Cultural Center, Museum Proposed to Replace Laguna Niguel Courthouse

Could a new cultural center with a museum, sculpture garden and a stage for live events replace the Laguna Niguel courthouse at 30143 Crown Valley Parkway?

Guardian Stewardship, a nonprofit arts conservancy formed in Laguna Beach, pitched the concept to the City Council Tuesday night. The center could include the work of the father of modern sculpture, French artist Auguste Rodin.

There could also be a performing arts center, a boutique hotel, retail, a plaza for farmers markets and a conference center, Mayor Robert Ming said.

Ming described the concept as "one of the most exciting projects to hit South County in a long time." The mayor unveiled the concept in April during his State of the City address. At that time the plan was to turn the cultural center into a partnership between the city and other investors.

Before a cultural center can be built, the vacated courthouse and the 18 acres it sits on must be purchased from the county.

The courthouse has been empty since July 2008, when it was originally closed to begin construction of a 200,000-square-foot renovation. A year later, the county announced it was shelving reconstruction plans amid financing trouble.