Is it really gone forever? Why?

Editor:

My husband and I were walking down PCH near Ralphs on Saturday when I happened to look across the street and became completely puzzled.

Wait. What happened to Eiler's Inn? Was I dreaming? What's that characterless, soulless plaster box doing there in its place? A friend happened to walk by at that exact moment, and we shared the same astonishment. Who would do such a thing?

I stood there fixated for a good ten minutes. It was like seeing an accident, where you can't believe what you're seeing, at the same time wishing it wasn't true. Is it really gone forever? Why?

I can only guess that someone who hates charming old buildings bought this one, and destroyed it. The obvious question is why buy a charming old building if you don't like them? How did this happen? Did I miss the city council meeting? Was there any furor over this?

Down the street a Quiznos was stopped from moving in and then a few months later a beautiful old building is destroyed forever? It seemed to happen overnight, too, as if the owners knew that it wasn't going to go over well. Then why do it?

I am extremely saddened and dismayed. That building was one of the most charming commercial buildings on PCH. It was one of those buildings where you think how lucky we are to live here, because they don't build things like that anymore.

Then it's gone. Why didn't the owner buy a different characterless, soulless piece of property and remodel it instead?

Susan Elliott-Richardson

Laguna Beach