City wants to share Huscroft House bill

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- The City Council met Huscroft House supporters halfway

Monday, saying it would fund a move to Fairview Park but expected the

community to raise money to renovate the historic building.

Council members voted unanimously to use the designated $200,000 from

the Home Ranch development agreement to move the Craftsman-style house to

Fairview Park but challenged supporters to raise the additional $200,000

to restore it.

“It’s time to get out there, folks, and raise some money to support

this and come up with a working vision,” Councilman Gary Monahan said.

The money from the Segerstroms included in the Home Ranch deal would

cover only costs to move the house -- last estimated at $175,000 -- but

would not cover any restoration or maintenance. City officials say

restoration would cost another $200,000.

That is where Huscroft House enthusiasts come in.

Bob Graham, who is heavily involved with Fairview Park and has always

supported moving the house to the park’s historic district, asked the

council to give volunteers an opportunity to do some fund-raising.

“We could gather enthusiasm after it is there,” Graham said. “I’ll

write you a check for a couple hundred bucks right now.”

While Graham’s enthusiasm was noted, people were skeptical that the

community would rally around the house, considering the lack of interest

when the house was up for sale.

“Fund-raising $200,000 for something is a hard thing to do. Frankly, I

have my doubts,” said Councilwoman Linda Dixon, who has long favored

saving the house.

Volunteer contributions may be hard to come by in a recession, but

even the money from the Segerstroms is not a sure bet. The $200,000

designated for the house in the Home Ranch development agreement can only

be collected by the city 90 days after the first building permit is

issued for the project site.

The Home Ranch development -- which calls for a flagship Ikea store,

192 homes and mixed commercial and industrial use on 93 acres of former

farmland north of the San Diego Freeway -- is being challenged. Citizens

are gathering signatures for a referendum that would put the item up for

a public vote and a local labor union is considering suing the city for

approving the project.

So the historic house will be saved if Home Ranch survives the

challenges against it and the community can raise $200,000 to restore it

-- a cost that could increase over time if the house further

deteriorates.

To prevent further deterioration, the council also voted to spend

$2,000 to cover the house and protect it from bad weather.

Debate surrounding the Huscroft House has lasted for months. Members

of the community have been vocal on both sides of the issue, claiming the

house is a historic treasure or claiming it is a waste of public funds.

In July, the council decided to put the house up for sale rather than

spend taxpayer money to restore it.

After two months of open bidding, the city received only one formal

proposal, from Newport Beach resident Jane Altman-Dwan, who wanted the

house moved to Fairview Park, and then expanded and operated as a private

wedding and reception hall. Earlier staff reports called the proposal

problematic because it does not fit into the city’s plans for the park.

Those at Monday’s meeting spoke against Altman-Dwan’s proposal, saying

a commercial business was not appropriate and any addition to the house

would destroy its historical character. Council members thanked

Altman-Dwan for her time, but said they would not pursue her plan.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .