Monarch Bay, California, Architects: Thornton Ladd & John Kelsey

9/25/2025 10:50:00 AM

The outstanding characteristic of today's newest community developments is variety-the individual- ity of houses, the diversity within each community. This is particularly evident in the vast new Laguna Niguel development near South Laguna, Calif. Stretching seven miles inland from the coast, 7,000 acres have been plotted by land planner Victor Gruen into a series of distinctive communities bordering lakes, beaches or a golf course and containing every kind of home from hillside estate to garden apartment.

The pearl of the whole area is Monarch Bay, a beach-fringed point of land with park-like landscaping and curving avenues where ready-built houses at base prices of $56,500 to $67,500 (with a wide choice of design details) mingle with custom-built houses to form a handsome neighborhood that is truly individualistic. Monarch Bay sites, many of them with ocean views, measure about 85 by 120 feet. They are leased-not sold at $600 a year and up on sixty-year leaseholds which include automatic membership in the Monarch Bay Beach Club.

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The expansive, pool-centered house, designed by California architects Thornton Ladd and John Kelsey, is one example of the ready-built houses at Monarch Bay. It was built to sell at a base price of $67,500-a figure which does not cover the swimming pool, landscaping, finished flooring or other details for which there are numerous options. With the pool, with the landscaping, and fully furnished, this particular house would cost $92,000. And that would include all kitchen appliances and custom-built cabinets; built-in lighting; TV and telephone connections in every room. All utilities are underground, so there is not one wire or antenna to shut the eyes to.

Wrapped around a swimming pool, this Monarch Bay house opens its heart to the outdoors. Every room has a direct view of the pool court through sliding glass walls. At end of living room in far wing is a roofed and paved porch with a fireplace and built-in barbecue.