Carmel Art Association leaders appeal to council, say building damaged by adjacent construction
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Summary
The Carmel Art Association told the Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council on Nov. 4 that the north gallery of its nearly 100-year-old building has shifted, that geotechnical work links the movement to adjacent pile-driving, and that repairs will cost roughly $400,000.
Leaders of the Carmel Art Association (CAA) told the council on Nov. 4 that their historic gallery has suffered foundation damage they attribute to pile-driving and construction on the adjacent lot. The association's president, Jeff Beckham, and vice president Joaquin Turner described geotechnical reports they said show the building's north gallery has sunk by up to two inches and that the work required to stabilize and restore the foundations carries a near-term price tag approaching $400,000.
CAA leaders said they had previously sought city assistance and were told the matter was purely civil and not within city authority; they said structural and geoforensic reports contradict that and that promised assistance did not materialize. Beckham said the cost of litigation to hold others accountable was prohibitive and that the association is launching a fundraising appeal through the Community Foundation for Monterey County starting Nov. 13. Several residents who spoke in public comment urged the city to declare a public nuisance or otherwise intervene to force remediation or reimbursement by the party responsible for adjacent construction.
Why it matters: The CAA occupies a long-standing historic building and functions as a cultural anchor for Carmel-by-the-Sea. The association's call for the city to act intersects with permitting, construction oversight and the city's role in protecting cultural resources. Residents told council members the damage is symptomatic of earlier permitting or inspection failures and urged more proactive preservation steps.
Council and staff response: Multiple residents urged a city response such as nuisance declaration or enforcement of construction permits. Council members acknowledged the seriousness of the association's position and pledged to share information and explore what authority and remedies the city has. Staff referenced prior communications and noted technical details and liability considerations that may require additional review.
Next steps: The CAA will continue its public fundraising to cover immediate repair work while the council and staff review available administrative remedies and the city's prior permitting record. Council members and residents said they would assist with outreach and publicizing the foundation's fundraising effort.