Judge Rules in Favor of Renovating 1915 House : Landmarks: While the plan to convert the Lanterman House into a museum and recital hall has cleared a legal hurdle, La Canada Flintridge city officials say, money is the next obstacle.

A judge has ruled against a group of La Canada Flintridge homeowners who filed suit to prevent the use of the city’s historic Lanterman House as a museum and organ recital hall.

Although the ruling appears to clear the way for the long-delayed renovation of the landmark 1915 Craftsman house, city officials may face a greater obstacle in finding money for the project.

City Manager George Caswell said he will inform the City Council on Monday that the project architect believes that the $500,000 earmarked for the renovation will fall far short of estimated costs.

Caswell said a private foundation may have to be formed to raise more money for the project.

The hopes of a group of homeowners to stop the project in court appeared to end Oct. 26 with a tentative ruling by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dzintra I. Janavs.

In a lawsuit filed in April, 11 plaintiffs argued that the project would violate the city’s General Plan by putting a public facility in a residential neighborhood and challenged the city’s environmental impact report as inadequate.

“What it boils down to is the commercial use issue in a residential neighborhood,” said Leslie Wolf, who lives across the street from the Lanterman property. “It’s a very narrow street with a very rural atmosphere . . . no curbs and no street lights.”

However, Janavs said in her ruling: “There is no substantial conflict between the General Plan and the proposed use of the Lanterman House as the historic museum, cultural center and organ recital facility. There is no indication that, as severely restricted as it is, the project will adversely affect the health, peace, comfort or welfare of the persons residing or working in the surrounding area.”

The terms of the renovation, as stated in the tentative ruling, dictate that the use of the property be limited to between 1 and 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the first and third Sunday of each month.

Homeowners will have 30 days to appeal once the judge finalizes her decision. Wolf said an appeal is a strong possibility.

The dispute began in March when the La Canada Flintridge City Council voted unanimously to approve the application to renovate the Lanterman House. The Planning Commission then approved a conditional use permit that would allow museum and recital facilities for the site in December, 1988.

Many La Canada Flintridge residents favor creation of a museum and cultural center on the Lanterman property, said Sue Schecter, former chairman of the Lanterman Advisory Committee.

“It’s an outstanding example of early Southern Californian architecture,” Schecter said.

The 1915 home, built by the Lantermans, one of the area’s pioneer families, was donated to the city “for community and civic purposes” by Lloyd Lanterman, the last surviving member, who died in 1987. The trust did not provide funds for renovation or maintenance, City Councilman Chris Valente said.

The State Office of Historic Preservation has given the project $500,000 for renovation costs but, according to project architect Jim Spencer, partner in the architectural firm Spencer & Aroyan, the price tag will far exceed that figure.

A November, 1987, cost estimate put the renovation just within the $500,000 allocation. This would include external refurbishing, upgrading the heating system, seismic upgrading, creation of a parking area and garden landscaping.

If the organ and recital hall were to remain part of the structure, Spencer said, the costs would “far exceed the $500,000 estimate” since the renovation would have to include installation of acoustical and air-conditioning equipment.

The first proposal for the site was a city office, but that decision was quickly withdrawn after residents vehemently opposed the plan, Valente said.