Laguna Beach Explores Affordable Housing Option for Struggling Artists

The Laguna Beach City Council is considering providing artists with affordable housing in an effort to keep them living and working in the city, after voting unanimously last week to begin exploring the idea.

Artists are a part of the “infrastructure” of Laguna Beach, Councilman Alex Rounaghi said in an April 4 city council meeting, however, they are being pushed out due to rising housing costs.

Rounaghi and Councilman Mark Orgill brought forward the motion for the city to research such options.

“Laguna Beach is an art colony. It is who we are,” Orgill said during the meeting. “Housing space has been diminishing for our artists over many years.”

Many Laguna Beach residents and artists are in support of the idea.

“The cultural legacy of our town is predicated on the arts and its local Laguna artists,” local photographer and artist Tom Lamb wrote in an email to the city in advance of the meeting.

Councilors discussed possible opportunities including land trusts to manage properties approved for affordable housing or most likely public-private partnerships between the city and philanthropists to collaborate, finance, build, and operate the housing.

The council agreed the city would not be able to fund such entirely, because doing so would put a strain on taxpayers.

“The city will certainly be a participant in putting the program together, but we can’t afford to cover the whole thing,” Mayor Bob Whalen told The Epoch Times in an interview.

This issue was previously addressed by the council in 2016, when it hired an independent contractor to offer affordable housing solutions for artists.

The contractor provided the council with a selection of options to pursue. However, the council decided not to take any action at that time.

“There is a strong desire in the council to get something done this time,” Whalen said. “I get a sense there is commitment from the council to be a part of the solution.”

Rounaghi, who won election to the council in November, said this was why he sought the office.

“I’m really interested in not just talking about this issue or studying it but really coming up with some actions to make it happen,” he said during the meeting.

The council’s vote is for city staff to begin researching affordable housing options and return with a summary of solutions in 60 days.