Laguna Canyon Cottages Cleared Away To Make Room for Nature

The three once-thought-of-as-historic-but-then-just-became-an-eyesore cottages that had been slowly deteriorating in the large weed-choked city lot at Big Bend in Laguna Canyon were finally deconstructed this week, making way for a new hiking trailhead and wildlife corridor.

The 3.7-acre property where the cottages sat for four years will be restored with native oak trees, sycamores and coastal sage scrub in about 16 months time, and will serve as a sort of natural gateway into Laguna Beach for travelers heading into the city from Laguna Canyon Road, according to a release issued from the Laguna Canyon Foundation.

The cottages were moved to the lot from their original location on Third Street, where they had been for close to a century, in order to make way for the construction of the Susi Q Community Center. Though there were hopes of saving and restoring the cottages, they wound up doing little more than collecting mold and housing insects and vermin.

CLICK THE "VIDEOS" TAB ON THE RIGHT TO WATCH CLIPS OF THE COTTAGE DECONSTRUCTION --->

“Though it is difficult to say goodbye to the cottages,” said Derek Ostensen, President of Laguna Canyon Foundation, “their removal allows the property to be restored to a wonderful new community asset and wildlife corridor.”

Parts of the cottages will be reused, however. Four local families requested materials such as wood, windows, doors, mirrors, light fixtures and cabinets, which the Foundation says they will use as artwork or other purposes in their homes.

After the cottages have been removed, the restoration and trailhead project will begin immediately, including elimination of invasive species, planting of native habitat and installation of public trails.