Consultants: CRC site could yield $20–$40 million for city; council asks staff to pursue overlay and preserve key recreation uses

Laguna Beach consultants told the City Council that the Community Recreation Center (CRC) site — a 6.3-acre campus the city purchased three years ago — has substantial market value and could be leveraged to generate funding for broader civic priorities while still supporting recreation needs.

Ed Del Bacarro of Tri Commercial summarized housing-market context and valuations, saying the half-site “as-is” market estimate ranged about $27–$28 million, and after estimated discounts for prevailing wage and affordable-housing requirements the net value could be roughly $21 million. An entitlement-focused strategy could…