San Juan Group Wants to Scale Back Redevelopment : Preservation of Adobes Sought

A group called Friends of Historic San Juan Capistrano has asked the city to scale back a planned commercial redevelopment project in order to preserve the remains of historically significant adobes and other structures found recently in the downtown area.

Instead of a 125-room hotel, the group proposes building two small bed-and-breakfast type hotels on the sites of the 1880s-era Mendelson Hotel and the former Las Rosas adobe, once the home of the pioneer Don Juan Forster family.

It also proposes rebuilding as many as a dozen adobes, some of whose foundations have been uncovered in recent archeological digs, said John Tattam, president of the newly formed group.

All of the sites are in an area along El Camino Real between Ortega Highway and Forster Street, within walking distance of Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Since San Juan Capistrano was “the first town, the first pueblo, in Orange County . . . its historical features should be preserved,” said Nick Magalousis, archeology professor at Chapman College and director of the Mission Museum.

Stephen Julian, city manager for San Juan Capistrano, said Tattam’s plan had been discussed by city officials but that “it’s simply too early (in the redevelopment planning as a whole) to be able to tell our reaction.”

Both Magalousis and Tattam emphasized that they were not asking the city to halt its redevelopment plans but were seeking a way of bringing the old and the new together. And the proposed large hotel, which Magalousis said would be of “glitzy Spanish style,” could be relocated on nearby property known as Birtcher Square, they said.

Tattam said hotel space for about one busload of visitors, such as would be provided by the bed and breakfast inns, should be sufficient for the redeveloped sector.

“Most people who visit San Juan would rather stay overnight near the beach, as in Dana Point, and enjoy the days walking around the mission and the downtown area here,” Tattam said. “We believe our plan would build up tourism.”

Julian said the city is receptive to suggestions but needed more information on the Friends group’s plan.

“We haven’t seen any concrete plans of theirs, and we are trying to set up a meeting with them because generally I think they may have a misconception of the city’s intentions. Our goal is not so much for tourism as for what our home people need.” The entire concept of the redevelopment project still “is in limbo” Julian said. “We’re open and ready for ideas.”