Pottery Shack issue needs clarification

Joe Kramer

In response to the Sounding Off of June 11 (“Council needs to truly

preserve building,” Coastline Pilot), I would like to address the

many inaccuracies stated by Rik Lawrence in his mean-spirited letter.

As the former owner and builder of the project on Glenneyre and

Brooks streets, I believe Lawrence’s letter is a case of

property-rights hostility masquerading as civic pride.

Bill Powell, being the kind and considerate man that he is, made

all the local neighbors aware that this property would be for sale,

giving them first chance to buy it. There were no takers. Lawrence

never mentions this in his letter. He also does not mention that the

original 1928 house was saved, moved and upgraded to modern code.

Of course there were people who came to Design Review with

concerns about the project; but far fewer than the mob of petitioners

Lawrence describes. There were about five or six people with valid

concerns who wanted to have their voice heard, and not all of them

were completely against it. Twelve hours after that Design Review

hearing, I was on the site taking measurements to implement the

existing cottage into the revised plans and had approval on the

second meeting.

There were no promises made about keeping window boxes, shutters

or a porch swing. Some items were literally stolen off the house

prior to construction, including window boxes, decorative pieces and

a fountain. I caught a woman prying off a window box and a decorative

mirror. On a side note, the shutters were not part of the original

house -- they were added in the ‘70s.

Regarding the magnolia trees: The site plans presented two

separate homes on two separate lots. Due to building codes and

structural necessity, the entire site had to be excavated four feet

and then re-compacted property line to property line. There was no

way the magnolia trees could be saved, nor did I ever promise they

would be. And the little porch that Lawrence so nostalgically

remembers drunks sleeping on has all been structurally upgraded and

no longer leans to one side.

Since he is not having any luck fighting the Pottery Shack, he

wants to dig up perceived slights on a 4-year-old project.

If people like Lawrence are so enthusiastic about preserving old

buildings, they should organize and buy the property, then maintain

these properties at their expense.

* JOE KRAMER is a Laguna Beach resident.