The sister build to the Grand Colonial Hotel on Prospect Street, the Villas Hotel would be located across properties 921, 925 and 927 Coast Boulevard South, all of which were designated as historical in the 1977 survey. Government officials have yet to determine whether the fourth home on the site, which is thought to be more than 45 years old, is historical.
A Grand Colonial Hotel spokeswoman said she could not confirm what the owners plan to do with the historical structures "“ demolish, remove or reconfigure them.
Receiving permits to demolish a historical home in the coastal zone is a "hefty process," but it's not impossible, according to Mike Tudury, a senior planner with the city. Developers have to go through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and demolition is only granted with evidence that no other alternative is available.
Structures may also be moved if the actual land holds no historical significance, or developers can incorporate the historical elements into their new design.
Property 927 is a large, Tudor-style brick home, shrouded from the boulevard by a mass of shrubbery and trees. Popular entrepreneur Mabel Whitsitt once owned the home. Whitsitt was famous for her two specialty hat shops in the village and downtown featuring hats that "were both stunning and individual and yet socially acceptable," according to the La Jolla Historical Society's documents.
The Grand Colonial Villas Hotel first applied for permits at the end of May so the process is still in its preliminary stages. Meanwhile, city staff is in the process of updating La Jolla's historic resources survey from the one completed in 1977.
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