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Carmel Art Association urges city help after building damage from nearby excavation
Summary
The Carmel Art Association told the City Council it has sustained more than $400,000 in damage and asked the city for a significant donation and help before nearby construction limits access for repairs. Residents urged use of the city’s nuisance process to enable insurance reimbursement.
The Carmel Art Association asked the Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea City Council on Jan. 13 to help pay to repair damage the group says was caused by excavation next door.
Speaking at the council meeting, board president Jeff Beckham outlined a long history of stewardship and said the association’s recently renovated building has developed continuing cracks, leaks and structural movement after nearby piling and excavation. Beckham said the association has raised more than $200,000 from the public so far but that “the damages to our building have already amounted to over $400,000,” a sum he described as beyond a self‑funding nonprofit’s capacity.
The association’s vice president, Joaquin Turner, described the building’s historic significance and urged council support to preserve access to foundations and complete repairs before nearby Ulrica Plaza construction progresses.
At public comment, residents pressed the city to use its legal tools. Long‑time resident Vince Koehler urged staff to file a nuisance declaration against the neighboring property owner so that insurers could be tapped for reimbursement and property owners would have eligibility to seek repair funding. “Why is the city not filing a nuisance form that would give this owner the tool to collect from the insurers?” Koehler asked, saying the nuisance process is intended to give owners tools to fix hazards without adjudicating fault.
Council members and staff responded that the issue needs follow‑up with the city administrator and legal staff. The mayor suggested the association and residents meet with City Administrator Brandon Swanson and staff to explore options, and staff later advised the group to discuss details with administration and the city attorney.
No formal action or appropriation was taken at the meeting; council members asked staff to pursue follow‑up and to report back with options including whether a nuisance declaration or other administrative action would be appropriate and legally available.
The association’s appeal underscores the tension between ongoing construction and preservation of historic buildings in the city’s compact, dune‑based parcels. Council members said staff will continue to work with the association and investigate whether administrative steps — including a nuisance finding — could assist recovery and insurance reimbursement.
