Laguna chamber works toward inventory of vacant shops

Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce officials have long dreamed about having an inventory of the city’s vacant storefronts, and now they are taking a step toward that reality.

The chamber is seeking a company to establish a website showing the city’s vacant business locations, chamber Executive Director Laura Ann Henkels said.

She said the chamber and city staff have sought such an inventory for the last five years.

“We have a lot of people calling up asking if there are any [vacant] stores we could recommend,” Henkels said.

The only way chamber officials typically know about available properties is when they see “For Rent” signs in windows. She said the website will provide an efficient way to keep track of vacancies.

Another benefit, she added, is that the list could include small properties often overlooked by commercial real estate listings.

Henkels said the chamber will seek city input on a potential firm and its duties, which would include getting the landlords’ permission to list vacancies.

Chamber staff have spoken with real estate brokers and firms to gauge their interest in the project.

Bob Chapman, a real estate broker and former planning commissioner, said it’s critical for the chamber to involve real estate brokers, who could give input on legal guidelines in listing properties.

“To offer a consolidated and aggregated list for potential business owners is a good thing to do if the details can be worked out,” Chapman said.

If the project is a go, the chamber would probably pay the company’s fees, Henkels said.

As of April 16, Laguna’s vacancy rate of 2.9% was lower than the county average of 4.4%, according to commercial real estate research firm CoStar Group Inc.