Needless to say, Laguna’s historic landmark gem the Hotel Laguna has been the center of attention locally, regionally and nationally. Sadly, not all good news. The hotel is the subject of illegal construction, unsupervised permit work by city staff resulting in five stop work orders, an investor group take-over involving the police and armed security guards and the decision to shut down the hotel by former Laguna Beach City Manager, Shohreh Dupuis. City documents and local media coverage (below) offers some insight into the ownerships and legal issues surrounding the hotel as well as the City decisions to shut down the Hotel Laguna and the 14 West Hotel in Laguna Beach.
Documents include Mohammad (Mo) Honarker/Laguna Beach Company. inc. and the MOM Group currently operating and managing the Hotel Laguna per a court approval and several other properties formerly operated and managed by Mo Honarker. Here’s one legal court document on the dispute. https://issuu.com/savelaguna/docs/30-2023-01323759-cu-or-njc. Word has it that additional court documents may be available in the first quarter of 2024. Stay tuned!
Here’s an interesting guest letter to the Indy Editor from the MOM Group explaining their position. https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/the-emperor-has-no-clothes/
In case you missed the news, here’s some local coverage by the LB Indy.
Letter: Hotel Laguna Investor Group To Host Town Hall Meeting
Civil Disputes at Hotel Laguna and 14 West Prompt Forced Closure by City
Hotel Laguna and 14 West Reopen After Court Issues Honarkar Temporary Restraining Order
https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/laguna-beachnews-may-5-2023/
Coastal Commission widens scope of Hotel Laguna beach club probe
Coastal Commission probes “members only” signs on the sand at Hotel Laguna
On a brighter note, hotel managers MOM are hosting and featuring local artists at their ARTSTART event in the Rose Garden at 5:00 p.m. during Laguna’s First Thursday Artswalk. Drop by for a glass of wine and tasty appetizers. https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/hotel-laguna-launches-art-start-for-art-walk/