FORMA was the lead land and entitlement planner for the redevelopment of the 30 acres of coastal land in Laguna Beach, converting an older mobile home trailer park to a full-service destination resort. From the inception of the project, FORMA's planners and designers assisted The Athens Group and the City of Laguna Beach to find an optimum mix of visitor serving uses, including a dramatic ocean-front park and luxury residential building sites.

FORMA also consulted on the arduous sequence of steps to secure approvals through the city's specific planning process and the permitting required by the California Coastal Commission.

The ULI jury said, "Montage Resort and Spa is an outstanding model for rehabilitating an underused property and returning it to productive use, benefiting the owner, the resort's guests, and the public."

The winners were announced during the ULI's Spring Council Forum in Salt Lake City. "The Awards for Excellence program celebrates the creativity, vision, and best practices in land use," said ULI Chairman Marilyn J. Taylor. "All of these projects represent the best examples of creative land use and planning."

The 2006 winners were selected from 23 finalists. Projects were evaluated on the basis of financial viability, the resourceful use of land, design, relevance to contemporary issues, and sensitivity to the community and environment. Each contributes to a live-work-play environment and is designed to complement and enhance the greater community.

Last Updated ( Friday, 21 July 2006 )