Laguna Beach City OKs $23M School Property Purchase

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach City council members voted to put $23 million toward purchasing a 6.5-acre former Catholic school campus at its Tuesday meeting. The purchase would, according to city officials, create an opportunity to add more services and amenities to the community.

Ideas for the campus include a cultural arts center, a public pool, a police sub-station and a parking structure.

While the decision has not been finalized, City Council members voted to approve an offer to the Diocese of Orange to purchase St. Catherine's of Sienna Parish School property. According to a city staff report, the diocese first asked whether or not the city would be interested in buying the campus over a year ago.

Read the full Laguna Beach City staff report on the purchase of St. Catherine's of Sienna Parish School property.

According to the city, residents will be able to give input on the planned purchase, though a public hearing has yet to be announced.

Council members additionally supported borrowing $11.5 million for the school campus purchase, with the rest being pulled from city funds (including $2 million received through the American Rescue Plan Act).

The city would also have to come up with an extra $500,000 for needed property improvements such as plumbing, drainage, roof repairs and a review of the building's fire systems.

The vacant school campus has four buildings with a combined 39,500 square feet of space. There are athletic courts, playgrounds and a soccer field. The private Catholic school was built in 1957 and remodeled in 2008. It has been vacant since 2019.

Laguna Beach City staff will work out the terms of the financing plan to be presented to the City Council in October for a final review.