Hasty Honarkar are listed as being on the radio station’s Advisory Board. And, the “Honarkar Family & The Hive” have sponsored events for the radio station.